pherank

Sadly, this is only the beginning, since all able-bodied men up to the age of 60 are being asked to stay and defend the country in some capacity. There was a report on CNN? in the last day or so, showing very ordinary Ukrainians being instructed in how to handle pistols and automatic weapons (many of whom had never fired a gun in their lives). I don't fault you for caring, Drew. I'm just pointing out the difference in scale between these choices. I don't want to see a lot of anti-Russian rhetoric get thrown about either - it simply isn't productive, and will have the opposite effect of what is intended: Russians will feel forced to defend their culture, rather than step up to make needed changes.

Well that was easy. 😉 Congratulations to Ms. St. Germain-Gordon. Toi toi toi.

Even if the renaming seems like a misstep to some people, it is still a very, very small matter in the scheme of things. I don't see this slight, if it can even be called that, comparing to the real issue of an unprovoked invasion, 3 million + Ukrainian refugees, and numerous incidents of violation of the "rules of war" (aka war crimes). Not to mention the litany of threats, and cyber-warfare, directed at other nations should they dare to criticize Putin, or 'interfere' with the invasion in any way. I don't see the Russian government/people being the victims in this situation [aside from the brave few who have protested and ended up in jail], especially if the vast majority feel the need to support their government in any decision, no matter how outrageous. That's the real issue to be dealt with, imo.

I'm so glad to hear that Chung is back on stage. I've been wondering what was keeping her away (what sort of injury). The Seasons seems to be a hit with audiences.

Was the opening night cast Sarah Van Patten and Ulrik Birkkjaer? Birkkjaer is certainly expert in Bournonville choreography. You're right that La Sylphide - being the earliest intact ballet - will seem rather minimal and "basic" in its approach. Tomasson seems to have held to that same production approach.

Good point. Sometimes events make your decision for you.

Well done! I'm sure the recipients were grateful for your gifts. I like your choices too.

Natasha Sheehan rehearsal sequence of movements from Ratmansky's The Seasons, and La Sylphide: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbJPtHyFNPV/

Last night @sfballet opened The Seasons by @alexeiratmansky We are sending love to Ukraine from San Francisco 🇺🇦 https://www.instagram.com/p/CbLnGgsjMuq/

This of course makes it harder to monitor Russian protests against the war, and or Putin. The windows on Russian society will be shuttered for a long while. We do know of a recent incident in which Russian Channel One journalist and editor Marina Ovsyannikova interrupted a Monday evening news report displaying a poster reading “no war” and “Russians against the war”. In an interview, Ovsyannikova had explained that her father is Ukrainian and her mother is Russian. She stated that “Russia is the aggressor country and one person, Vladimir Putin, solely bears responsibility for that aggression” and urged Russians to join anti-war protests. She has been fined for her actions, but will likely end up in prison under the latest security measures. Ovsyannikova is a brave woman. One of the more remarkable reports of late: Russian families calling a Ukrainian hotline to find out information about their sons/fathers/brothers fighting in Ukraine. That's right, they are calling the Ukrainians to find out what is going on. Naturally the hotline is not able to offer many specifics on personnel - they don't even know how many of their own people are dead or wounded in various locations around the country.

Relocated right on out of the culture. That kind of program remains popular in various parts of the world.

Yuriko, Keeper of Martha Graham’s Flame, Is Dead at 102 A choreographer and dancer, she was associated with Graham for more than 50 years, and founded and directed the Martha Graham Ensemble, a student company. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/12/arts/dance/yuriko-dead.html

Could she be Sebastian Kloborg's mother? (Maria Kochetkova's life partner)

I assume Eva Kloborg is a friend of Ulrik Birkkjaer - from his time at the Royal Danish Ballet?

LA GRANDE FÊTE SAN FRANCISCO BALLET 2022 SEASON GALA Thursday, March 24, 2022 The Helgi Tomasson gala is scheduled for Sunday, April 24 - from today's SFB e-mail: "When the curtain closes at the end of San Francisco Ballet’s 2022 Season, it will mark the end of Helgi Tomasson’s remarkable 37-year tenure as Artistic Director & Principal Choreographer. To celebrate his legendary career, which has transformed SF Ballet and inspired generations of artists, an early evening gala performance will be held at the War Memorial Opera House on Sunday, April 24, 2022 at 5:30 pm. For this one-night-only performance, Tomasson has handpicked ballets from the more than 50 works he has created for SF Ballet. The range of Tomasson’s artistry will be on display, with the cool sophistication of The Fifth Season sharing the program with the jubilant energy of Concerto Grosso and an excerpt from Harmony, Tomasson’s final ballet as artistic director. Also on the program will be a series of dynamic pas de deux, from the romantic Romeo & Juliet to the neo-classical Handel–A Celebration, the sultry Two Bits, and the poetic Chaconne for Piano & Two Dancers. We hope that you will join us for this special performance celebrating Helgi Tomasson’s legacy and San Francisco Ballet’s bright future. Click the button below to purchase your tickets!" https://www.sfballet.org/productions/helgi-tomasson-a-celebration/ Also note that Sarah Van Patten's farewell performance will be on April 16th.

