Nurturing the Whole Dancer

 

Dance West is an annual contemporary dance workshop that is dedicated to nurturing the whole dancer. At Dance West, we believe in fostering curiosity, experimentation, and collaboration across various historical and contemporary points of view. We honor each individual dancer and celebrate their own unique journey.
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Our commitment to dancers goes beyond just the performative aspects of the art form. We provide space and time for dancers to develop as artists and human beings, encouraging personal growth in all aspects of their lives.
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Building relationships is at the core of our values. We foster strong connections with the dancers and directors of the host organizations, as well as with our esteemed guest faculty. We bring together dancers from the Salt Lake Valley and beyond, creating a vibrant and supportive community of artists with shared dedication and passion.
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Looking ahead to Dance West 2025, we are excited to bring significant and influential artists to Salt Lake City, UT. These artists will share their unique artistic perspectives, diverse aesthetics, and innovative approaches to dance. This two-week workshop held in July each year will be hosted by Repertory Dance Theatre, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and University of Utah's School of Dance.

 

HISTORY OF DANCE WEST

 

Dance West represents the collaborative efforts of three established artistic entities in Salt Lake City, UT: Repertory Dance Theatre, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and the University of Utah’s School of Dance. With its inaugural workshop in 2019, Dance West has hosted a diverse range of faculty and guest artists over the course of its history including Yin Yue, Nina Watt, Raja Feather Kelly, Faye Driscoll, Bill Evans, Katarzyna Skarpetowska, and Keerati Jinakumwiphat as well as many current company directors, dancers, alumni and esteemed faculty from the University of Utah. Housed at both the University of Utah and The Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in downtown Salt Lake City, Dance West continues to evolve as an annual summer workshop, responding to the ever changing dance landscape.