Ticket Link Below!
The Cause
Ballet Aligned and the Utah Festival Conservatory's "Once Upon a Storytime" Series is an opportunity to for students to share their developing talents with the broader community while making a positive change in the lives of others. "The Night Before Christmas" premiered Dec 2022 and raised nearly $5k for the Little Lambs Foundation which provides comfort kits to children transitioning into foster care and emergency shelters, helps over 600 families with diapers, wipes, and other basic essential items, and annually serves over 51,000 individuals throughout Utah. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Little Lambs Foundation again in 2023.
Starring
Michael Ballam as Grandpa
Michael Ballam has received critical acclaim with the major opera companies of the USA and a recital career in the most important Concert Halls of every continent. Professor of Music for the past 24 years at Utah State University, he has also been a faculty member at Indiana University, The Music Academy of the West, University of Utah, Brigham Young University (where he was awarded the Teaching Award in Continuing Education in 1992) and guest lecturer at Stanford, Yale, BYU Idaho, Catholic University and Manhattan School of Music. In 1996 he was designated one of the 100 Top Achievers in the State of Utah by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of the U.K., appointed Artist Extraordinaire by the Governor of Utah in 2003, given Honorary Life Membership to the Utah Congress of Parents and Teachers, received the “Excellence in Community Teaching Award” from the Daughters of the American Revolution in 2007 and was awarded the Gardner Award by the Utah Academy of Science, Arts and Letters, for “Significant Contributions in the Humanities to the State of Utah” in 2010. Mr. Ballam is the Founder and General Director of Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theater.
Guest Artists
Kai Casperson as Dr. Moore
Kai began dancing at age 9. As a student of Steffanie Casperson, he advanced to acceptance at Ballet West Academy's Professional Division at age 13. He trained on scholarship for 5 years there, and as a trainee with Boston Ballet for 1 year. Over the years at Ballet West Academy, he performed a number of leading roles, including the Prince in Sleeping Beauty and in Balanchine's renowned, "Who Cares." Kai appears courtesy of Ballet West II where he now dances professionally.
Chloë McAllister as Clara Moore and Music Box Doll
Chloë's training began at the age of four with Cache Civic Ballet where she danced the leads of Clara in the Nutcracker and Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. As a student of Steffanie Casperson, jury members complimented her YAGP performance as “regal and sophisticated." At the age of 16, Chloë was invited to train with Ballet West Academy’s Professional Training Division and has performed there as a leading role in Coppelia, a soloist in Paquita, and was selected to perform in Balanchine's "Who Cares." She has attended summer intensives at Boston Ballet, Ballet West, and was a scholarship recipient to Oklahoma City Ballet where she was offered a trainee position. Last year she guested as the Moon in Ballet Aligned's Hansel and Gretel and we are excited to have her back in this production in roles she originated: Mrs. Moore and the Music Box Doll. She appears courtesy of Ballet West Academy.
Hannah Anderson as the Scottish Doll
Hannah began her ballet training at the age of four. She performed The Nutcracker with the Cache Valley Civic Ballet, dancing Clara and the Doll. At age 11, she added classes at Dance Illusion and with Steffanie Casperson to her training - appearing in Ballet Aligned's first-ever performance in the spring of 2022. The following fall, at age 14, she was invited to train full time with Ballet West's Professional Training Division. She has attended summer intensives with Ballet West, Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and most recently, American Ballet Theater in NYC. She has received multiple scholarships including Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Harid Conservatory. She appears as a courtesy of Ballet West Academy where she is attending this year on partial scholarship.
Tayten Baker as Santa
Tayten trained with Ballet West Academy for 9 years. He received the Fredrick Quinny Lawson scholarship and other full scholarships during that time. He has been in many productions varying from classical ballets to modern and contemporary works. Since graduating from the academy, he has worked as an RI for the Ballet West Summer Intensive, and has taught a Boys Ballet class and an adult class for Ballet Aligned.
