The Ballet West Academy has concluded its 2026 audition tour and opened registration for the 2026-2027 academic year, according to the academy. The registration period for the upcoming season, which runs from August 24, 2026, through May 22, 2027, includes placement opportunities across Utah campuses.
Academic Year and Placement
The academy's Student Division, which serves students ages 11 to 18, utilizes a curriculum designed to prepare dancers for professional careers. Students in this division can expect to spend more than one year in each level, with promotions determined by examinations and evaluations by the Academy Director and Campus Principal.
For the 2026-2027 academic year, the academy is offering placement classes at its Salt Lake City, Park City, and Utah County campuses. While the 2026 summer intensive audition tour has ended, the academy will announce 2027 audition dates in the fall of 2026.
Academy Leadership
Allison DeBona, a former Ballet West First Soloist, serves as the Principal of the Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy Peggy Bergmann Park City Campus. DeBona, who performed with Ballet West from 2007 to 2022, also serves as the company's Park City Donor and Community Liaison.
DeBona is also the founder and artistic director of artÉmotion, an organization focused on adult ballet education and choreographic workshops. She has previously appeared as a featured cast member on the CW docu-series Breaking Pointe.
Collaborative Training Programs
The Ballet West Academy maintains a strategic partnership with artÉmotion to provide advanced training. This collaboration included a Choreographic Workshop held from June 15 to July 17, 2026, in Salt Lake City, which featured a world premiere performance on July 16 and 17, 2026.
During the workshop, dancers ages 16 to 20 participated in a program where they spent three weeks as students in the Ballet West Summer Intensive and two weeks with artÉmotion. Participants were considered by Ballet West Director Adam Sklute and Academy Director Evelyn Cisneros-Legate for positions in the Trainee or Professional Training Division for the 2026-2027 season.
ArtÉmotion History and Mission
The artÉmotion organization, led by Artistic Directors Allison DeBona and Rex Tilton, began its inaugural year in 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. The organization has since expanded to offer programs in Detroit, Michigan, and has established partnerships with the Ballet West Academy.
In addition to student programming, artÉmotion offers virtual open classes, master classes, and private lessons. The organization aims to transform Salt Lake City into a premier dance hub through its diverse and inclusive training environment.
Tuition and Requirements
Tuition for the 2026-2027 academy year is set at $3,717, with monthly installments of $413. A non-refundable deposit of $206.50 is required.
The academy provides specialized training for different age groups and skill levels. For the Student Division, female students at Level 1 must demonstrate a structural capacity for pointe work, while all students must possess sufficient strength and stamina.
