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I wouldn't mind it if SFB starting paying more attention to the hands - as Felipe Diaz says, "no spiders". ;) I think Tomasson realized that it would be easier to nurture the individuality of the dancers at SFB, rather than try to impose a single aesthetic on his dancers. The Corps at SFB is still expected to dance together as a cohesive unit, but any solo dancers are allowed to be themselves - to a point. The dancer obviously couldn't be 'expressing' herself in a way that Tomasson found to be annoying or offensive, or simply not within the boundaries of the choreography. But individual inflections are welcomed, and I think that is a good thing for that particular company. (The coaching staff has got to be superior to allow this individualized approach a chance to work.) There is of course going to be strengths and weaknesses to any approach. I also happen to like companies that have achieved a particular aesthetic approach: NYCB and Mariinsky, for example.

This dancer? I'm pretty bad at remembering all the Corps dancers. I think the Corps do Ballet page has been updated on the SFB website though, so you may be able to figure out his name.

HD replay of the SFB segment is available on YouTube (supposedly for 60 days): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_M8P8cJxic

Thanks Helene - I amended the list. I actually forgot about that part - all I was remembering was the exhausting group dance. The dancers looked ready for the day to end, but Scarlett was a totally absorbed superman. Since the Fearful Symmetries ballet is far from complete, he must feel that every day with the dancers must count.

At last. ;) All the rehearsal footage is interesting - for different reasons, of course. These are the principals and soloists that I can remember appearing (correct me where I am wrong): Giselle Choreography by Helgi Tomasson after Marius Petipa, Jules Perrot, and Jean Coralli Composer: Adolphe Adam >> Yuan Yuan Tan and Tiit Helimets >> Mathilde Froustey and Carlo Di Lanno with Sofiane Sylve as Myrthe, and Sasha De Sola and WanTing Zhao as her 'seconds' The Fifth Season Choreography by Helgi Tomasson Composer: Karl Jenkins >> Frances Chung, Vitor Luiz, Mathilde Froustey, Tiit Helimets, Carlos Quenedit Hummingbird Choreography by Liam Scarlett Composer: Philip Glass >> Yuan Yuan Tan and Luke Ingham Rush Choreography by Christopher Wheeldon Composer: Bohuslav Martinů >> Dores André and Joan Boada Theme and Variations Choreography by George Balanchine Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky >> Vanessa Zahorian and Carlo Di Lanno, and the Corps Fearful Symmetries (World Premiere) Choreography by Liam Scarlett Composer: John Adams >> Frances Chung and Vitor Luiz, Lorena Feijoo and Luke Ingham, Lauren Strongin, Hansuke Yamamoto, Sofiane Sylve, Dores André, Jennifer Stahl and the Corps

Thanks for the comments, Jack. Yes, the SD City Ballet is definitely casting about for ways to create the necessary income and raise their comapny to a higher level, but aren't they all? ;) It all seems so fragile at this level. At least City Ballet has been able to retain their live (mostly amateur) orchestra, but it's all dependant on getting the necessary donations, and they need a more consistant monetary source (and plan). About the company Artistic Directors, Steven and Elizabeth Wistrich -

Yes, that is disappointing, as usual. Let's just hope they put up an HD version soon so we can all actually see something. SFB is supposed to be marketing their company with this footage, after all. Is this really how they want to come off in comparison to the other companies?

San Diego's City Ballet has announced their 2016 Balanchine Masterworks program: Emeralds from Jewels Concerto Barocco Square Dance Friday, March 4, 2016 at 8:00pm Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 8:00pm Sunday, March 6, 2016 at 2:00pm Free Pre-performance Lecture – 1/2 hour prior to all performances I like how this company enthusiastically takes on more than they can chew (one would think). Always trying to do a little bit more than what people expect can be done. http://cityballet.org/performances/balanchine-masterworks-2016/

I think that's an important reason for their approach. I also think/notice that the Russian companies are especially sensitive about looking at all disheveled or foolish, while the Western companies don't worry so much about the little mistakes - Westerners like seeing the full range of human expressions, and off-beat incidents add interest. Life is messy. But Russian ballet is very much about appearing as beautiful and serious of purpose as possible.

