Archive for the ‘Ballet’ Category
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012
Well, Programs 5 and 6 are debuting this week at our world-class San Francisco Ballet, and they’ll run through April 1st, 2012.
But don’t take my word for it. Instead, take the words of Teri McCollum in the newish Odette’s Ordeal website. (OMG, there’s a lot of stuff in there.)
All right, see you at the ballet!
Program 5–OPENING NIGHT–Wednesday, March 21, 2012–7:30 PM
THE FIFTH SEASON
Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson
Composer: Karl Jenkins
Conductor: Martin West
Frances Chung*, Davit Karapetyan
Sarah Van Patten, Pierre-François Vilanoba
Yuan Yuan Tan, Damian Smith
INTERMISSION
World Premiere
SYMPHONIC DANCES
Choreographer: Edwaard Liang
Composer: Sergei Rachmaninoff
Conductor: Martin West
Yuan Yuan Tan*, Vito Mazzeo*
Sofiane Sylve*, Tiit Helimets*
Maria Kochetkova*, Vitor Luiz*
INTERMISSION
GLASS PIECES
Choreographer: Jerome Robbins
Composer: Philip Glass
Conductor: Martin West
Courtney Elizabeth, Hansuke Yamamoto
Elana Altman, Anthony Spaulding
Dana Genshaft, Sean Orza*
Sofiane Sylve*, Pierre-François Vilanoba
In the event of injury or illness, casting is subject to change
Program 6–OPENING NIGHT–Friday, March 23, 2012 – 8:00PM
RAYMONDA ACT III
Choreographer: Rudolf Nureyev
Composer: Alexander Glazunov
Conductor: Martin West
Countess Sybille: Elana Altman*
King of Hungary: Pierre-François Vilanoba*
Raymonda: Sofiane Sylve*
Jean de Brienne: Tiit Helimets*
Grand Pas Classique: Dores Andre*, Courtney Elizabeth*, Dana Genshaft*, Frances Chung*
Charlene Cohen*, Nicole Ciapponi*, Vanessa Zahorian, Sarah Van Patten*
Luke Willis*, Steven Morse*, Sebastian Vinet*, Lonnie Weeks*
Isaac Hernandez*, Hansuke Yamamoto*, Daniel Deivison-Oliveira*, Quinn Wharton*
1st solo: Sarah Van Patten
2nd solo: Frances Chung
3rd solo: Vanessa Zahorian
4th solo: Charlene Cohen
Pas de Quatre: Hansuke Yamamoto, Isaac Hernandez, Daniel Deivison-Oliveira, Steven Morse
Pas de Trois: Nicole Ciapponi, Dores Andre, Courtney Elizabeth
INTERMISSION
RAkU
Choreographer: Yuri Possokhov
Composer: Shinji Eshima
Conductor: Martin West
Yuan Yuan Tan, Damian Smith
Pascal Molat
INTERMISSION
GUIDE TO STRANGE PLACES
Choreographer: Ashley Page
Composer: John Adams
Conductor: Martin West
Sarah Van Patten*, Anthony Spaulding*
Maria Kochetkova*, Gennadi Nedvigin*
Frances Chung*, Pascal Molat*
Vanessa Zahorian*, Jaime Garcia Castilla*
*Denotes premiere in role
Tags: 2012, bay area, california, Edwaard Liang, Glass Pieces, Helgi Tomasson, Jerome Robbins, Maria Kochetkova, Odette's Ordeal, Philip Glass, program 5, program 6, Programs 5, San Francisco, san francisco ballet, San Francisco Ballet casting, sf ballet, sfb, sfballet, Sofiane Sylve, Symphonic Dances, Teri McCollum, The Fifth Season, tickets, Tiit Helimets, Vito Mazzeo, Vitor Luiz, Yuan Yuan Tan
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Friday, February 24th, 2012
Before you look ahead to Romeo and Juliet and Programs 5 and 6 coming up in March, don’t miss out on your chances to see Program 2 or Program 3 at our world-class San Francisco Ballet.
