WORLD-CLASS BALLET IN SUN VALLEY
Ballet Sun Valley Through the Years
MISSION & VISION
Mission
To bring the world’s most celebrated ballet companies and dancers to Sun Valley, ensuring that world-class international ballet remains an integral part of the region’s vibrant cultural life.
Vision
To position Ballet Sun Valley as a premier destination for dance—advancing exceptional artistry, inspiring audiences, driving cultural tourism, and strengthening our long-term institutional value.
STAFF
Kelli Quinlan, Executive Director
Alyssa Eagan, Director of Finance
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dick Davis, Board Chair
Monica Grossman, Vice Chair
Jim Laski, Treasurer
Gillian (Smelick) DiLallo, Secretary
Bobbie Herrell
Kathy Jones
Andie Laporte
Adrian Norris
Robert M. Smelick (1942-2022), Founder & Chairman Emeritus
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 DONORS
BOB SMELICK FOUNDER’S CIRCLE
$50,000+
Susan Brotman
Maryanne and Dick Davis
Monica and Blake Grossman
Heather Horton
The Otis Booth Foundation, Stephanie and Steve Shafran
The Smelick Family, in loving memory of Bob Smelick
Stevens Family Foundation
DANCERS’ CIRCLE
$25,000- $49,999
Lisa and Rick Altig
Laura and Robert Caminiti
Andie Laporte
Diane and Tom Smith
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE
$10,000-$24,999
Anonymous
Renée and Carl Behnke
Barbara Boswell and Harold Robinson
Nancy Crandall
Quintilla and Peter Curran
Bobbie and John Herrell
Cynthia and Blair Hull
Tracy and Greg Johnson
Jo and Bill Lowe
Jon Marden
Tim Mott, Mott Family Foundation
Adrian Norris
Sally and Marc Onetto
Claire and Allan Snyder
Michelle and Chris Stephens
Thrasher Koffey Foundation
CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE
$5,000-$9,999
Anonymous (2x)
Mary Bachman
Lisa and Mark Chiba
Gayle and Steve Croxton
Cindy Dodge
Karen and Larry Feiner
Sue and Mort Fuller
Laura and John Gamble
Judy and Ernie Getto
Morley Golden Family Fund
Susan and Ron Greenspan
Eileen Hansen and Jay Graham
Kathryn and Terry Hulbert
Edina Jennison
Kathy Jones
Tracy and Eric Kanowsky
Sheila and Tom Larsen
The Levit Family Foundation
Marcia and Don Liebich
Sandy and Jack McCullough
Nadine and Charlie McWilliams
Jane and Jim Mitchell
Carole Moran, in loving memory of John Moran
Patricia K. Murphy
Diann and Brad Olch
Jane and Tom Oliver
Thomas S. Perakos - Perakos Family Cares Foundation
Marna and Rockwell Schnabel
Linda and Bob Shepler
Allison Speer
Carol Swig
Spooky and Jim Taft
Elizabeth and Thomas Tierney
Deidra Wager
Maryanne and Jerry Whitcomb
Barbara and Stanley Zax
MUSICIANS’ CIRCLE
$2,500-$4,999
Irene Alverson
Carolyn and Donald Benson
Mary Lee Copp
Jami and Ricardo Delgado
Jayne and Bill Emory
Sandra and Chip Fisher
Gibson-Ullman Family Fund
Ann Leonardo
Malcolm Sterling Foundation
Bettina McAdoo
Holbrook Newman and Geoff Isles, In honor of Jami Grassi
Esther Ochsman and Bruce Goodman
Barbara and Scott Patton
Margo Peck
Marie-Louise Pratt
Susan Reinstein and Brian Ross
Brianna and Robert Rolfs
Rhea Schwartz
The Tierney-Bindelglass Fund
Barbara Wilson and John E. Phillips
Gina and John Wolcott
COMMUNITY CIRCLE
up to $2,499
Ann and Fabio Aversa
Debbe and Spike Booth
Blakesley and Cyril Chappellet
Derek Dean
Elias Construction
Elaine and John French
Felicitas Funke
Jami and Mark Grassi
The Susan and Ronald Green Fund
Gary Hoffman
Randi and John Kanellitsas
Connie and Tony Price, in honor of Bobbie Herrell
Barbi Reed
Pamela Sandine
Nancy and Phil Schneider
Wayne Willich
Youell Legacy Foundation
NEW WORK PATRONS
Pages by Jessica Lang
Bob Benson
Monica and Blake Grossman
Andie Laporte
Annette and Brent Stevens
HOUSING HOSTS
Tana Aardal
Lisa Adam
Shannon and Dan Aja
Janne and Henry Burdick
Helga and Dil Cannon
Jane and Tom Oliver
Kathy Robinson
Trudi Schneider
Sherry and Richard St. Clair
Laura Targett
Barbara Thrasher and Rick Koffey
Susan Tucker and Steve Myers
Judy Whitmyre
Sheila Witmer
*Donations as of June 8, 2026
BALLET SUN VALLEY’S SUMMER FESTIVAL
IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY
LEAD SPONSOR
WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM
AND FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Health & Wellness
Education
Special Events
Hospitality
SUMMER FESTIVAL TIMELINE
Inaugural performance of world class ballet at the Sun Valley Pavilion - San Francisco Ballet
2012
After many years of discussions with the Sun Valley Resort and the San Francisco Ballet, Mr. Smelick persuaded both parties of his vision to bring world class ballet to the Pavilion for the first time. An agreement was reached in 2011 and the inaugural festival was held in 2012, featuring 20 dancers from the San Francisco Ballet, most of them Principal dancers. The event sold out and received rave reviews from the audience and accolades from the dance world. Helgi Tomasson, San Francisco Ballet's Artistic Director praised the festival's venue, the Sun Valley Pavilion, calling it one of the most beautiful venues in which the company had ever performed.
