pherank

Benjamin Freemantle recently worked on a video directed by Katie Holmes:

https://www.instagram.com/p/ChAxYAfvNjF/

And he is dancing in a production of Twyla Tharp's In the Upper Room & Nine Sinatra Songs at New York City Center:

https://www.nycitycenter.org/pdps/2022-2023/twyla-tharp/

Julian MacKay has joined Bayerisches Staatsballett as a Principal Dancer (Laurent Hilaire is the A.D. there):

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf_03KYLiIp/

3 hours ago, Golden Idol said:

I would be curious to learn if anyone knows anything about the status of Inn at the Opera. Their website says it's unavailable for months. Is it being rented out to a company that books all the rooms? Is it closed? I phoned, got the same information, and gave up. I finally booked myself at Inn San Francisco, a charming B&B in the Mission that's close to a bus line that takes you right to the War Memorial, so I'm all set, but still curious as to what gives with Inn at the Opera.

I'm no longer local, so I can't say for certain, but I found a room opening in October - everything other day seemed to be booked up. I wouldn't be shocked if the Inn underwent a renovation about now. That would close things down for months;.

The TAN project - SFB dancers created a "fake tanning oil commercial with Bob Fosse choreography":

https://www.instagram.com/p/Chc_dFZjkNI/

Dancers: Tyla Steinbach, Lizzy Powell, Aaron Robison, Madison Keesler, Jahna Frantziskonis, John-Paul Simoens, Angelo Greco, Luca Ferro,  Nathaniel Remez, Esteban Cuadrado, Gabriela Gonzalez, Thamires Chuvas, Lonnie Weeks, Benjamin Freemantle, Wanting Zhao, Joseph Walsh and Kimberly Marie Olivier

There is a new Fjord Review article online about Isaac Hernandez:

Inspiration in Mexico
Isaac Hernandez’s “Despertares” Brings Ballet to New Heights

'The master classes were just one part of “Despertares Impulsa,” a two-day program which also included auditions for the Royal Ballet School (the first time the acclaimed school has come to Mexico) and a youth conference with Hernandez called “Living with Purpose”—all offered free of charge. Despertares Impulsa, now in its third edition, is organized by Hernandez and his family’s production company, Soul Arts Productions. In Mexico City later that week, Hernandez headlined the 9th Despertares gala performance at the National Auditorium featuring a star-studded line up which included his brother, Esteban Hernandez; Misa Kuranaga; Brooklyn Mack; Michaela DePrince; Chyrstyn Fentroy; and Mayara Magri, among others.'

On 8/16/2022 at 3:15 PM, dirac said:

About time the Academy apologized to Littlefeather, although I blame Brando mostly. At the least he should have accompanied her onstage and then turned his time over to her, instead of dispatching her alone to take the heat. There were people ready to charge the stage who had to be held back by security (John Wayne, ever ready to pick on someone not his own size).

I completely agree. Perhaps in Brando's mind, not showing up at the awards was the ultimate snub, but in reality, he threw Littlefeather to the wolves, so to speak. Didn't come across as being particularly brave.

Fall for Dance Festival
 Sep 21 – Oct 2, 2022

Program 3 | Tue Sep 27 & Wed Sep 28 at 8pm

Morani/Mungu (Black Warrior/Black God) | Live Premiere
2020 Digital Fall for Dance Festival Commission
Choreography by Jamar Roberts

San Francisco Ballet
In the Night
Choreography by Jerome Robbins

María Moreno
Tangos & Alegrías
Choreography by María Moreno
with guest singer María Terremoto

United Ukrainian Ballet’s Giselle premiered at the Castellum Theater in Alphen, Netherlands. Alexei Ratmansky choreographed this version of the ballet. Ticket profits are being donated to charity (DEC Ukraine Appeal and The United Ukrainian Ballet Foundation).

https://www.instagram.com/p/ChNPaRmodNN/

https://ukrainegiselle.com/

Vanessa Zahorian and Davit Karapetyan's Pennsylvania Ballet Academy will be hosting "An Evening of Stars", October 8, 2022. Wei Wang and Katherine Barkman of SFB will be performing.

https://www.paballetacademy.org/a-night-of-stars

1 hour ago, Helene said:

From Frances Chung, this made me all kinds of happy:

https://www.instagram.com/p/ChTLKaUAP3I/

Froustey's son turned 1 just a few days ago, as well:

https://www.instagram.com/p/ChHr-IhIluJ/

It's hard to believe its only been one year - they grow so fast.