For the French only, I suppose. I'd never seen that particular video of Balanchine on stage (scroll down the page to view).

The "Frankenstein" ballet idea (Royal and SFB co-production) certainly took me by surprise. ;) But I can't wait to see the actual results. Many people are confused by the name: "Frankenstein" was the Doctor/Scientist and the "monster" was never really given a name, other than "Frankenstein's monster".

Hopefully "warts and all" because that is actually more instructive and fun. Of all the companies, SFB is the most likely to censor or pull their footage entirely because of all the copyright issues. It's maddening. I would like to take a moment to thank PNB for including a healthy portion of reheasal footage in their segment - that was great to see.

Yeah, he's a little crazed. ;) But you have to appreciate someone so into their art. And Frances Chung only weighs 5lbs. I was only able to watch sections of the broadcast for SFB because work kept intruding. Grrrrrrrrrr. And I was trying to recall which principles were not present: Kochetkova (is somewhere with ABT I believe), and I don't recall seeing Sarah Van Patten. And I was thinking I saw Davit Karapetyn early on in the class, but maybe I was wrong about that. Oh, and it was great to see Lizzy Powell and Sasha De Sola back from injury.

The Scarlett rehearsals looked pretty intense - and the dancers were noticeably exhausted after this crazy day.

And Yuan Yuan Tan's 20th, I believe. It's sad to see these dancers approaching the end of their careers. The Australian Ballet's principals all looked really young.

There may be some scheduling changes going on in the background. From the WBD website (and it's now incorrect): As these times do make sense now: Houston Ballet -- 5pm Pacific Northwest Ballet -- 5:30pm

Sorry folks, looks like SFB will be on October 1st after all: 13:00 - 18:00 (PDT). The erroneous information may all come from the ad WBD is running on their website:

The YouTube streaming page is actually saying that Autstralian Ballet is first up, which would make some sense, but I wish they would figure out their time schedule: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayGLMnA_8lo

San Francisco Ballet -- all PT Houston Ballet -- 5pm Pacific Northwest Ballet -- 5:30pm >> Those last two times can't be right - maybe 8pm and 8:30 Pacific Time? I guess we just have to watch to find out. ;)

It looks like there will be quite a few companies making appearances this time around. PNB is part of the SFB assigned segment, starting at 7pm PDT, Sept. 30th: http://worldballetday.com/session/san-francisco-ballet/ Yeah!

The SFB segment starts in a few short hours (7pm PDT September 30th). The direct link to the YouTube streaming page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayGLMnA_8lo

For those not paying attention ;) here is how to watch at 7pm tonight (September 30th, not Oct. 1): http://worldballetday.com/how-to-watch/ And the direct link to SFB's YouTube page where the live streaming will take place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayGLMnA_8lo And their main YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/SFBallet

Motion clips of Froustey and Carlo Di Lanno (I'm not sure who is coaching them) - short, but sweet: https://instagram.com/p/8M4CW3HrcS/?taken-by=lapetitefrench_ https://instagram.com/p/8M7KGlHrf5/?taken-by=lapetitefrench_ https://instagram.com/p/8M-LqAHrTf/?taken-by=lapetitefrench_

It's dispapointing to hear that SFB allowed this approach to the cinematography - ballet fans often complain about intrusive close-up camerawork - it's just not possible to see the scope of the dancing. There's no whole to be perceived. Ah well, I guess I won't be waiting with bated breath for the DVD release.

Thanks everyone for these personal reviews - I just couldn't make it myself this year. (And the fact that the ballet was Raymonda didn't help.) I'm as mystified about the Skorik ascendancy as I am about U.S. politics. ;) When I heard the news, my first thought was, "Oh to be a fly on the wall at Mariisnky right now". But now I'm thinking that the conversations would be simply depressing.