Ballet West a huge hit in Scotland

Audiences have given them standing ovations. Critics have given them 4- and 5-star reviews. And Ballet West has added true international flavor to the prestigious Edinburgh International Festival.

The Utah company danced three works choreographed by British artist Anthony Tudor at this year's festival, which began Aug. 15 and runs through Sept. 5.

"It's been a wonderful experience," said Ballet West Executive Director Johann Jacobs in a telephone call from Edinburgh prior to the troupe's final performance Monday night. "We were nervous about reviews, because the press and the audiences here have a reputation of being very critical, very picky. But we've found them all to be very warm, very wonderful."

Another Utah company, Ririe-Woodbury, performed at the festival later in the week, and to have two non-East Coast companies at the festival is particularly exciting, said Jacobs. "We are thrilled to be here. It's a great honor."

The Edinburgh International Festival, now more than 50 years old, has a reputation as one of the world's greatest arts celebrations. For three weeks it offers opera, theater, music and dance, with an adjunct jazz-and-blues festival and Scottish Tattoo for the pipers.

"The joy of the festival is the joy of new discoveries," notes festival director Brian McMaster on the official Web site. The 2004 gathering, he noted, offers "some of the most exciting and innovative artists and companies in the world, from Hanover Opera to a one-woman show from Beirut, from an in-depth look at the great choreographer Anthony Tudor to Akram Khan's latest dance work."

The festival "has been very well run," said Jacobs. "Everything's been very smooth." Ballet West performed in the 1929 Edinburgh Playhouse, "which is a wonderful old building."

Has anything been less than perfect? Well, there was the haggis at the opening night reception, he joked. "But overall, we've done very well."

Ballet West's program featured "The Leaves Are Fading," "Lilac Garden" and "Offenbach in the Underworld," three works drawn from different periods in Tudor's career. The first two are part of the company's repertoire, said Jacobs. The Offenbach piece was added for the festival but will receive its Utah premiere as part of this season.

Critics singled out the dancing of Kristin Hakala and the passion of guest violinist Kelly Parkinson, who played with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra on "The Lilac Garden."

Reviewers also commented on the "surprising production quality," said Jacobs. "The costumes, the scenery were not what they expected from a company that wasn't from the East Coast. And they've found the company 'fresh and charming.' They've been happy with how the works were interpreted."