pherank

San Francisco Ballet Solodansere [SFB Principal Ulrik Birkkjaer is a primary organizer of this event. Babatunji Johnson formerly of LINES Ballet is also participating/choreographing.] Gala Program with 11 Principal Dancers and Three World Premieres Østre Gasværk Theater, Copenhagen, Denmark, September 2nd - 5th, 2021 Bugle Boy af Paul Taylor JOSEPH WALSH Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux af George Balanchine FRANCES CHUNG / MISA KURANAGA - ISAAC HERNANDEZ Ny koreografi af BabaTunji Johnson [World Premiere] JOSEPH WALSH - SARAH VAN PATTEN - BABATUNJI JOHNSON Ny koreografi af Myles Thatcher (live musik Silas Bjerregaard) [World Premiere] ULRIK BIRKKJAER - ESTEBAN HERNANDEZ Ny koreografi af Dani Rowe [World Premiere] SARAH VAN PATTEN - DORES ANDRE FRANCES CHUNG - MISA KURANAGA - SASHA DE SOLA Pause In the Night af Jerome Robbins DORES ANDRE - ESTEBAN HERNANDEZ SASHA DE SOLA - MYLES THATCHER SARAH VAN PATTEN - ULRIK BIRKKJÆR In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated af William Forsythe FRANCES CHUNG - JOSEPH WALSH Solo BABATUNJI JOHNSON Tarantella af George Balanchine SASHA DE SOLA - ESTEBAN HERNANDEZ Le Corsaire Pas de Deux MISA KURANAGA - TARAS DOMITRO Misa Kuranaga being interviewed by Ulrik Birkkjaer about the upcoming performances: https://www.instagram.com/p/CSO2lbmgz9s/

When did their season actually begin? I think they may well regret taking a hard stance and not at least allowing for reduced audiences with social distancing measures in the theatre.

Frances Chung posted some photos too, plus a blurry video of what Serenade looked like on stage: https://www.instagram.com/p/CSpV04ppm2A/

Ellen Rose Hummel photos from the show at Frost Amphitheater: https://www.instagram.com/p/CSnRYNwptOoy_Dld2X18rHoOFCeqFInGIaOv8U0/

I posted a link to Rachel Howard's first night review here: https://balletalert.invisionzone.com/topic/46419-san-francisco-ballet-finally-returns-to-the-stage-in-2021/

Review: S.F. Ballet’s return to the stage in ‘Starry Nights’ a triumph by Rachel Howard "Even for viewers who have seen “Serenade” two or three dozen times, Friday’s performance will probably rank as exceptionally memorable. Balanchine Trust stager Sandra Jennings seemed to have knit the eager bodies into one. Frances Chung danced the role known as “the jumper” with unfailing clarity. Jennifer Stahl danced the “dark angel” role, beating her arms like wings and covering the man’s eyes, and she did so with a maturity and seriousness that riveted without ever seeming “acted.” Luke Ingham radiated sincerity as the regretful man..." https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/dance/review-s-f-ballets-return-to-the-stage-in-starry-nights-a-triumph

He's here! Claude Mourad Lahlou born 08/11/2021. https://www.instagram.com/p/CSgWVtCrWaq/ Congratulations to Mathilde and Mourad. https://www.instagram.com/p/CSsiIgCn2Aa/

The first performance for Sarah Van Patten's Tahoe Dance Camp is available for online viewing. Note that tickets purchases are a donation towards the TDC project. "Stream our opening performance starting August 14th through the 27th" Tickets are available here: https://themarsh.org/shows_and_events/tahoe-dance-camp/

Message form Sarah Van Patten: "Many of you have asked if you can watch a recording of @tahoedancecamp’s first performance, and I’m excited to announce that you now can. Stream our opening performance starting August 14th through the 27th." https://themarsh.org/shows_and_events/tahoe-dance-camp/

Yes, very encouraging. SFB has been hinting at doing something similar, but we'll just have to wait and see. It's really all about the money...

Thanks, California. Watching "from the comfort of my home" seems like a good thing in this case. This type of gathering ("at-or-near 100% with no social distancing" or mask requirements) could easily prove to be a super spreader event. Many professional dancers have been vaccinated at this point - it's the audience members that I wonder and worry about.