The dog ate my homework on this one, so this will be a short post. (If I had to pick one to see again, it’d be Program #3, but that’s just me.)
Tags: 2011-2012, 2012, bay area, california, Program 2, program 3, San Francisco, san francisco ballet
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Thursday, February 9th, 2012
This is it: 2012 is the year to impress your Valentine’s Day date by attending a showing of the vaunted, world-class San Francisco Ballet for less than what it cost you to see Transformers III: Dark of the Moon at the AMC.
Check it:
“Our gift to you: we’re offering 2-for-1 ballet tickets for Valentine’s Day! Be quick as these WILL sell out!”
So there you go. Type in the secret code and then all the available seats you can see will be marked down – for example Balcony
Center tickets will cost you just $30 a pair.
ZOMG!
Maria Kochetkova and Gennadi Nedvigin in Wheeldon’s Number Nine. © Erik Tomasson
You’re going to be seeing Program 2, which is contemporary ballet so there’s no need to study up on the plot first – just get you ticks and go.
“Join San Francisco Ballet for the return of Wayne McGregor’s stunning Chroma, an award-winning contemporary work proclaimed “ravishing on all fronts” by theSunday Times (UK), set to music compositions by Joby Talbot and arrangements by Jack White III. The evening also features Beaux, a world premiere work by acclaimed choreographer Mark Morris, and an encore presentation of Christopher Wheeldon’s breathtaking Number Nine, featuring a large ensemble of 24 dancers and set to an exhilarating score by Michael Torke.
Read the program notes.
The 2011 world premiere of Number Nine was made possible by Lead Sponsors Shelby and Frederick Gans, David and Kelsey Lamond, and Mr. and Mrs. James N. Sullivan, and by Major Sponsors Rosemary B. Baker, and Jennifer Caldwell and John H. N. Fisher, and by Sponsors Courtney Benoist and Jason M. Fish. The 2012 world premiere of Beaux is made possible by Lead Sponsors Mrs. Suzy Kellems Dominik and The Bernard Osher Foundation.”
See you there!
PROGRAM 2: OPENING NIGHT – Tuesday, February 14 – 8:00PM
Chroma
Choreographer: Wayne McGregor
Composer: Joby Talbot, Jack White III
Conductor: Martin West
Maria Kochetkova, Jaime Garcia Castilla
Frances Chung, Pascal Molat
Yuan Yuan Tan, Taras Domitro
Dana Genshaft, Anthony Spaulding
Isaac Hernandez, Garen Scribner
INTERMISSION
World Premiere
Beaux
Choreographer: Mark Morris
Composer: Bohuslav Martinů
Conductor: Martin West
Harpsichord: Bradley Moore
Jeremy Rucker*, Pascal Molat*, Benjamin Stewart*
Vito Mazzeo*, Ruben Martin Cintas*, Gennadi Nedvigin*
Sean Bennett*, Jaime Garcia Castilla*, Diego Cruz*
INTERMISSION
Number Nine©
Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon
Composer: Michael Torke
Conductor: Charles Barker
Dores Andre, Daniel Deivison-Oliveira
Vanessa Zahorian, Garen Scribner
Sarah Van Patten, Ruben Martin Cintas,
Sofiane Sylve*, Vito Mazzeo*
*Denotes premiere in role
In the event of injury or illness, casting is subject to change
Tags: Anthony Spaulding, Ballet, Beaux, Benjamin Stewart, Bernard Osher, Bernard Osher Foundation, Bohuslav Martinů, Bradley Moore, casting, Charles Barker, Choreographer, choreography, Christopher Wheeldon, civic center, Composer, Conductor, contemporary, Courtney Benoist, Cox Broadcasting, Dana Genshaft, Dance, Daniel Deivison-Oliveira, David Lamond, Diego Cruz, Dores Andre, erik tomasson, Foundation, Frances Chung, Frederick Gans, Garen Scribner, Gennadi Nedvigin, Harpsichord, Helgi Tomasson, iii, Isaac Hernandez, Jack White, Jaime Garcia Castilla, James N. Sullivan, James Sullivan, Jason Fish, Jason M. Fish, Jennifer Caldwell, Jeremy Rucker, Joby Talbot, John Fisher, John H. N. Fisher, Kelsey Lamond, Lead Sponsor, Lead Sponsors, Major, Major Sponsors, Maria Kochetkova, mark morris, Martin West, Michael Torke, Mr. and Mrs. James N. Sullivan, Number Nine, Pascal Molat, premiere, Rosemary B. Baker, Rosemary Baker, Ruben Martin Cintas, san francisco ballet, Sarah Van Patten, Sean Bennett, sf ballet, Shelby and Frederick Gans, Shelby gans, Sofiane Sylve, sponsor, Sponsors, Suzy Dominik, Suzy Kellems Dominik, Taras Domitro, valentine's day, valentines, Vanessa Zahorian, Vito Mazzeo, Wayne McGregor, world, World Premiere, Yuan Yuan Tan
Posted in Ballet | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
If you’ve never seen ballet before,* this is it. This week is your last chance to see the debut performances of Onegin from our world-class San Francisco Ballet in our world-class War Memorial Opera House.
