California

San Francisco Ballet has just announced their 2022 repertory season: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/2022-season/ Tomasson's own works: world premiere of Harmony; reprises of Trio, Caprice, The Fifth Season, Prism; and full-length story ballets Don Quixote and Swan Lake World premiere of Mrs. Robinson by Cathy Marston World premieres by Dwight Rhoden and Christopher Wheeldon SF Ballet premieres of Blake Works I by William Forsythe and The Seasons by Alexei Ratmansky Fan favorites George Balanchine's Symphony in C, In The Night by Jerome Robbins, and La Sylphide by August Bournonville

Please note that there is now a separate thread on the season:

More sources: New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/03/arts/dance/jacques-damboise-dead.html Chicago Sun-Times: https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/5/3/22417798/jacques-damboise-dead-ballet-dance-new-york-national-dance-institute ABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/dancer-jacques-damboise-dead-86-77467358 Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/jacques-damboise-dead/2021/05/03/a94d8fe4-2254-11e0-8c82-11d7dab8bc4b_story.html Nothing (yet) on the NYCB or SAB sites

From Broadway World: https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Dance-Legend-Jacque-dAmboise-Passes-Away-at-86-20210503

The July tour is actually quite impressive, most notably for providing employment for a lot of dancers! From the credits, it looks like it's being supported by a private foundation and other donors. It's not the sort of thing that would tempt a serious balletomane to jump onto an airplane, but it should reach new audiences, and that's a good thing. PS: I noticed that the Ratmansky Nutcracker seems to be planned for 2021 in Costa Mesa, although no information on dates can be found on the ABT or Segerstrom sites: 2021 performance dates to be announced. https://www.abt.org/performances/the-nutcracker/

Ballet Arizona has a very nice (free) gala Saturday, May 8 for 24 hours: SET THE STAGE: BALANCHINE May 8, 2021 at 7pm for 24 hours on Ballet Arizona's Vimeo Channel FREE Digital Performance English and Spanish Versions Available This special digital performance showcases some of Ballet Arizona’s favorite Balanchine ballets along with a spirited finale from Nayon Iovino’s celebrated and electric Mambaz. Set the Stage: BALANCHINE combines Ballet Arizona’s reimagined 2021 Gala, with these favorite performance excerpts. Viewers will also witness the presentation of the 2021 Hazel Hare Award of Artistic Excellence. Learn more about our Gala! Contact our Box Office M-F 9am-5:30pm at 602-381-1096 or email at boxoffice@balletaz.org What's included? Emeralds, 1st Movement Walpurgisnacht Ballet, 1st Movement Symphony in Three Movements, 1st Movement La Sonnambula, Pas de Deux Western Symphony, Final Movement Mambaz, Exerpts Photos by Rosalie O'Connor and Alexander Iziliaev. Thank you to our Lead Sponsors MidFirst, Carole & Arte Moreno, and Daryl & Chip Weil Please consider supporting Ballet Arizona and help make our spring digital performance FREE! Donate Here ‌ ‌ Ballet Arizona | 2835 E. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85034

I'm so impressed with the PA Ballet series. They figured out how to do this with new performances, no masks, appropriate scenery and lighting. Very impressive (although I'm sure different cities imposed different limitations on the other companies we're seeing).

Washington Ballet has just announced two in-person performances May 7 & 8, 2021: Performance alert: May 7 & 8 at the Washington National Cathedral We are THRILLED to announce our first in-person performance since February 2020! Join us at the Washington National Cathedral on May 7-8 for an evening of artistic fusion combining The Washington Ballet and Michael Pendry’s “Les Colombes” exhibit in "Ballet + Doves: Unbound." This event includes a viewing of the doves exhibit followed by an interpretive performance by Washington Ballet Company dancers Maki Onuki and Tamas Krizsa. The 7:30 viewing times conclude with a panel discussion with the performers. Commissioned by the Cathedral as a complement to Pendry's "Les Colombes," Washington Ballet dancer and choreographer Tamás Krizsa created a site-specific pas de deux titled "Unbound." Inspired by the power and grace of Pendry's installation and Blake Neely's original score, dancers Onuki and Krizsa are but two doves in the flock of 2,000, having broken off to explore. Together, they find balance and comfort in each other, and as part of the flock, as they soar through the iconic nave to live music. The ballet is a physical embodiment of the themes of hope, peace, and unity that doves represent, and features the debut of a new, original score by film composer and TWB collaborator Blake Neely. Get tickets

The Kennedy Center has just announced the 2021-22 ballet/dance series: https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/season-announcement/ballet-dance/ The story in Broadway world: https://www.broadwayworld.com/washington-dc/article/Kennedy-Center-Announces-2021-2022-Ballet-and-Dance-Season-20210429

I'm not sure where to post this. On the Kennedy Center-ballet site they are announcing three rehearsals open to Friends, with dates for ticket sales: https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/ballet/ Miami City Ballet: November 24, 2021 [ticket sales: September 7] ABT: March 31, 2022 [ticket sales: November 2] Mariinsky: April 26, 2022 [ticket sales: November 2] They are all "on stage." If you search through the Calendar section, they all say "Opera House." Hoping they announce the actual season soon!

