|
“I am most proud to add Adam Sklute to the prestigious list of former Joffrey members who have gone on to direct renowned ballet throughout the world,
such as Helgi Tomasson (San Francisco Ballet), Kevin McKenzie (American Ballet Theatre), William Whitener (Kansas City Ballet), Ross Stretton (Australian Ballet and The Royal Ballet), Tom Mossbrucker
(Aspen Sante Fe Ballet), Dermot Burke (Dayton Ballet), James Canfield (Oregon Ballet Theatre), Michael Uthoff (Hartford Ballet and Arizona Ballet), and Vicente Nebrada (Ballet Nacional de Caracas),” said
Joffrey Ballet co-Founder and Artistic Director, Gerald Arpino. “I am honored that Adam will now direct Ballet West, one of America’s prominent ballet companies.”
“Adam Sklute has had tremendous impact and gained enormous experience during his time with The Joffrey, and this appointment is the obvious next step,” said Jon H. Teeuwissen,
Executive Director of The Joffrey Ballet. “We all wish him the very best in his future endeavors and will continue to support him as a member of the extended Joffrey family.”
Sklute’s long career with the Joffrey has spanned almost 25 years, beginning as a dancer under Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino in the early 1980s. First appointed Schedule
Coordinator/Assistant Ballet Master in 1995, he was later promoted to Ballet Master/Artistic Coordinator, co-Assistant Artistic Director, and finally co-Associate Artistic Director in 2005.
“It has been my great pleasure to know and to work with Adam for many years as a dancer, as a Ballet Master, and, most recently, as co-Associate Artistic Directors,” said
Cameron Basden. “He has always invested himself completely in his work and I know he will bring that same passion and commitment to Ballet West. We all wish him well and we’ll
certainly miss him.”
During his time with The Joffrey, Sklute has assisted in the planning and creation of two Arpino World Premieres – IDNA and Ruth, Ricordi per Due in 2002 – and staged
Arpino’s Round of Angels for the 2004-2005 Season, as well as Jiri Kylian’s Return to a Strange Land for the 2005-2006 Season. In 2002, Sklute, alongside
Basden, helped spearhead the development of Arpino Apprentice Program – the Joffrey’s pre-professional program designed to train young dancers for the company. To date, 80% of
all Arpino Apprentices have become full company members.
As a dancer, Sklute has performed in a multitude of ballets by such choreographers as Gerald Arpino, Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, John Cranko, Robert Joffrey, Jiri
Kylian, James Kudelka, Leonide Massine and Paul Taylor to name a few. He has performed with New York’s Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Dallas Metropolitan Ballet and California’s Diablo
Ballet.
“I was one of the last two dancers chosen by Robert Joffrey for his company and I’ve always held that close to my heart,” said Sklute. “The Joffrey Ballet
has been my home for well over 20 years and during my time here I have been given remarkable opportunities to learn about every aspect of this art form. I have had the chance to work with
some of the giants in the dance world during some of the most exciting times for dance in America. As Artistic Director for Ballet West, I will be able to draw upon this knowledge, these
friendships, and this extraordinary tradition, to take the company into the 21st Century. I am grateful to everyone at The Joffrey Ballet and would not have this chance if not for them.”
|
