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Note that Rachel Howard's Swan Lake review (in the Fjord Review online) is worth a read. It's mainly about Sasha De Sola's interpretation of the O/O roles. It's free and easy to signup at the Fjord Review, btw.

Apparently Vanessa Zahorian was the final speaker at the Kirov Academy's closing ceremony. [FYI: Zahorian was a principal dancer at SFB, a Kirov Academy graduate, and is now Artistic Director of the Pennsylvania Ballet Academy along with her husband Davit Karapetyan] "Congratulations to the class of 2022 @kirovacademydc it was an honor to be your final guest speaker yesterday. Lots of emotions running through as these are the final days of Kirov Academy of Ballets existence. Very sad. I was very emotional during my speech. So much history, so many teachers and students have passed through the academy. I met so many of friends that to this day mean so much to me and my bestie @courtmansfield. Thankful! There were good and bad days, sweat and tears at the Kirov but wouldn’t take any of it away. Thankful for all of the opportunities that was presented to me during my dancing career there and beyond. Forever grateful and thankful for my Kirov Academy family. Especially my teacher Ludmila Morkovina. The academy’s sponsors and donors cant pay to keep it open any longer so this is why they are closing. Also so good to see @joanboada75 as AD present." https://www.instagram.com/p/CeJxVhep0_6/

Misa Kuranaga posted some nice photos from the event: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd_x9KTPmTL/

Madison Keesler records emptying her locker at SFB and returning her pointe shoe locker key: https://www.instagram.com/p/CeApu8jAFfb/

Tonight's the night - Helgi Tomasson: Reaching Harmony is being premiered by Julian MacKay's production company. Tonight: SF Ballet celebrates Helgi Tomasson in New York City with a special presentation of "Reaching Harmony," a new documentary by @MacKayProductions produced by @wordsondancecollection. Beginning with a cocktail reception at 6 pm, the event also includes a performance of Tomasson’s works plus a panel discussion between Tomasson, Kay Mazzo, Mark Morris, and Edward Villella at @ChelseaFactory.nyc https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd6i8eKlipP/

Anything can be. And in San Francisco there's bound to be someone to complain, but I don't think it's been noticed yet - too much else going on. And there's still no official statement about Possokhov's status with SFB going forward under Rojo.

I've never heard Yuri Possokhov utter a single political statement. Only the always controversial ballet Nureyev has been removed from the Bolshoi repertoire, that I have heard of. The other Possokhov ballets in their rep have generally Russian themes that are not as likely to be removed as long as Yuri utters nary a word of complaint.

Thank you. Mathilde must have some level of injury then. In the past she would post about these kinds of things, but I think she's too busy with motherhood to bother.

👍

One of my favorite contemporary ballets. It's a shame its not going to be part of the SFB 2023 season.

Agreed, a big success on film but I wonder how well it will transfer to the stage. And no Ulrik Birkkjaer to anchor things. A tall, strong partner will be needed. Too bad Freemantle has left as I could see him learning that part.

It's all about the new works festival, which honestly is EXHAUSTING for artists and staff to do. So I can see why they are avoiding mixed rep programs beyond that. It's interesting though that the festival comes first - perhaps last time they found that the dancers would have been better off tackling the new rep when they were fresh. Did Rojo even program any Balanchine at ENB? I wonder if Tomasson was making the season more palatable for Rojo with these choices.

Question: what were the last 2022 programs danced by Froustey and Tan?

The Bolt is a fascinating ballet. I enjoyed The Little Humpbacked Horse as well (on video). I've never seen Bright Stream though.

SFB Instagram posting (with two great photos): "We're celebrating Helgi Tomasson in New York City on May 23! 🎉 Featured will be a performance of Tomasson's Chaconne for Piano and Two Dancers and pas de deux from his Harmony and The Fifth Season; a conversation with Tomasson and Edward Villella, Mark Morris, and Kay Mazzo; and the world premiere of @mackay.productions documentary on Tomasson's life." https://www.instagram.com/p/CdejPsVhbns/

Madison Keesler may be back in town already - she's moderating a discussion for the SF Dance Film Festival: "Tomorrow, Sunday May 15th, I will be moderating an in-person Q&A for @sfdancefilmfest! The program will begin by watching the enchanting “Swan Lake” by @balletpreljocaj. Following the screening we will hear from Angelin Preljocaj himself via video and I will conclude the evening by interviewing our special guests, @misakuranaga and Pierre Vilanoba!" https://www.instagram.com/p/CdjMEWNPVms/

