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Congratulations to Sasha De Sola on her graduation (with honors) from St. Mary's College - another LEAP program success story: https://www.instagram.com/p/CsjRT4NLLRS/

Congratulations to Frances Chung and husband John Flaherty on the birth of their daughter, Faye Ella Flaherty. https://www.instagram.com/p/CrrXiaHAmqP/

Promotions generally come at a different time of year/season. Of course, it's all up to Rojo now, as to how she wants to handle it. Jimison was promoted to Soloist in 2021, I think. Great to hear that Pascal Molat is going to be on stage again.

MK's pregnancy images by photographer Betty Nansen Teatret: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr0XD98NwkH/

The Magic Within the Living Legacy of Virginia Johnson American ballet pioneer, cultural icon, and change maker. By Djassi DaCosta Johnson https://enfacemagazine.com/blog/2023/04/19/the-magic-within-the-living-legacy-of-virginia-johnson/

TCM was airing "Another Thin Man" tonight - a film I've seen a number of times, but I always manage to forget about the great rhumba dance performed in the obligatory nightclub scene: René Rivero Guillén and Ramona Estella Ajón perform a Rhumba dance

Rachel Howard's review of SFB's Romeo & Juliet (in the Fjord Review) mentions that Danielle St.Germain "took the top fundraising job at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco", so it may be a case of St.Germain being offered her dream job, and she leapt at the chance. Boards don't much like being jerked around though, so there will be no going back.

As Volcanohunter mentioned, Froustey is in her final few years as a dancer, so it's really a shame she couldn't finish things on a high note at SFB. But a collection of problems conspired against her. At this point, I think Tamara Rojo would be more of an excuse than a catalyst for the various leavings/retirements. It's simply a time of change. Every company that brings in a new A.D. sees some upheaval. At other companies, there have been A.D.'s that massively restructured things and let go of a lot of dancers, but I doubt Rojo is looking to do that - she has enough open positions to work with. I would think that she would want her first year to have as little drama as possible since there's so much for her to learn. Too much craziness and the board members quickly become disenchanted.

Things did seem to get messed up for Mathilde over the last 3 years (as happened for various dancers around the world). Likely her marriage is kaput. She's going back to her 'home town' basically - an area of France she continues to love.

SFB posted a YouTube video celebrating the career of Tiit Helimets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_4hHM603AE

I must have looked at her Instagram page 5 minutes before she posted. 😉 Yes, it's more sad news. Her generation of dancers is disappearing from SFB in any case. I believe Mathilde's favorite partner was Tiit Helimets, and he's gone now. And there's been plenty of outward signs that her life had been totally disrupted during the pandemic and U.S. visa hassles. We don't know officially what the state of her marriage is, but there are few good signs there. Who knows what all happened.

Although I've heard nothing official on this side of the Atlantic, this announcement would make it official: "Mathilde Froustey previously held the position of Principal Dancer at the San Francisco Ballet and we are delighted with the return to France of this great artist." https://www.opera-bordeaux.com/nomination-de-deux-etoiles-au-ballet-de-lopera-national-de-bordeaux-37542

Mathilde Froustey posted some great photos from the SFB rehearsal studio - with son Claude playing on a mat. https://www.instagram.com/p/CrrX5ejPSnN/

Related to these roster and staff changes (or not), 2023 will be Patrick Armand’s final season as School Director (and the 90th anniversary of the SF Ballet School).

"From May 24—26, please join San Francisco Ballet School as we celebrate Patrick Armand’s final season as School Director and the 90th anniversary of the SF Ballet School at the SF Ballet School 2023 Spring Festival. Held at the Blue Shield Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, this year’s event will include three evenings of SF Ballet School ON STAGE performances, a fundraising dinner on Thursday, and more opportunities to learn about ballet. SF Ballet School ON STAGE will honor the school’s history and bright future by featuring different programs across three evenings of performances from May 24 to 26. Wednesday, May 24 Student Demonstration (Karen Gabay) Excerpt from Beauty and the Beast (Lew Christensen) Stereo is King (Dana Genshaft) Frescos (Arthur Saint-Leon and Marius Petipa) Myles Thatcher World Premiere Thursday, May 25 Student Demonstration (Karen Gabay) Pyramides (Raphaël Besse)* Myles Thatcher New Work Friday, May 26 Student Demonstration (Karen Gabay) Excerpt from Beauty and the Beast (Lew Christensen) Stereo is King (Dana Genshaft) We… (Viktor Plotnikov) Frescos (Arthur Saint-Leon and Marius Petipa) Myles Thatcher New Work *Indicates work created as part of the Helgi Tomasson Choreographic Workshop. Programming is subject to change." https://www.sfballet.org/productions/2023-spring-festival/

Tamara Rojo interviewed on CNN's Amanpour and Company: https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2023/04/20/ballet-tamara-rojo-san-francisco-amanpour.cnn

Maria Kochetkova's latest 'project': 😉 https://www.instagram.com/p/CrjDcxXLF2q/

I was just thinking about Hansuke a day or two ago - I was wondering if anyone was seeing him dance anymore. He's been a soloist with SFB for 18 years now, I believe. I wonder what his plans are now?

This is a fun video - honoring the work that goes into the R&J sword fight choreography: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3QTxxHMqek

There don't seem to have been any so-so performances of this last program. It's been nothing but raves. 😉

Welcome nycgal - we're happy to have more people reporting on SFB. Enjoy!

I imagine Helgi Tomasson would have been one of the interviewees, but the article doesn't list who appears in the documentary.

Fortunately, SFB is continuing with the "Starry Nights" performances at Frost Amphitheater in Palo Alto: Starry Nights at Frost Amphitheater "SF Ballet is returning to Frost Amphitheater on August 3 and 4. You're invited to experience unique performances outdoors on a beautiful, state-of-the-art stage. To purchase tickets to Starry Nights, visit Stanford Live. Commissioned and created for our next@90 festival, Yuri Possokhov's Violin Concerto reimagines Stravinsky's celebrated score with a fresh and bold interpretation. Steeped in classical vocabulary that shows off the steely technique of our dancers, it was met with standing ovations and rave reviews. The Company brings another stand-out work from the next@90 festival, Danielle Rowe's MADCAP. The eerie, carnival-inspired score by Swedish indie rocker Pat Hägström, paired with famed designer, Emma Kingsbury's costumes, transports us seamlessly into Rowe's sinister world of the clown after the circus lights go dark. MADCAP was dubbed a "triumph" by the San Francisco Chronicle and is perfect for those who enjoy musical theater with a macabre twist. Enjoy performances with friends at a VIP table or on the lawn with a fun BYOP (bring your own picnic) and watch as our world-renowned dancers dazzle under the stars." https://live.stanford.edu/calendar/august-2023/starry-nights

Summer and Smoke: Cathy Marston on Transforming Beloved Books into Breathtaking Ballets by Alanna Love https://enfacemagazine.com/blog/2023/03/01/summer-and-smoke-cathy-marston-on-transforming-beloved-books-into-breathtaking-ballets/

Choreographer Cathy Marston will become Director of Ballett Zürich, Switzerland, starting in August 2023. She was the director of Bern Ballett from 2007–2013. Two San Francisco Ballet principals that she has created on in the past will also be coming to Ballett Zurich: Dores Andre and Max Cauthorn.