The plot is super simple – it’s easy to follow along. So, as Sean Martinfield points out, you shouldn’t expect a bunch of twists and turns and “resolving climaxes.”
No matter, this production is VERY IMPRESSIVE.
Get your tickets here for tonight or Wednesday or Thursday or Friday. And then it will be gone, before you know it. And then you’ll have the rest of this full-spectrum season to consider.
Vitor Luiz & Maria Kochetkova in Onegin – Photo © Erik Tomasson
Oh, the reviews are in:
Mary Ellen Hunt in the San Francisco Chronicle;
Ann Murphy in the San Jose Mercury News;
Saturday Matinee;
ART Hound; and
Odette’s Ordeal (Wow, there’s a lot of stuff here. Is Teri McCollum going to see four shows in this run? Wow.)
All right, see you there!
TUESDAY, 1/31
Onegin: Vitor Luiz; Tatiana: Maria Kochetkova; Lensky: Gennadi Nedvigin; Olga: Clara Blanco. Conductor: Martin West. Performance begins at 8:00 pm.
WEDNESDAY, 2/1
Onegin: Davit Karapetyan; Tatiana: Vanessa Zahorian; Lenksy: Taras Domitro; Olga: Dana Genshaft; Gremin: Quinn Wharton. Conductor: David LaMarche. Performance begins at 7:30 pm.
THURSDAY, 2/2
Onegin: Pierre-Francois Vilanoba; Tatiana: Sarah Van Patten; Lensky: Isaac Hernandez; Olga: Courtney Elizabeth; Gremin: Tiit Helimets. Conductor: David LaMarche. Performance begins at 8:00 pm.
FRIDAY, 2/3
Onegin: Ruben Martin Cintas; Tatiana: Yuan Yuan Tan; Lensky: Jaime Garcia Castilla; Olga: Dores Andre; Gremin: Damian Smith. Conductor: Martin West. Performance begins at 8:00 pm.
* And if it turns out you don’t like what you see, then you don’t like ballet. And that’s fine, at least you tried. And how much money will you be out, like double the cost of going to see Ernest Goes to Camp II 3D at the Metreon? Something like that.
Tags: 2012, Ann Murphy, ART Hound, Ballet, bay area, california, casting, critic, Dance, Davit Karapetyan, erik tomasson, Maria Kochetkova, Mary Ellen Hunt, Odette's Ordeal, Pierre-François Vilanoba, review, reviewer, reviews, Ruben Martin Cintas, San Francisco, san francisco ballet, Sarah Van Patten, Saturday Matinee, Seán Martinfield, seats, tatiana, Teri McCollum, tickets, Vanessa Zahorian, Vitor Luiz, Yuan Yuan Tan
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Monday, November 14th, 2011
World-famous ballerina Maria Kochetkova is down in Mexico City these days, but she’ll be back to our world-class San Francisco Ballet for the 2012 Season soon enough.
This one is simply entitled, “Me Dancing.”
