Film synopsis

Set against the panoramic backdrop of Salt Lake City, barefoot boy offers a cathartic exploration of art, identity, and resilience. As we are introduced to Bill Evans, a trailblazing choreographer, the film immediately transports us to an era and locale where being LGBT led nowhere good. Born in 1940s Lehi, Utah—an ultra-conservative farming outpost of Salt Lake City—Bill’s early years were marred by feelings of isolation and ostracism. But, his passion for dance became an escape, a form of self-expression, and a source of financial independence from his poverty-stricken family.

From serving in the U.S. Army in Kentucky (where he sustained a nearly career-ending ankle injury) all the way to dancing with the Joffrey Ballet in New York City, Bill went on to found his own company, The Bill Evans Dance Company—which became the most-booked dance company in America. Bill’s winding path eventually led him back to Utah, where he became an integral part of the young, innovative Repertory Dance Theatre.

Underneath all of the acclaim and success, Bill grappled with abandonment, insecurity, and a sense of worthlessness. He constantly fought to reconcile his queer identity with the prevailing Mormon faith of his community—he felt that he needed to suppress his true self simply to survive. He hid who he was—married a woman, had a kid—all before truly feeling empowered to embrace his queer identity.

Now, at 82, Bill returns to Salt Lake City for his most challenging performance yet: a career-defining retrospective with the Repertory Dance Theatre, the same company that launched his choreographic career. Aiming to bridge generational divides, he endeavors to teach his time-capsule choreography to a new generation of dancers. But times have changed, and haunting echoes of Bill’s past threaten its success. Can he pull off the biggest performance of his life and inspire a new generation of modern dance, or will the pressures put an end to his illustrious career?