Debt of Gratitute to
Sustaining Donors (Above $500):
Gail and Ned Weinshenker
Thanks to our Business Sponsors
Collaborative Partners
Ballet Aligned is the only ballet school in Northern Utah to offer professional training to serious ballet students. They believe in making better ballet more accessible in northern Utah by: 1) giving every student all the necessary tools to succeed in the broader dance world and 2) offering free educational and outreach programs to the broader community. Believing in the power of art as a force for good in the world, their Ballet Benefits are a way for dancers to share their talent in the community, AND to literally make a difference in the world.
Utah Festival Conservatory offers specially designed classes for aspiring young performers ages 4-18 striving to enter the musical theatre field. Professional training and year-round classes in acting, dance, and musical theatre are skill- and age-appropriate and are targeted to help performers take their skills to the next level, increase experience, and maximize growth.
Joel Ackerman is a master story-teller and author of the libretto for our ballet. He has written/produced/directed over 100 videos (ads and other branded video content) which have been viewed nearly half a billion times. He is the Editor in Chief of Print Immortal, a publishing company that publishes “works worthy of immortality” and is also a published author and poet. He currently writes and directs for Angel Studios (distributors of "The Chosen").
Additional Thanks
Gratitude to those whose donations of time and talent made this show possible.
Dance Illusion for the beautiful, tap-dancing reindeer!
UFOMT: Costume, set, lighting, sound, and prop assistance
Lauren Ellis and Marissa Wood as Rehearsal Assistants
Kristine Waechtler: Stage Manager
D Marketing and Design: poster/program design
Kyle Stein: Theater Manager
Audience Reations and Images from last year's shows:
From Emilee: The Night Before Christmas production far exceeded our expectations. It brought so many wonderful things about Christmas to life - the stories, music, family. So well organized and executed, and such a positive behind-the-scenes atmosphere. This is something we definitely hope we can count on to take part in again!
From Elizabeth: We loved your ballet! Fantastic job! What a gift to the community!
From Rebecca: The production of The Night Before Christmas offered beautiful storytelling, leaving that magical feeling of the Christmas season. It also showcased the excellent training behind up and coming talent. So happy to be part of the Ballet Aligned family.
From Katrina: The Night Before Christmas Ballet was a heartwarming show! I loved the message and watching Ballet Aligned students showcase all of their hard work!
From Darcie: I was excited for the opportunity to see such a well-done production. This is the time of year people want to give, and this night of entertainment was such a fun way to do that. I went both nights and was so glad I did. The first night was sold out so I was sure to get there early the second night and pre-bought my tickets to make sure I got in. It was just as entertaining the second night! It was a wonderful thing to be so entertained and give to such a good cause.
From Candice: The show was amazing. It was the perfect mix of talent, from beginners to professionals. It was funny and charming. The costumes and characters were perfect.
From Ted: I was so impressed by the professionalism of the entire program. The children did a sensational job at retelling the story through dance.
From Jennifer: I absolutely LOVED the show. I didn't know what to expect since I've never seen a ballet with the Night Before Christmas story. It was very well done and I loved how each class/age was incorporated. The costumes were also very well done.
From Maribeth: Thank you for offering this ballet to the Logan community. I really appreciate the months that went into this production. I hope you will continue to show us more of your outstanding work!
COMING IN 2024
Hansel and Gretel - April 29 & 30, 2024
Cause: Loaves and Fishes Community Meal
Last Year's Money Donated to the Cause: $1000
Last Year's Audience Size: 426
This Year: We are improving sets and costumes
BE PART OF THE MAGIC! Register here for Ballet Aligned classes. And sign up here to sponsor the show.
LINK TO TICKETS POSTED IN MARCH
Summer Show - June 2024, dates TBA
Cause: Zootah
Last Year's Money Donated to the Cause: $180
Last Year's Audience Size: 35
This Coming Summer: We hope to expand dancer participation for more ages!
BE PART OF THE GOOD WE DO TOGETHER! Our Summer Camps comprise the cast of our summer show. Camp Registration will Open in April or May of 2024. Sign up as a sponsor here.
TICKETS PURCHASED AT THE DOOR