Via balletrusse
Hey, speaking of ballet, here’s a recent announcement about why you always see gaggles of ballet students congregating around Civic Center every summer:
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET SCHOOL ANNOUNCES - NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUDITION TOURS
SAN FRANCISCO –San Francisco Ballet School, the official school of San Francisco Ballet, has announced the schedule for its first-ever International Audition Tour. The School has also announced the dates for its 2012 National Audition Tour. Over the course of three months, hundreds of teenage girls and boys from across Europe and the U.S. will audition for an invitation to attend one of two Summer Sessions offered by San Francisco Ballet School. These include Program 1, a three-week program for intermediate students, and Program 2, a four-week program designed for advanced and pre-professional students. Program 1 will be held this summer from June 11–29; Program 2 will be held July 9–August 3.
The 2012 International Audition Tour is scheduled to visit 4 European cities: London; Madrid; Marseille, France and Florence, Italy. These auditions will be held for advanced and pre-professional students, only.
The 2012 National Audition Tour is scheduled to visit 11 U.S. cities: Boca Raton, FL; Boston; Chicago; Dallas/Ft. Worth; Irvine, CA; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica, CA; Seattle; Washington, D.C. and Winston-Salem, NC.
“There are many talented young dancers throughout Europe who are well-suited to participate in our training programs,” said Lola de Avila, associate director of the San Francisco Ballet School. “For the first time ever, San Francisco Ballet School is thrilled to hold international auditions, offering prospective students the chance to receive the highest-caliber training.”
Nearly 1,500 intermediate and advanced-level students are expected to audition on the tour, vying for approximately 125 positions for each of the School’s Summer Session programs. The Summer Sessions will include intensive classes in classical ballet technique, pointe work, batterie, dance history, repertoire, character, and Pilates. Students must attend a Summer Session in order to be considered for admittance to the School’s regular school year program.
About San Francisco Ballet School
San Francisco Ballet School, the country’s oldest classical academy, is directed by San Francisco Ballet Artistic Director and Choreographer Helgi Tomasson and Associate Director Lola de Avila. Now, over 75 years after its founding, the School boasts a distinguished international staff, a Trainee Program for advanced-level students, a dedicated student residence, and an extensive scholarship program. San Francisco Ballet School attracts students from around the world, training approximately 350 annually. In addition to filling the ranks of San Francisco Ballet, graduates have gone on to join distinguished ballet companies throughout the world.
For more information on San Francisco Ballet School’s Summer Sessions, visit: www.sfballet.org/school/summer_session.
Tags: 2011, 2012, advanced, Associate, Associate Director, audition, Ballet School, batterie, Boca Raton, boston, california, chicago, Choreographer Helgi Tomasson, City, classical, d. c., Dallas, director, fl, Florence, france, ft worth, History, intermediate, international, Irvine, italy, Lola de Avila, London, Ma, madrid, Maria Kochetkova, Marseille, Me Dancing, mexico, Mexico City, national, National Audition Tour, nc, new york, pilates, pointe, Principal Dancer, program, repertoire, San Francisco, San Francisco Ballet School, Santa Monica, scholarship, spain, students, summer, Summer Sessions, t Artistic Director, three-week, Trainee, tweet, twitter, Washington, Winston-Salem
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Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
Like the swallows to Capistrano, you just know you can count on junior ballerinas to appear in the 415 each and every June.
I missed their arrival but finally made a sighting for 2011. Hurray!
This was the vanguard – there was another couple dozen trailing, peas in a pod:
Click to expand
Tags: (BART), 2011, ballerina, Ballet, bay area, california, civic center, Dance, Junior Ballerina Abbey Road, San Francisco, students, summer, van ness
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Thursday, May 12th, 2011
Just as the cliff swallows of Argentina journey to San Juan Capistrano every summer, America’s youthful ballerinas flock to San Francisco each May to fill your commuter bus to the brim.
They’ll stay for the summer, you’ll see.
Hurray!