There's a fundraising event planned for April 9th in New York, as mentioned by Alastair Macaulay: 'And now an “I ❤️ Dance For Ukraine” night is announced in New York to raise funds for the people of Ukraine. Its announced dancers already include Isabella Boylston, Brooklyn Mack, Sarah Lane, Skye Mattox, Unity Phelan, Christine Shevchenko, Cory Stearns; others will be named in due course.' https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca8LFPAgru2/ Among the participants will be: Isabella Boylston Christine Shevchenko Cory Stearns Indiana Woodward Skye Mattox Brooklyn Mack Unity Phelan Sarah Lane Alexei Ratmansky David Fernandez Andrii Ishchuk

I received the big 2022 Repertory Season guide in the mail a while back. Normally, the program guides would be available to you (along with the casting sheets) at the Opera House when you first enter the doors. However, Covid protocols may have changed how all that is being handled. I haven't been able to attend lately, so I don't know if anything is being distributed to the audience members.

Since posts can be removed, I'll copy and paste his text here: "Time to finally share my thoughts. After over 7 years in Russia, as of the 25th of February, Andrea and I resigned our posts at The Mikhailovsky Ballet. This move had been in the works prior to the Invasion of Ukraine. Nonetheless, departing Russia within 48 hours, shipping what we could, driving to the Estonian border and walking across (Beau in tow) before making our way into Tallinn, and even more importantly, witnessing the death and destruction that has been brought on Ukraine has all but soured my entire experience. I fell in love with Russia, and it’s people, despite its flaws. Many people and experiences that I had there are still near and dear to my heart. Many people mention that arts shouldn’t mix with politics. This is impossible. Art has always been a mirror for the best and worst of human nature. The most famous and influential art was inspired by the times in which it was created. If you are going to pray for someone, or think of someone, or hold space for someone, please do so for the Ukrainian people. But I also implore you to have compassion for the Russian, many of whom I know are kind-hearted, caring, wonderful people who are against this bloodshed with every fiber of their being. Many have spoken out, and I commend them for their bravery, as I personally was not comfortable posting until I was out of Russia. Treason is being threatened to artists, and free speech is not a reality for those still inside of Russia."

Definitely contact Ticket Sales and figure out why you're not on the e-mail contact list: Ticket & Patron Services SALES & INFO 415-865-2000 tickets@sfballet.org Monday – Friday, 10 am –4 pm On performance dates, including Saturday and Sunday, the phones open from 10 am and remain open until the last performance of the day begins.

Ukrainian Dancers Find Shelter Abroad as War Rages at Home Opera houses and theaters in European cities are offering to help fleeing or stranded ballet dancers, even as many are still stuck in Ukraine. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/08/arts/dance/kyiv-city-ballet-russia-war.html

It's called "duck and hide". But it wouldn't be Macaulay without those goofy asides. 😉 And it keeps everything "about ballet" in the end. Here is your answer: "Dear friends & followers, tonight I was supposed to be performing Giselle at the Mariinsky Theatre but instead, due to the awful crisis I have taken the difficult decision to leave Russia, at least until peace comes. My heart goes out to the people of Ukraine, near and far, including @kate_chebykina pictured with me here in @jivoy_dance’s “I’m not Scared”. I am so grateful to the Mariinsky Theatre who, thanks to Yuri Fateev, took me in 12 years ago and gave me a career in classical ballet I could only have dreamed about. I am grateful to the wonderful ordinary Russian people, the majority of whom have treated me with such kindness. I pray that peace will come and the wounds will be healed by God’s grace. Thank you to all of you who have been sending me messages over the past few days and sorry for not having had the time to reply 🙏🏻" https://www.instagram.com/p/Caxj21HOqGK/

Tiit Helimets got to share the stage with daughter Chloe in Don Q: https://www.instagram.com/p/CaxgExEPe3c/

In reference to the invasion of Ukraine, Masha just posted Charlie Chaplin's famous speech from the end of The Great Dictator: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cap801cF4de/

Vipa, do you know if this performance is to be streamed at any time?

Alastair Macaulay just posted this story about a Ukrainian ballet teacher using Zoom classes to distract her students from the carnage (see 2nd photo/screenshot on the posting): "This story was posted five days ago about the Kyiv ballet teacher Yaroslava Vilkhova - herself a beautiful woman, and here beautifully dressed in traditional attire. I wonder now where she and her students now are: in Kyiv or in refuge elsewhere? (My thanks to my old friend Vanessa Wilde for this.) The name Yaroslavna (with an N) has an almost mythic resonance to anyone who knows Borodin’s opera “Prince Igor”: Prince Igor is Prince of the early mediaeval Kyiv, then the capital of Rus and subsequently of Muscovy. In Acts II and III, Igor and his son are captured by the Polovtsians (whose dances are the most famous part of the opera). Yaroslavna opens Act IV with a hauntingly eloquent lament for the husband who has been long absent..." https://www.instagram.com/p/CavL_vLgIlG/