Posted by Pointe Magazine: The Ballerina Baby Boom: Three Dancers on Being Pregnant During a Pandemic https://pointemagazine.com/ballerina-baby-boom/

Part 3 of the report has been posted: https://fjordreview.com/digital-transformation-of-dance/

Aside from the effusive compliments, a very worthwhile conversation. Farrell makes many memorable statements.

Thank you for the reminder, Josette. I mentioned Rhoden and Alonzo King in the thread here: https://balletalert.invisionzone.com/topic/46190-san-francisco-ballet-and-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-434039 but forgot to update the list above...

The New York Times has gotten around to posting a tribute to Wilde: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/06/arts/dance/patricia-wilde-dead.html

2022 Season Tickets are now available at the PRINCIPAL PACKAGE level: OUR PRINCIPAL SERIES OFFERS THE BEST BENEFITS AND SAVINGS Want the same seats for every performance? There are two packages to choose from: PRINCIPAL 5 See a total of five preselected programs and save up to 25% on the single-ticket price. Packages start at $110. Celebrate with some of Helgi Tomasson's most beloved ballets: Swan Lake, Caprice, Prism, and Trio Be there for three world premieres by in-demand dance makers Cathy Marston, Dwight Rhoden, and Christopher Wheeldon See the SF Ballet premiere of Blake Works I by celebrated choreographer William Forsythe and the eagerly-awaited premiere of Alexei Ratmansky's The Seasons Lose yourself in ballet luminary August Bournonville's Romantic-era fairytale La Sylphide And enjoy two ballets from Tomasson's iconic mentors: George Balanchine's Symphony in C and Jerome Robbins' In the Night PRINCIPAL 7 Experience the entire Season (all seven programs) and save up to 30% on the single-ticket price. Packages start at $140. Get everything from the Principal 5 Series, plus: Join us for the world premiere of Helgi Tomasson's Harmony, his sleek and elegant The Fifth Season, and his high-spirited and exuberant Don Quixote And see Yuri Possokhov's fun and quirky Magrittomania https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/2022-season-tickets/ Choreograph You Own Package/Season option coming soon...

Welcome back, Terez. If it's any consolation, I think ABT is in pretty much the same situation - looking for an A.D. and Executive Director. But there's a lot of that going on. Due to the pandemic quarantines, a lot of apprentices have been retained for another year, because they were never really able to train with the companies as they normally would. That's happening with pretty much all the big companies. So I think the 4 new SFB apprentices are joining the ones that are staying on. But I haven't seen a final listing of names. One of the 2020 trainees decided to move on anyway.

Recent Alastair Macaulay posting with b&w photos: "How fascinating it is to study photographs of Alicia Markova’s Odile in the 1934 Vic-Wells Ballet production of “Le Lac des cygnes” (“Swan Lake”). The role is transformed by the bright - golden? - tutu she wore. It cannot be said too often that Odile was not dressed in black by any company until the 1940s: a stupid coarsening of a subtle role, as if labelling her with Evil round her neck..." https://www.instagram.com/p/CR9msRzI1tg/

Blurry is the new black?

Thanks for all that info, Quiggin. 7 minutes is a generous amount of footage. If you ever find the complete footage online, definitely let us know.

A new Chinese documentary on Yuan Yuan Tan (filmed during the quarantine) with curious subtitles and some audio in English: https://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNTE4NjE0MzQyMA==.html?spm=a2h0c.8166622.PhoneSokuProgramSeries_2.dposter_1&s=adfbaa0c12dc44ee8552 I believe this is part of a larger series on Chinese artists and musicians. It does look to be pay-for-view once the viewer gets a certain distance into the documentary, so sorry about that.

I've always wondered what happened to the rest of the Cotillon footage - all we ever see are some brief shots, played back at the wrong frame speed. Film cameras were heavy and cumbersome in that era, so I can't believe someone was running about taking "snapshots" with the film camera. There had to have been a long sequence of the ballet filmed, originally. Perhaps now in someone's attic?

Some of my recent postings have made me aware of a couple more potential directors: Sarah Van Patten and Ulrik Birkkjaer. Now that both dancers have gotten involved in stage project management, fund raising, school creation/organization, etc. - I'm updating the list above with their names.

I'm not sure if this came up before, but La Sylphide is being staged by Ulrik Birkkjaer - good for him. I suppose that makes sense given his Bournonville expertise. Sounds like they have begun rehearsals: https://www.instagram.com/p/CRroiZQAJS3/