About Ballet West

Take a piece of the first American Nutcracker home! Ballet West is home to America's 1st NutcrackerTM, performed annually at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre in downtown Salt Lake City, live with the Ballet West Orchestra. Ballet West founder and Utah native Willam Christensen, choreographed the first full-length version of The Nutcracker in the United States, first presented in 1944. Mr. C's Nutcracker was named a Living Historic Landmark by the state of Utah in 2024, the first designation in the United States. If you've experienced The Nutcracker by your local ballet company, school, or community center, it all started with America's 1st NutcrackerTM. Celebrate this historic legacy with limited edition merchandise, with new items every season. Learn more at Americas1stNutcracker.comRead their story