Jahna Frantziskonis and her brother Elias taught a ballet workshop in Greece this summer:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf8QdSVDxxD/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cglsd09jz_z/

FYI: Rachel Howard reviews SFB's 2022 “Starry Nights” at Stanford University's Amphitheater over at the Fjord Review website.

Jasmine Jimison posted a tribute to the people of Boston Ballet (who helped her out in a tough situation):

https://www.instagram.com/p/CehQLqyvAMN/

SFB sent out a 2023 subscription e-mail today:

On Sale Now
Principal and Story Ballet Trio Packages
https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/2023-season-tickets/

23 minutes ago, volcanohunter said:

Sofiane Sylve in Toronto.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ChAxC-iJcCe/

Bourgeoisie Sauvage indeed. Looks like the pandemic has greyed her hair - there's a lot of that going on.

SFB has started posting some shots from new work rehearsals...

Here's the fairly large team working with Nicolas Blanc:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CghRwy8Mtjh/

And Sasha Mukhamedov is among the dancers working with Yuri Possokhov:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CgmZDheslzQ/

13 hours ago, Josette said:

The casting for Starry Nights on August 5 and 6, 2022, at Frost Amphitheater, Stanford University, is posted on SFB's website. I am attending on Saturday night.  It is a lovely setting.  Jasmine Jimison is back after dancing with Boston Ballet.  She was listed as a SFB soloist last season. 

https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/

Lucky you - enjoy. Glad to hear Jasmine Jimison is back.

It seems that Mathilde Froustey continues to be stuck in France while waiting for her US visa to be granted:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CgUheXDoZoV/

The War in Ukraine Is the True Culture War
With Russia trying to erase Ukraine’s national identity, the fight to preserve, and build upon, Ukraine’s artistic heritage has taken on new urgency.
By Jason Farago

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/15/arts/design/ukraine-war-culture-art-history.html

Looks like dancers of SFB (including ex-company member Ben Freemantle) danced Wheeldon's Finale Finale in Cancun, Mexico a few days ago:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfk4Nr2LVNJ/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfk88pQrTv6/

Free steaming of Stravinsky' s Soldier's Tale from San Francisco Symphony on the SFSymphony+ platform:

Director Netia Jones teams up with Esa-Pekka Salonen, actor Bruce Davison, dancer Adji Cissoko, and musicians of the San Francisco Symphony to present a new digital production of Igor Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale.

https://www.sfsymphonyplus.org/the-soldier-tale

Unfortunately, all the dancers must now prove themselves to the new A.D., so I'll wager that internal promotions to Principal are unlikely until later in 2023 (or Rojo hires from outside instead). It will be interesting to see if Rojo is a nurturer, or more of a Kevin McKenzie-type looking for "stars" to bring in.

From today's SFB e-mail:

Katherine Barkman joins as Soloist, effective July 1, 2022

A native of Philadelphia, Katherine Barkman is currently a Principal Dancer at The Washington Ballet. Her roles at The Washington Ballet include Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Kitri in Don Quixote, Giselle in Giselle, and Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty (“a jewel of a ballerina, with her pure, effortless technique and easy charm,” wrote The Washington Post). Barkman’s full biography can be found here.

Appointments/Level
Isaac Hernández/Principal (previously announced)
Katherine Barkman/Soloist

Promotions/Level (previously announced)
Juliana Bellissimo/Corps de Ballet
Andris Kundzins/Corps de Ballet
Nicole Moyer/Corps de Ballet
Pemberley Ann Olson/Corps de Ballet
João Da Silva/Corps de Ballet
Jamie Adele Stephens/Corps de Ballet
Alexis Valdes/Corps de Ballet

New Apprentices/Training (previously announced)
Jihyun Choi/San Francisco Ballet School
Seojeong Yun/San Francisco Ballet School
Benjamin Davidoff/San Francisco Ballet School
Parker Garrison/San Francisco Ballet School
Angela Watson/San Francisco Ballet School
Jasper True Stanford/San Francisco Ballet School

1 hour ago, dirac said:

I'm reading it and I think it's quite good. Many pictures I hadn't seen before and some details I did not know, and generally well written. Also increased my respect for the research that went into the biographical novel The Master's Muse.

Thanks, Dirac. I don't tend to go for fictional dance stories/novels, but I'll keep Master's Muse in mind too.

I'm curious if anyone has read, Dancing Past the Light: The Life of Tanaquil Le Clercq, by Orel Protopopesc?  (I have not)