Adam Sklute, longtime Ballet West artistic director, to retire at end of 20th season

SALT LAKE CITY — The longest directorship in Ballet West history will soon come to an end as Adam Sklute announced he will retire at the conclusion of his 20th year.

Sklute has been the artistic director of Ballet West since 2007, marking the longest artistic tenure of the company, even surpassing Ballet West founder Willam F. Christensen. He will retire after the 2026-27 season.

"Next season, I am excited to celebrate my 20th anniversary with all of you, and I will continue to give 1000% of myself to the company," Sklute said. "I love Ballet West with my heart and soul and cherish my time as its artistic director, but feel that the time is right for me to move on and for Ballet West and me to begin our next chapters."

Under his leadership, the company's operating budget has nearly tripled, its subscription base has grown amid national declining trends, and the company has expanded its touring presence across the country, according to a Ballet West statement. Sklute expanded Ballet West's repertoire, introduced audiences to new choreography, and grew the dancer roster to include more Utah-native dancers and a "kaleidoscope of artists from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds."

"I come to this decision at a time when Ballet West is both artistically and financially strong and solid," Sklute said. "The company is now renowned around the world as one of America's top 10 ballet companies, with an academy ranked as one of the largest destination schools in the United States."

Sklute plans to remain in Salt Lake City following his retirement, but said he will always be available as a resource. Sklute said that during his retirement, he hopes to "pay it forward" to other dance companies by helping them identify and capitalize on their unique strengths so they can succeed.

"I know that as Ballet West moves into the future, it will be because of their care and stewardship. I believe a good leader knows when to step aside and let new ideas flow and now Ballet West is poised to grow to even greater heights," he said.

Becoming a world-class company

In a letter posted on the company's website, Sklute explained he was hired as Ballet West's artistic director during a "challenging chapter of its existence."

Ticket sales were down, supporters were backing out, performances were canceled, dancers were leaving, and the company had not created any new works in almost a decade. The Ballet West Academy had fewer than 150 students, and the board was considering closing it down, he said.

Sklute had prior experience with the struggles a major ballet company faces. He previously worked for the Joffrey Ballet in New York City, where he danced for 10 years before the company closed. Thanks to some donors, he helped the Joffrey Ballet relocate and start anew in Chicago.

"We did something that no other ballet company had ever done before. ... The company's entire infrastructure had to be rebuilt," he said.

From 1995 to 2007, Sklute learned how to run a ballet company and grew in teaching, rehearsing, programming, marketing, fundraising and donor relations. He became the associate artistic director at the Joffrey before being offered the artistic director position at Ballet West.

At the helm, he was tasked with strengthening the caliber of dancers and production, increasing company recognition and building up the academy.

"I was ready to take on the challenges that lay ahead," he said. "I have always been an optimist at heart, and I never questioned that this rebirth and in turn, the future growth of the company, would be possible."

Sklute honed in on what made Ballet West so unique, leaning on Christensen's legacy of "The Nutcracker." Now dubbed as "America's First Nutcracker," the company performs the Christmas classic every year to thousands of audience members and was deemed a Living Historic Landmark by the Utah Legislature.

Because "storytelling and spectacle" were important to him, Sklute expanded the company's repertoire of full-length story ballets from classics "Swan Lake," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Cinderella" to story ballets new to Utah audiences, such as "Dracula" and "Jekyll & Hyde."

Sklute created the Innovations program to foster the creation of new works by both company dancers and more established choreographers. These programs became the Choreographic Festival and Works from Within performances.

"Ballet West has produced more new creations in the past 19 years than in its entire prior history and a number of Ballet West dancers have now produced works for companies around America and the world," Sklute said.

Sklute started the Family Classics Series, where children can experience shorter, narrated ballet productions to make them more accessible. The academy expanded to several campuses in three counties, encompassing 900 students. The Ballet West summer intensives have become a highly sought-after program. Ballet West also serves more than 150,000 children in "the largest ballet education/outreach program in the United States and possibly the world," Sklute said.

Sklute attributes the company's success to the "brilliance and hard work" of the entire organization and said it has been an honor to be on the journey with so many fantastic artists and professionals.

Ballet West board chair Jennifer Huntsman said she had the privilege of watching the company's "extraordinary transformation" under Sklute's leadership. She praised his vision, creativity and commitment to artistic excellence as shaping Ballet West's identity for years to come.

"I have watched the company evolve into the sophisticated, artistically ambitious and nationally respected institution it is today. Adam has elevated every aspect of the organization," she said.

Executive Director Michael Scolamiero, who has worked with Sklute for almost a decade, said it has been "gratifying and fulfilling" to partner with Sklute whom he called a "passionate advocate who worked tirelessly to advance Ballet West's position nationally and internationally."

Ballet West will conduct an international search to identify Sklute's successor. The company's 2026-27 season will be a celebration of Sklute's two decades with Ballet West.

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