It's hard for me to understand why someone would pay $500 and not pay any attention to the Covid protocol notices. Or did SFB simply fall down on the job of alerting ticket purchasers? I think we all appreciate your reporting back - any word on West Coast performances is a good thing. I've never understood how so many people can attend performances, but not want to talk about it in any detail online. Between SFB and PNB there are thousands of tickets purchased each year, but apparently no one wants to record their impressions. It's hard not to envy the NYC companies - their fans are very talkative. On a lighter note, here's a short video of Sasha De Sola in her O/O roles: https://www.instagram.com/p/CdjI68HlFvN/

I'd love to hear your thoughts on De Sola and Cauthorn's partnership, Josette. Sounds like you had a very full weekend.

Angelo Greco just had some minor surgery done - he seems unconcerned, so far, so hopefully this really is minor: Ready to get back to it 💪😁🎭!!! I planned this surgery right after the season, like this I would have the time to recover during the summer 😎 Everything went well, just need it a clean up in my ankle 😉 🦶 Let’s do it 😊!!! https://www.instagram.com/p/CdgmHSaPv_R/

Wona posted a short video online from her performance: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cde8wIfgtbl/ And Misa has countered with a swan in the pool in winter performance: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cde8wIfgtbl/ Looks like Misa just celebrated her birthday, and Maria Kochetkova just had hers as well. Angelo Greco had his birthday recently too.

From today's e-mail: The artists of San Francisco Ballet would like to express their gratitude for the role that you played in helping get them back onstage for a successful 2022 Season celebrating Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson in his final season with the company. Because of your support, we were able to accomplish amazing things this year, including: 89 performances 7 world premieres Special events celebrating Helgi Tomasson and Sarah Van Patten A sold-out Season Opening Gala, effectively rescheduled to March! 160,000+ audience members 71 individual program Sponsors We plan to announce our 2023 Season on May 17! We hope you will join us next Season as we welcome incoming Artistic Director Tamara Rojo to SF Ballet. https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/2022-season/sf-ballet-thanks-you-for-a-successful-2022-season/

Wow, that was a jam-packed weekend, Seattle_Dancer. You're a real trouper. ;) It's just too bad you didn't get to see De Sola and Cauthorn as well, but those three couples all differ enough that you got to see a lot of variation. I envy you. I expected Kuranaga and Greco to be at the top of their game, but wondered if the others had "gelled" as SL partners. Frances Chung started dancing on a whole other level after the birth of her son. She was a somewhat cool, and shy, virtuoso originally. But she's acquired a fire and soulfulness now that is so satisfying to watch. Her PDD in A Midsummer Night's Dream with Ulrik Birkkjaer was one for the ages. Thanks so much for the write up - it's nice to have something for the record. P.S.: I saw Seth Orza dance in Seattle, so I know what you are saying.

From the 2022 SF Ballet School Spring Festival notice: "In celebration of the festival's return to stage, SF Ballet announces that 13 SF Ballet School students and alumni will join the Company for the 2023 Season. Effective July 1, these seven students from SF Ballet School will join the Company: João Da Silva (Brazil) will join SF Ballet’s Corps de Ballet, and Jihyun Choi (South Korea), Seojeong Yun (South Korea), Benjamin Davidoff (Belgium), Parker Garrison (North Carolina), and Bay Area natives Angela Watson and Jasper True Stanford will join as Apprentices. And these six SF Ballet School alumni are promoted to the corps de ballet after having served as Apprentices: Juliana Bellisimo, Andris Kundzins, Nicole Moyer, Pemberley Ann Olson, Jamie Adele Stephens, and Alexis Valdes."

The San Francisco Ballet School Spring Festival returns May 25–27, 2022 "Spring Festival returns May 25–27, live and in person for the first time in three years! See the stars of tomorrow dance works by SF Ballet dancers Pemberley Ann Olson and David Occhipinti, a new ballet by School Faculty member Jason Ambrose, Helgi Tomasson’s Haffner Symphony, Dana Genshaft's Future Paper, and two student pieces created as part of the Helgi Tomasson Choreographic Workshop, among other works." https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdbp00Ph3Ez/

Thanks so much for posting this, Seattle_Dancer. Yes, I'd like to hear more about the casts that you saw. Did you see Chung and Walsh and Park with Wei? And what about Kuranaga and Greco on Sunday, May 8th?