There have been some changes in the Ballet West dancer ranks, the company announced Saturday night. Eight promotions and six new faces will be part of the 2008-09 season.

Michael Bearden, who joined the company in 1999, has been promoted from soloist to principal. Kate Crews and Jason Linsley, who have been with the company for eight seasons, were promoted from demi-soloist to soloist.

Other promotions include Ballet West artists Jason Chinea, Victoria Lock, Christopher Sellars and Jacqueline Straughan to demi-soloists and Ballet West II dancer Aidin Diskin has become an official Ballet West apprentice.

In addition to the promotions, Ballet West welcomes new principal Romi Beppu from the Boston Ballet, and principal guest artist Sarah Webb from the Houston Ballet.

Other new Ballet West artists joining the ranks are former San Francisco Ballet apprentice Owen Gaj, former Ballet Met recruit David Kim and former Cincinnati Ballet artist Thomas Mattingly. And joining as a first-year apprentice is Rex Tilton from the Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle, Wash.

"I feel the dancers I have chosen to promote are ready for the next step," Ballet West artistic director Adam Sklute said in a statement. "With so many high-caliber artists, I'm excited to say that in future years I see many more promotions on the horizon.

"My mission for our 2008-2009 line up is threefold — to promote heavily from within, to bring in nationally renowned leading artists, and to introduce exceptional young talent to build the future of Ballet West."

The next Ballet West program, "Innovations," will run at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center from May 28-31. Individual tickets will go on sale Monday through all Arttix outlets by calling 355-2787, 888-451-2787 or online at www.arttix.org

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