In August of 2017, Ballet Sun Valley brought its first independent dancer festival to the Sun Valley Pavilion. The festival featured 22 artists world-class ballet companies in the United States and abroad including - American Ballet Theatre (Isabella Boylston), The Royal Ballet (Eric Underwood), New York City Ballet (Tyler Angle), The Mariinsky Ballet (Xander Parish), The Royal Danish Ballet (Ida Praetorius) and San Francisco Ballet (Maria Kochetkova) amongst others. Highlights of the two sold-out performances included an excerpt from Swimmer and a world premier honoring the total solar eclipse - eight/twenty-one/seventeen choreographed by Gemma Bond.
BSV International Dancer Festival
2017
In 2018, Ballet Sun Valley again produced an international dancer festival at the Sun Valley Pavilion. The festival showcased 22 dancers in two sold-out performances. Renowned ballet companies represented in the Festival included American Ballet Theatre (James Whiteside), Paris Opera Ballet (Léonore Baulac), New York City Ballet (Tiler Peck), San Francisco Ballet (Dores André), Royal Swedish Ballet (Dmitry Zagrebin) and more! Highlights included a mesmerizing rendition of The Dying Swan by Misty Copeland and the high energy In Creases choreographed by Justin Peck with Maestro Martin West stepping from the Conductor’s stand to the stage to play piano.
BSV International Dancer Festival
2018
BSV Summer Festival featuring San Francisco Ballet
2019
In July 2019, the Summer Festival featured the highly anticipated return of San Francisco Ballet. The company outdid themselves in their follow up visit to the Pavilion with 38 dancers and two sold out performances. The first evening featured a gala style program with highlights from SFB’s season. The second evening featured a mixed repertoire bill which included works by Stanton Welch, Trey McIntyre and Justin Peck. This is the type of programming that one would expect only in a major metropolitan area, establishing the model for future BSV summer festivals.
BSV Summer Festival featuring Pacific Northwest Ballet in a Digital Presentation
2020
In 2020, all ballet companies were forced to cease touring due to the COVID pandemic that swept the globe. As dancers and the rest of the world quarantined at home, a deep desire to find human connection arose. As a result, the digital performance space blossomed.
BSV Summer Festival featuring Two Festivals:
July: International Dancer Festival
August: BalletX
2021
Ballet Sun Valley returned to the Sun Valley Pavilion stage for the first time since 2019 in 2021 with a celebration that included two distinct festivals. The energy and enthusiasm of both the audience and artists was palpable as the healing power of live performance shaped the summer.
In July 2021, an International dancer festival was organized featuring artists from New York City Ballet, Houston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Washington Ballet and San Francisco Ballet. 16 dancers performed an astounding 27 works!
In August 2021, BalletX took the stage in our first ever showing of a contemporary ballet company. 10 dancers performed a gala-style performance and took us on a journey through time and space in their mesmerizing work Sunset, o639 Hours.
BSV Summer Festival featuring Boston Ballet
2022
In 2022 BSV returned to presenting a Summer Festival featuring a major, world-class ballet company. Boston Ballet brought 32 dancers to Sun Valley to perform two high-energy evenings of dance. Highlights included a new work choreographed by New York City Ballet Principal Dancer, Tiler Peck, a work by Boston Ballet resident choreographer, William Forsythe, Blake Works I – originally created for Paris Opera Ballet, and for the finale, the unforgettable DEVIL’S / eye choreographed by Stephen Galloway and set to the music of five Rolling Stones’ songs. Galloway knows a thing or two about The Rolling Stones as he serves as a creative consultant and choreographer for the band.
BSV Summer Festival featuring Dutch National Ballet
2023
For the first time, BSV was able to present a major ballet company from abroad - Dutch National Ballet! This acclaimed company had not toured in the United States for 40 years, breaking that streak in Sun Valley with two outstanding evenings of dance. The first program was a tribute to master Dutch choreographer, Hans van Manen. The second evening featured a gala-style program with a mix of classical and contemporary works. Immediately following the close of the Festival at a backstage BSV champagne toast to donors and dancers, dancer Elizabeth Tonev was promoted to soloist after her exceptional performance in Grand Pas Classique!
BSV Summer Festival featuring The Joffrey Ballet
2024
After years of conversations, the Mavericks of American Dance, The Joffrey Ballet, took the stage in our 2024 Festival. With 31 artists, the company presented two breathtaking performances. Highlights included the melodic Yonder Blue by choreographer Andrew McNicol and the artistic explosion of Under The Trees’ Voices by Nicolas Blanc. The Festival also marked the retirement of two dancers who took their final dance steps on the Sun Valley Pavilion stage.
BSV Summer Festival featuring The National Ballet of Canada
2025
In 2025, BSV again presented a major international ballet company – The National Ballet of Canada. The company had only recently returned to touring and their 24/25 season included tour stops in London, Paris, and Sun Valley—their only United States tour stop in 2025. The Festival highlighted Canadian choreographers including Jennifer Archibald, Guillame Cote, and Emma Portner. The Festival also included three United States premieres – The Four Seasons Summer pas de deux, islands, and King’s Fall.
BSV Summer Festival featuring Pacific Northwest Ballet
2026
For the first time in Ballet Sun Valley’s history, the Summer Festival was canceled due to exceptionally cold temperatures. Pacific Northwest Ballet had planned to tour to Sun Valley with 38 dancers and five vocalists for two distinct performances featuring works by leading choreographers and a world premiere by Jessica Lang. Although the company was unable to take the Pavilion stage, we look forward to welcoming Pacific Northwest Ballet to Sun Valley in the future.