General Materials

File — Box: 35, Folder: 11

Identifier: V

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection: The Utah ballet archives (1926-2008) consist of the personal records of Willam F. Christensen, an American ballet dancer and choreographer, and the company records of Ballet West, founded by Christensen. The collection reflects Christensen's professional life, his vaudeville career, and his years in Portland, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City. Included are news clippings, correspondence, programs, and other materials regarding his ballet companies in these cities. Also included is Christensen's collection of souvenir programs from various ballet productions he saw. The Ballet West materials are divided into three chronological sections and include administrative files, financial records, correspondence, tour materials, scrapbooks, and other papers. Major divisions of interest within the collection include the company's relationship with the National Endowment for the Arts, and plans and arrangements for the renovation of Salt Lake City's Capitol Theatre through the 1970s, completed in 1978. A large division in Section 2 covers Ballet West's 1971 European tour. Addenda to the collection includes general materials such as correspondence, costume designs, awards, musical scores, dance publications, artwork, and posters.

Dates

1926-2008

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.