Click to expand
Tags: 2011, ballerina, Ballet, bay area, bus, california, fulton, kids, mcallister, Muni, San Francisco, summer
Posted in Ballet, Dance | No Comments »
Sunday, May 1st, 2011
Well here you go, all you need to know about Little Mermaid 2011 at Ordette’s Ordeal.
So all you can do now is to bone up on the deets and make plans to see the show, as these people just did:
“Another haunting performance by the great Tan Yuan Yuan of the San Francisco Ballet in “The Little Mermaid.” Brava!”
“The little mermaid ballet was beautiful!”
In the meantime, take a listen to Yuan Yuan Tan.
Yuan Yuan Tan and Damian Smith in Neumeier’s The Little Mermaid (Erik Tomasson)
Here are some reviews from last year.
All right, see you there!
Tue, May 3, 2011, 8:00 PM
Wed, May 4, 2011, 7:30 PM
Thu, May 5, 2011, 8:00 PM
Fri, May 6, 2011, 8:00 PM
Sat, May 7, 2011, 2:00 PM
Sat, May 7, 2011, 8:00 PM
Sun, May 8, 2011, 2:00 PM
Tags: 2011, ballerina, Ballet, bay area, california, Little Mermaid, Neumeier, Neumeier's, Program 8, review, reviews, San Francisco, SF, Yuan Yuan Tan
Posted in Ballet, Dance | No Comments »
Monday, April 11th, 2011
Program 6:
Allan Ulrich, San Francisco Chronicle Dance Correspondent
Per Sean MartinField, “PROGRAM 6 is one of the finest triptych’s ever assembled by the San Francisco Ballet“
And here’s Becca Klarin
Program 7:
Rita Felciano: “Two Reprises, One Premiere“
And Ann Murphy brings it all home for us.
Watch the trailer for our San Francisco Ballet‘s Programs 6 and 7 right here.
(So, Program 6 has 7 for Eight and Program 7 has Number Nine, srsly?)
And after these two end on April 20th, we’ll get the chance to see the return of the dramatic Little Mermaid (Program 8). And speaking of which, two of the Little Mermaid performances in May will be recorded by eight high-def cameras for Great Performances on PBS, so how about that?
And then that will be it for the 2010-2011 season.
All the deets, below
PROGRAM 6
Run Time: 2:05
Read the program notes
7 for Eight
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson
Ghosts©
Composer: C.F. Kip Winger
Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon
Chroma – Critically Acclaimed-NEW!
Composers: Joby Talbot, Jack White
Choreographer: Wayne McGregor
Christopher Wheeldon’s Ghosts—an ethereal journey of moods and movement melds to Bach’s keyboard concertos that serve as inspiration for Helgi Tomasson’s elegant and neoclassical 7 for Eight. And not to be missed is the SF Ballet premiere of Wayne McGregor’s critical sensation Chroma, set to original compositions by Joby Talbot and arrangements by Jack White of The White Stripes.
Choose a Date:
Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 8:00 PM
Fri, Apr 15, 2011, 8:00 PM
Sun, Apr 17, 2011, 2:00 PM
Wed, Apr 20, 2011, 7:30 PM
PROGRAM 7
Run Time: 2:08
Read the program notes
Underskin
Composer: Arnold Schoenberg
Choreographer: Renato Zanella
Number Nine – World Premiere!
Composer: Michael Torke
Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon
Petrouchka – Cultural Treasure!
Composer: Igor Stravinsky
Choreographer: Michel Fokine
Set to a passionate composition by Arnold Schoenberg, Renato Zanella’s Underskin reveals the power and mystique of its female protagonists. Next, Christopher Wheeldon’s world premiere of Number Nine offers a rich and electrifying work for 24 dancers,followed by Fokine’s Petrouchka, the tragic tale of a puppet who possesses a human soul, only to be tortured by the emptiness and ignorance of others.
From the Hellman Family in honor of Patricia C. Hellman, also known as “Patrichka,” a former professional ballet dancer and soloist with the London Festival Ballet.
