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Fortunately, Rachel Howard was also there on opening night and was able to review the production for Datebook (link posted in Writings on Ballet). She talks about the opera house closing as well.

Due to forced closure of the War Memorial Opera House over the spreading Coronavirus, SFB was able to present only a single performance of Balachine's Midsummer Night's Dream. Rachel Howard was one of the lucky few to have seen it: "If we must risk our health to gather in groups, fearful some of us might spread or contract a monstrous new virus, let it be for this: Gathering in the War Memorial Opera House, watching Yuan Yuan Tan dance as Queen Titania as the orchestra soars through a passage of Mendelssohn and a sweet soprano voice trills from the pit." https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/dance/review-coronavirus-concerns-ended-sf-ballets-dream-this-was-the-company-at-its-best

Midsummer would likely be returning next year anyway given all the work that goes into arranging for its return. Exactly - FILM THE PERFORMANCE! And while you're at it, SFB, use a simple camera positioning that takes in the entire stage, as well as a couple closeup cameras to zoom in on the principal dancers as needed. This doesn't require any fancy visual effects that aren't already part of the stage production. Sell broadcasting rights to Medici.tv and that sort of platform. SFB could and should allow the audience to use pay-per-view to watch SFB streaming of dance productions online. This company needs to stop thinking that the only way to present their art form is by getting people to come to SF and sit in an opera house. Film 3 or 4 programs in a season and allow people to view them on Amazon Prime, say, for a reasonable price. That's how the company can continue to make money on performances, and the participating dancers and orchestra can be seen and heard by the world for years to come. (And that "coincidentally" deals with the SFB social media blackout in a positive fashion.) SFB already has to negotiate all this copyright stuff for performances - might as well take it a step further and get it in writing regarding online and TV broadcasts, because that's the future for any "big" company.

Yes it's really a sad thing to happen - it's got to be crushing for all the dancers expecting to dance lead roles. And the revenue losses will likely be huge. Not the kind of thing a ballet company needs. Time to schedule a week-long tour at Kennedy Center, or in NYC for Midsummer Night's Dream.

Here's the sad message from SFB: UPDATE 3/6/2020: AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM SAN FRANCISCO BALLET Early Friday evening, March 6, 2020, San Francisco Ballet received a communication from the War Memorial Performing Arts Center with the following statement: “By order of Mayor London N. Breed, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, all public performances, events, and gatherings at the San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center are hereby canceled from Saturday, 3/7/20, through Friday, 3/20/20.” Therefore, it is with deep regret that we inform you that in compliance with Mayor Breed’s order, all performances of San Francisco Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream from Saturday, March 7 through Sunday, March 15 will not be taking place. TICKET HOLDERS A situation of this magnitude is unprecedented for our organization and we are working to be as responsive as possible in real-time. We assure you that we will follow up with a detailed communication early the week of March 9th, which will outline appropriate options and next steps for you as a ticket holder. OTHER SF BALLET EVENTS & ACTIVITIES At this time, all other San Francisco Ballet and San Francisco Ballet School events and activities not taking place at the War Memorial Opera House are scheduled to proceed as planned. Any changes will be posted to our website or sent to you directly by email. It remains San Francisco Ballet’s priority to ensure the health and safety of our patrons, artists, students, and staff. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we sort out the many implications we are faced with in this situation. https://www.sfballet.org/a-message-regarding-the-covid-19-virus/

Thanks Helene. Now I have to worry about my next trip to SF (will this closing period be extended?). ;)

Coming up at the Spring 2020 Dance Programs at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts An Evening with Alexei Ratmansky and Myles Thatcher THURS, APRIL 30 | 6 PM Classical ballet is not frozen in the past but is a living, evolving art – this conviction provided a shared faith for mentor Alexei Ratmansky and protégé Myles Thatcher. After working together through Rolex’s Mentor and Protege program, Ratmansky and Thatcher come to the Library to talk about the living art of dance.

All valid observations, AB'sMom. Much contemporary choreography suffers from hyper-kinetic movement syndrome. 😉 Since traditional forms of narrative and pacing are being abandoned in many of these works (and in the music they are built upon), we're dependent on the choreographer to invent new dramatic structures. Your observation that too much 'busyness' only serves to obscure the drama intended for particular movements/steps is a good one. In less successful contemporary ballets we often end up with more continuous 'white noise' than attractive visual music - precisely because of this busyness factor. I would think that if any choreographer is sensitive to evolving balletic structures it would be Ratmansky, so it's interesting to hear that he may experiencing the same pitfalls as other contemporary choreographers. Or is it all simply an experiment on his part? (How to sustain movement for the length of a typical ballet.)

I did make a change for one of my reservations. 😉 Here's some prices I've seen this afternoon - InterContinental Mark Hopkins Standard Room, 1 King Bed: $169 (non refundable) Chancellor Hotel on Union Square Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed: $126, Free Cancellation Yotel Cabin (Solo Sky): $82 Interior Sky Cabin: $96, Free cancellation Hotel Carlton, a Joie de Vivre Boutique Hotel Superior Room, 1 Queen Bed: $122 Non Refundable $147 Free Cancellation

A recent NYT article: When the Show Must Go On, Even Amid a Coronavirus Outbreak Learning to perform without live audiences, or sometimes even theaters, as artists adapt to trying circumstances. 'While the coronavirus has taken a big toll on the arts world in terms of closed venues and canceled events, it has also spurred plenty of show-must-go-on creativity in some of the hardest-hit areas, as performers and organizations have tried to adapt to trying circumstances. The outbreak forced the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra to cancel all of its concerts in February and March and left its musicians working from home, so they began posting master classes on their WeChat page, along with informal videos showing the players practicing at home and playlists designed to help people under quarantine “fight boredom at home.”' https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/arts/music/arts-coronavirus.html Many large businesses that had conferences scheduled at this time of year have moved their meetings online instead. I do wonder if some of these new outreach projects actually end up lasting well beyond this pandemic period.

