(joyful music) - This year marks Ballet West's 60th Season, and it will include works by founder Willam Christensen, company premieres, tours, and a return of the Choreographic Festival.

And our guest today, artistic direct, director, Adam Sklute Hi Adam.

- Hi, Mary.

I'm so excited for your 60th anniversary.

You have so much going on.

- Oh my God, this is amazing.

In fact, I think it's probably the most ambitious season in Ballet West history.

- [Mary] Oh, definitely.

I mean, you're going back to the Kennedy Center.

- Twice.

- [Mary] Twice.

- Yeah.

- [Mary] Oh, wow.

- It's so exciting.

And seven different programs, what a rundown.

That really spans the gamut and shows off both the history and the future of the company.

It's so exciting.

- Oh my gosh, I'm telling you, you're not gonna sleep this coming year.

(laughs) - No, not much, but that's okay when you love something.

(laughs) - I know, I mean, it really says a lot about the ballet and what you've done with it, so congrats.

- Thank you, thank you.

- Yeah.

I mean, our public has been so supportive and I really hope that we continue to produce things that people want to come and see, and that's what this year is all about.

- Oh, no kidding, okay, give me a run through of everything you're doing.

- Yeah, I mean, okay.

So as I said, seven different programs.

It was so exciting a few years ago when we brought back "Dracula" that we're bringing it back again.

- Yay.

- Because the audiences just went wild for it and it's perfect, it's perfect.

It's just scary enough, but not too scary for families.

Right after that, we're doing a program called "The Firebird," which celebrates really Willam Christensen our founder's legacy, including his ballet, "The Firebird" great work, "The Nutcracker," of course.

And we have the first and longest running Nutcracker in America, so it's a great honor that we hold.

Then right after that, in February, we go to "Swan Lake" and this is my version of "Swan Lake."

It is a classic version but heightened drama and just such a beautiful work.

In the spring, we have a brilliant program called "Love and War."

Three really, really unique pieces and it's not to be missed, in my opinion, including one work that has solo electric violin and there's only one person in the world that plays that unique instrument, and she's coming to play it for us.

- [Mary] Oh, wow.

- We have "Beauty and the Beast" as our family classic series which is a great story for kids.

And then finally, the Choreographic Festival returns.

- Fabulous, oh, Adam, I'm so excited for you here and I'm so happy you're back.

So thank you, thank you for being here.

- Thank you, Mary.

- And if you'd like to know more about that upcoming 2023 season of Ballet West, everything just go to balletwest.org.

So easy, balletwest.org.

I'm Mary Dickson, thanks for watching Contact.

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