Choose a Date:
Wed, Apr 13, 2011, 7:30 PM
Thu, Apr 14, 2011, 8:00 PM
Sat, Apr 16, 2011, 2:00 PM
Sat, Apr 16, 2011, 8:00 PM
Tue, Apr 19, 2011, 8:00 PM
Tags: 2010-2011, 7 for Eight, Arnold Schoenberg, Bach, C.F., C.F. Kip Winger, Choreographer, Choreographerz, Christopher, Christopher Wheeldon, Chroma, clown, Composer, Composers, Dance, ghosts, Helgi Tomasson, Jack White, Joby Talbot, Kip, Michael Torke, Michel Fokine, Number Nine, Petrouchka, program 6, Program 7, Renato Zanella, sad clown, sad sad clown, san francisco ballet, season, sf ballet, Underskin, Wayne McGregor, Winger
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Tuesday, April 5th, 2011
Watch the trailer for our San Francisco Ballet‘s Programs 6 and 7 right here.
(So, Program 6 has 7 for Eight and Program 7 has Number Nine, srsly?)
And after these two end on April 20th, we’ll get the chance to see the return of the dramatic Little Mermaid (Program 8). And then that will be it for the 2010-2011 season.
All the deets, below
PROGRAM 6
Run Time: 2:05
Read the program notes
7 for Eight
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson
Ghosts©
Composer: C.F. Kip Winger
Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon
Chroma – Critically Acclaimed-NEW!
Composers: Joby Talbot, Jack White
Choreographer: Wayne McGregor
Christopher Wheeldon’s Ghosts—an ethereal journey of moods and movement melds to Bach’s keyboard concertos that serve as inspiration for Helgi Tomasson’s elegant and neoclassical 7 for Eight. And not to be missed is the SF Ballet premiere of Wayne McGregor’s critical sensation Chroma, set to original compositions by Joby Talbot and arrangements by Jack White of The White Stripes.
Choose a Date:
Thu, Apr 7, 2011, 8:00 PM
Sat, Apr 9, 2011, 2:00 PM
Sat, Apr 9, 2011, 8:00 PM
Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 8:00 PM
Fri, Apr 15, 2011, 8:00 PM
Sun, Apr 17, 2011, 2:00 PM
Wed, Apr 20, 2011, 7:30 PM
PROGRAM 7
Run Time: 2:08
Read the program notes
Underskin
Composer: Arnold Schoenberg
Choreographer: Renato Zanella
Number Nine – World Premiere!
Composer: Michael Torke
Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon
Petrouchka – Cultural Treasure!
Composer: Igor Stravinsky
Choreographer: Michel Fokine
Set to a passionate composition by Arnold Schoenberg, Renato Zanella’s Underskin reveals the power and mystique of its female protagonists. Next, Christopher Wheeldon’s world premiere of Number Nine offers a rich and electrifying work for 24 dancers,followed by Fokine’s Petrouchka, the tragic tale of a puppet who possesses a human soul, only to be tortured by the emptiness and ignorance of others.
From the Hellman Family in honor of Patricia C. Hellman, also known as “Patrichka,” a former professional ballet dancer and soloist with the London Festival Ballet.
Choose a Date:
Fri, Apr 8, 2011, 8:00 PM
Sun, Apr 10, 2011, 2:00 PM
Wed, Apr 13, 2011, 7:30 PM
Thu, Apr 14, 2011, 8:00 PM
Sat, Apr 16, 2011, 2:00 PM
Sat, Apr 16, 2011, 8:00 PM
Tue, Apr 19, 2011, 8:00 PM
Tags: 2010-2011, 7 for Eight, Arnold Schoenberg, Bach, C.F., C.F. Kip Winger, Choreographer, Choreographerz, Christopher, Christopher Wheeldon, Chroma, clown, Composer, Composers, Dance, ghosts, Helgi Tomasson, Jack White, Joby Talbot, Kip, Michael Torke, Michel Fokine, Number Nine, Petrouchka, program 6, Program 7, Renato Zanella, sad clown, sad sad clown, san francisco ballet, season, sf ballet, Underskin, Wayne McGregor, Winger
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