The pandemic has spoiled us -- we assume we can watch everything on a digital stream now and that won't always be the case! I can't justify a trip to NYC to see one program, but would love to see this on-line. (I had a similar reaction to the Sarasota Ballet announcement of their next season!)

School of American Ballet just sent out email that they are planning outdoor performances June 8 and 9 for their spring workshop: We are thrilled to share the news of the School of American Ballet’s Spring Showcase at Damrosch Park on June 8 and 9, in lieu of our annual Workshop Performances at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater. There will be an exclusive ticket opportunity for Members in mid-May, so please keep an eye on your inbox for additional announcements and information in the coming weeks. Featuring students in our Advanced Division, the program will include variations from nine ballets: Cortège Hongrois Divertimento No. 15 Donizetti Variations La Source Raymonda Variations Square Dance The Four Seasons Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux Who Cares? Staged by: SAB Faculty Members Aesha Ash, Arch Higgins, Katrina Killian, Kay Mazzo, Allen Peiffer, Susan Pilarre, Suki Schorer, and Andrew Scordato Tickets will go on sale in mid-May. Stay tuned for more information on ticketing and performance times.

Sarasota Ballet's 6th and final digital program is running this weekend, through Tuesday, with three Ashton ballets. I'm no expert on Ashton, but they are all very nicely done. $35 for the remaining program. Unlimited viewing. https://www.sarasotaballet.org/events/digital-program-6 Sir Frederick Ashton's Valses nobles et sentimentales Sir Frederick Ashton's The Walk to the Paradise Garden Sir Frederick Ashton's Façade

Fran joined the company in 2013, after dancing with Corella's company in Spain (where he met his now-wife, Tracy Jones): https://coloradoballet.org/Francisco-Estevez Still no information about where any of them are headed or the new company roster for 2021-22.

I have to agree, but that might have something to do with my preference for comfort food nowadays. The program needed a barn-burner of some kind.

Both announcements came out of the blue and I'm devastated at the loss, especially Fran, who had been developing a great partnership with Asuka Sasuki. Saturday morning he posted on Instagram (publicly-below) that the matinee (which they streamed digitally) would be his last with the company. I have no clue what either one is doing next, but he's a huge loss. That leaves Yosvani Ramos as their remaining male principal. He's 41 and recovering from another injury (which he is very public about on Instagram). But he and Dana Benton were terrific at the Sunday matinee in White Swan PdD and a PdD from Giselle. I won't comment beyond that. They haven't posted a dancer roster for the new season, but I'll be looking to see what other changes are in store. New hires? promotions? I have no idea. https://www.instagram.com/p/CNxd-YngLCS/

I'm wondering what they will do for fall. I have both Moderna shots, but I understand the CDC cards we have are easily forged. My state (Colorado) doesn't seem eager to set up a validation system like New York's (which I gather has some problems anyway). I believe they are selling regular subscriptions for fall. Are they trying to do spacing in that theater? Anybody know yet? That first week looks very tempting -- especially the opening night, which I suspect will be a great celebration and an event to remember, no matter what they perform.

This is definitely worth a visit! Free access to the complete Robbins' Fanfare (the only one available, as far as I know). This is a staple every few years at the SAB Workshop. I love the music and Robbins' choreography is such a nice opportunity for students:

