High flying ‘Dracula’ welcomes audiences back to Ballet West 

SALT LAKE CITY – Ballet West is welcoming audiences back for the first time in a year and a half with its production of “Dracula,” and there is equally important news for two dancers.

With stunning grace and power, Katlyn Addison is flying to new heights with the assistance of “Flying By Foy,” the company that creates the magic of being airborne. 

Addison said it is much like her love of dance. 

“A lot of us dancers feel this – it’s like a part of us that just needs to be freed, and we’re like butterflies,” she said.

Also airborne from time to time, but under his own power, is the dashing Hadriel Diniz.

He is not playing the evil lead character.

“That’s what I like to say every time you asked me,” he said. “I was like, ‘I’m the good guy!'”  

Both dancers have recently achieved the highest position in Ballet West’s company – principal dancer. And they take their places on stage as the season opens with a major production – “Dracula!”

The shows offered in the 56th season of Ballet West have been announced, starting with 'Dracula' in October. https://t.co/qCGl6xWaeX

— KSL (@KSLcom) February 28, 2020

Adam Sklute, artistic director for Ballet West, said the company is thrilled to return to the Capitol Theatre stage, and he wanted the season to begin with a major production with all of the bells and whistles.  

“Everybody on my crew teases me because they know that if we’re going to do a big production, if it’s a production that I’m producing, it’s going to have flying and explosions,” he said. 

As well as classical dancing, featuring Hadriel Diniz.

Hadriel Diniz’s Journey

Diniz was born and raised in Brazil.

His father died when he was young, and he remembers not having enough to eat sometimes.  

“I’ve been hungry, like, I have asked for food before, you know. So, it wasn’t an easy journey for sure,” he said. “And I was just very lucky to have found this, you know, to have found dance. That took my attention, that took me out of the streets. I could, you know, I could have done bad things.”  

He is referring to some of the boys in his neighborhood joining gangs.

It was an unexpected invitation to an “after school” dance program that opened a door.  

Diniz said he loved soccer like all Brazilians, but never imagined studying ballet.

“So I was like, all right, I’ll take the first class and I’ll never come again,” he recalled. “Well, for some reason, I started taking a class, and in the middle of class, I just fell in love with it. You know, I was just like, what is this? Like, what am I feeling, you know?”  

Dancing came to him naturally, he said. He could jump and turn, and with good classical training, which Adam Sklute said is impressive in Brazil.

Diniz soon became a dancer.  

He eventually came to the United States to study with the San Francisco Ballet School.

His teacher called Adam Sklute one day and asked him to watch Diniz perform in a production in Salt Lake.  

“It wasn’t even the full performance, it was a rehearsal on stage. And it was like, it’s perfect,” said Sklute. “I just happened to have an opening, and so I said, ‘Do you want to come into Ballet West?’ And he said, ‘Okay!’ The rest is history.”  

Diniz said it’s a dream come true.

“And it made me very happy because, you know, I get to represent Brazil here as a principal dancer and as a Latino dancer, you know?” he said. “And it’s such a good opportunity to show the younger ones that’s possible, you know, everything’s possible!” 

Katlyn Addison’s Journey

Katlyn Addison began dancing as a child in Ontario, Canada.

She trained and danced with Pacific Northwest, Boston and Houston Ballet companies.   

Adam Sklute had his eye on her for years, losing her once to the Houston Ballet, but finally offering Addison opportunities to dance dream roles with Ballet West.

“She is a perfect example of hard work, commitment and focus every step of the way,” said Sklute. “I have watched her progress from a wonderful, talented young corps ballet dancer into now this principal ballerina.”  

Addison understands the responsibility that this title brings with it.

“It’s a privilege to get to this, this stage, and to be a part of making history,” she said. “And hopefully, this will inspire and influence, continue to influence, a lot of dancers of color that can see to dream big and to have hope.” 

The opening of the season after 18 months with a huge production and the rise of two young dancers to the position of principal all combined to make this a historic moment for Ballet West.  

Sklute said he has worked to bring diversity to the ballet world for decades and is thrilled about this moment.

“I’ve always said I wanted to populate this stage like the type of world we live in,” he said. “I want Ballet West’s stage to look like the world around us, and so I’m very proud to be able to bring to Ballet West’s first principal dancers of color.” 

KSL’s Carole Mikita asked Addison which dancer she most admires.

“Lauren Anderson was the dancer that I aspired to,” she replied. “She’s still a mentor to me, and she was the first black principal dancer.”

As if on cue, on opening night, Lauren Anderson, who had traveled from the Houston Ballet, appeared on stage for the curtain call to give Addison her flowers.

Ballet West has brought us all so many magical moments. Now, for two dancers who have reached for the stars, the magic is for them.

“Dracula” continues at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Salt Lake City through Oct. 30.