OK, this is interesting - I checked Inn at the Opera for some upcoming dates that I already had reserved for, and the room rates were suddenly REALLY low. Try $131 a night for the basic studio! It looks like the rooms are going fast at these low rates (naturally), but you all might find something for April at a very good price. When I originally booked a room back in January (for March/April), Inn at the Opera was asking between $200 and $300 for studios in March/April. So I rolled my eyes and looked elsewhere. What's changed? I'm wondering if the Coronavirus outbreak is causing a lot of conference cancellations in SF, and so the prices correspondingly dropped. A number of big companies have been moving their big conferences online to avoid the person-to-person contact. Saves money too.

Thanks for the info, KBarber. I'm thinking that Dawson's presence at Semperoper is a big part of what makes the company attractive to SS. Kochetkova won't be there so much, but she will be another familiar face.

I wonder if it's just a coincidence that Maria Kochetkova is a guest principal with Dresden Semperoper Ballet. 😉 And choreographer David Dawson (an old acquaintance of SS) will become Associate Choreographer with Semperoper.

There's lots of good comments on Natasha's Instagram posting. She makes an important point regarding the options the dancers have: "yes the dancers are doing what we can, but it’s difficult when we spend majority of our days at the studios/theater. 😕 and sadly we can’t post any pictures in the wings (right now) due to copyright. thank you for the support!" On the one hand, the dancers have the ability to create their own videos and snapshots at, say, LINES Ballet studio, BUT, they're contracted to spend 6 days a week at SFB and the WMOH during the season. They're tired, and they're essentially caged at work until the season ends - so not much is going to happen regarding self-promotion or personal projects such as video diaries.

As it happens, Natasha just posted these comments about the SFB social media 'blackout': "hi all👋🏻, as some may have noticed, I have not been sharing much ballet content lately due to social media constrictions under my contract with San Francisco Ballet. Although I miss being able to share my daily work life and behind the scenes at the War Memorial Opera House (it’s hard to be a professional dancer and not be able to share my love of the art form🥺); most of us dancers at San Francisco Ballet are hoping you will continue to come to the shows and support ballet. Fingers crossed that changes will come soon🤞🏻 In the meantime, I truly appreciate every one of you who continue to follow me through this time" Why are there restrictions if I may ask? "all I can say for now is it has to do a lot with copyright ©"

I knew this day was coming in some form, but the end of an era is sad. SS could have been a Ballet Master at SFB without too much trouble, so I have to think this move is more about Di Lanno's career than Sylve's (at this point). I still hope there's a chance for her to lead SFB in the future.

It's kind of hard to believe, but Natasha Sheehan is now 21 years old. 😉 Time to see some bigger dancing roles for Ms. Sheehan. She posted some images from her birthday celebration at the Emporium SF Arcade Bar: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9QCauLAULa/ Lizzy and Natasha

It may well be a stamina issue given that Morgan hasn't been performing steadily with a company (in a long while). It takes time - but it will also take dance opportunities. At some point Lopez has to just let her get back on stage and go through the experience.

SF BALLET SCHOOL ON STAGE "SF Ballet School ON STAGE will feature at least 8 different works across three evenings of performances from May 20 to 22, including a demonstration by students in Levels 2–8 choreographed by Karen Gabay, upper level students and Trainees performing George Balanchine’s Pas de Trois (Glinka), Dana Genshaft’s Heliotrope, Alexandre Cagnat’s In Memory of Forgetting, premieres by SF Ballet School Choreographic Fellows Zoe Lucich and Pemberley Olson, and other works to be announced. Repertoire and casting to be announced in April 2020." https://www.sfballet.org/productions/sfballet-school-on-stage/ The premieres by new "Choreographic Fellows" from the school should be of interest.

Well that's an interesting surprise.

What do you think about the choreography of Alejandro Cerrudo?

Mathilde Froustey participates at Sensorium: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Ge80aHoKn/

SFB is having a tour of the War Memorial Opera House - I bet they talk about the upcoming seating redesign. The tour is pricey, but It would be fun to see how the backstage area magic happens. https://www.sfballet.org/productions/opera-house-tour/ Backstage like you’ve never seen it before. "Join Dennis Hudson, former SF Ballet master electrician, on a tour of the War Memorial Opera House – a 1932 Beaux-Arts building designed by Arthur Brown. Go behind the scenes to learn about the unique technical and structural elements of the building and see all the secret ins-and-outs as part of this special once-a-year event." Date: March 9 Time: 3:30–5:30 PM (SOLD OUT) and 6:30–8:30 PM Location: Meet/Check In: 455 Franklin Street, San Francisco Cost: $75

Wona's account is private. If you were already signed up to follow her when the account was changed to "private" then you still get to see her postings (you have to be signed in to Instagram for this to work). The rest of the world can't view any of her postings.