Sarasota Ballet has just announced their in-person season for 2021-2022: https://www.sarasotaballet.org/2021-2022-season (This is where I realize that COVID/digital streaming has ruined me. There are some things on here I would like to see, but not enough to fly to Sarasota to see them!) Program 1 – New World | 22 – 24 October 2021 FSU Center for the Performing ArtsAppalachian Spring Choreography by Martha Graham Music by Aaron Copland World Premiere Choreography by Ricardo Graziano Music to be announced Program 2 – Day & Night | 19 – 20 November 2021 Sarasota Opera House Summertide Choreography by Sir Peter Wright Music by Felix Mendelssohn Nine Sinatra Songs Choreography by Twyla Tharp Music by Frank Sinatra Program 3 – Giselle | 17 – 18 December 2021 Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Giselle Production by Sir Peter Wright Original Choreography by Jules Perrot and Jean Coralli Music by Adolphe Adam Program 4 – Love & Betrayal | 28 – 31 January 2022 FSU Center for the Performing Arts Valses nobles et sentimentales Choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton Music by Maurice Ravel The Rake’s Progress Choreography by Dame Ninette de Valois Music by Gavin Gordon Napoli Act III Production by Johan Kobborg Choreography after August Bournonville Music by Edvard Helsted & Holger Simon Paulli Program 5 – Mark Morris Dance Group | 4 – 7 March 2022 FSU Center for the Performing Arts The Sarasota Ballet Presents: Mark Morris Dance Group Program 6 – A Comedy of Errors | 25 – 26 March 2022 Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall A Comedy of Errors (World Premiere) Choreography by Sir David Bintley Music by Matthew Hindson (commissioned score) Designs by Dick Bird Program 7 – Serendipitous Movement | 29 – 30 April 2022 Sarasota Opera House Serenade Choreography by George Balanchine Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky The Letter V (Company Premiere) Choreography by Mark Morris Music by Joseph Haydn Elite Syncopations Choreography by Sir Kenneth MacMillan Music by Scott Joplin et al.

Alexei Ratmansky's statement on Scarlett: https://www.instagram.com/p/CNy1jfigqOo/

The National Endowment for the Humanities just announced a new round of grants, totaling $24 million. One on dance might be of interest: Chantal Frankenbach Outright: $6,000 [Summer Stipends] California State University, Sacramento Project Title: Isadora Duncan and the Popularization of Race Hygiene and Eugenics in Pre-War Germany, 1902–1905 Project Description: Research and writing of a book about American modern dancer Isadora Duncan (1877–1927), her early career in Germany (1902–1905), and pre-World War I German culture and politics. In 2016, Chantal won the Selma Jeanne Cohen Prize in Dance Aesthetics from the American Society for Aesthetics for her essay "Dancing the Redemption of French Literature: Rivière, Mallarmé, and Le Sacre du Printemps," Dance Chronicle 38:2 (2015), 134-160. https://aesthetics-online.org/page/CohenPrize For the complete list from NEH: https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/inline-files/NEH grant awards April 2021 state by state.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Kennedy Center is announcing that Alvin Ailey, ABT, and NYCB will perform in the upcoming season: https://www.kennedy-center.org/our-story/kc50/ No dates yet: Sharing a longstanding history of performing annually on the Center’s stages, world-renowned dance and ballet companies Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, and New York City Ballet join in the celebration of the 50th Anniversary. From their first appearance at the Center’s opening in Leonard Bernstein’s MASS featuring new choreography by Alvin Ailey, the Ailey company has been dedicated to commissioning new work to provide a global platform for diverse voices and a range of dance makers. For their 2021-2022 engagements, NYCB and ABT will celebrate their rich relationships with the Center through two programs each—one presenting a full-evening production looking back at historical classics connected to the Center’s past, and another looking to the future of each company and the art form. According to the story in the Washington Post, the theater season is unusually ambitious as so many international companies are unlikely to be able to visit: https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/kennedy-theater-musicals-season-announcement/2021/04/13/60a0c9b8-9bda-11eb-8005-bffc3a39f6d3_story.html Part of what makes it possible, Rutter and Finn said, are openings in the calendar as a result of delays in other traditional programming, such as visits by international ballet troupes.

Their schedule is normally January - June (roughly) as they share the Opera House with the Opera. But one thing they do really well: two programs overlapping in the schedule. So it's possible for out-of-towners like me to take in several performances of two different programs over a long weekend. I wish companies like PNB or Pennsylvania would do something like that, although I imagine it's very complicated in terms of logistics, rehearsals, sets, etc., etc.

Not much detail yet, but Miami City Ballet just sent out email that they will perform Ratmansky's reconstructed Swan Lake in their 2022 season: . . . we are excited to share with you an exclusive announcement regarding our 2021/22 Season. We will present the North American premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s spellbinding Swan Lake and plan to celebrate this triumphant production with the in-person Swan Ball on Saturday, January 22, 2022. We’ll officially announce our new season this summer. In the meantime, you may address event questions to: lisa.pollack@miamicityballet.org.

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts had planned to re-open with touring Broadway shows in August 2021, but has just announced those are being postponed a few more months. The problem, as this article from the Denver Post explains, is that touring Broadway shows are complex enterprises. They need theaters open in a succession of cities to make their tour work financially. Denver is doing well on COVID and no restrictions are expected at the All-Star game in July, also in downtown Denver. No word on any postponement of Colorado Ballet in October, but it's not a touring company. Opera Colorado, which also would perform in the Opera House in October, has not announced anything, but they rely heavily on visiting stars, so that might be an issue for them. https://theknow.denverpost.com/2021/04/07/dcpa-denver-broadway-tickets-hamilton-lion-king/255922/