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To the Pointe: Dance Innovations Join Associate Director of Audience Development, Jennie Scholick, PhD for a deep dive into the three ballets on Program 3: Dance Innovations. Hear from Edwaard Liang, Trey McIntyre, Johnny Eliason, and Lise Lander and find out what to look for in this exciting lineup of ballets. https://sfballet.blog/2020/to-the-pointe-dance-innovations/

To the Pointe: Classical (Re)Vision Join Associate Director of Audience Development, Jennie Scholick, PhD for an exploration of the ballets on Program 2: Classical (Re)Vision. Hear from choreographer Stanton Welch and find out what to look for in his Bespoke, the rotating Director’s Choice ballets, and Mark Morris’s Sandpaper Ballet. https://sfballet.blog/2020/to-the-pointe-classical-revision/

Natasha Sheehan discovered a way to deal with photos taken in the studio: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Rd_aOgkNn/ and Sasha De Sola is joining in: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8WsYT6HR7z/

There's a good Q&A with Cathy Marsten at Dancetabs (which includes talk about the upcoming Mrs. Robinson ballet).

MK is now a brand ambassador for Yumiko's "Grace Velvet Collection" of dancewear. Which gives us some fun photos:

The website still lists the usual suspects (10 women, 10 men), but unfortunately the SFB website is always the last place to be updated. It's the timing that makes this interesting - this is not the usual time of year to be looking at prospective dancers. It feels like Tomasson is having to scurry to look for a replacement. Is it a temporary/single season thing? Or is there budget now to add another danseur for however many years he has left in him? EDIT: It's also entirely possible (given the large number of solicitations that Tomasson receives each year) that SFB already has someone in mind, but by law they have to make a general announcement and ask for resumes.

FYI: judging from his Instagram posting, Ulrik is back in Copenhagen (and performing), maybe for good: https://www.instagram.com/p/B7DnoCzAJkG/

Tiit is in the "twilight" of his career, I imagine, though I don't know exactly how old he is. All three of these men mentioned are on the taller side. It looks to me like Tiit is getting more chances to dance this year, as compared with last year.

Birkkjaer hasn't been able to participate either - could be either one. Anyone else we're missing?

The SFB website is currently running a banner that they are looking for a principal dancer. I wouldn't have guessed that given that we seem to have a large group of first rate talents. I really hope this doesn't mean that we're losing one of our injured dancers. **San Francisco Ballet seeks a male principal dancer with exceptional partnering skills and strong classical training. Candidates must be versatile and accomplished with significant professional company experience that includes both classical and contemporary repertory. Preferred height is 6’ and above. Auditions will be scheduled for qualified candidates on an individual basis. To be considered, please email auditions@sfballet.org with CV or resume; head shot and dance photos; and links to performance footage.

The SFB web page for Program 4 has some nice photos of Pacific Northwest Ballet - hah! But we're now getting a great teaser banner image to get people in the mood: Here's Sasha De Sola dreaming about the day she will be photographed in costume for the new Midsummer marketing materials: Related: UPCOMING EVENTS 3/6: A Midsummer Night's Dream Opening Night Dinner FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2020 Conservatory of Flowers (naturally), San Francisco 3/7: Ballet Book Club Explore the adventures and misadventures at the heart of this story ballet and its journey back to the Opera House stage after 35 years. Ultimate Guide to A Midsummer Night's Dream – Read & Listen About Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream – Read

😉 Toi,, toi, toi. There's a short teaser video for Programs 2 and 3 on this SFB web page: https://www.sfballet.org/productions/classical-revision/

It's unlikely that a 15 year old Cio-Cio San would already hold the geisha rank, but hey, it's all a story.

Thanks for this. It's unfortunate that Westerners have come to think the term geisha refers to a prostitute in traditional Japanese costume, but the truth is something quite different. A Geisha is considered to be a living embodiment of the ideals and arts of ancient Japan. She is a performing artist, and dressed and made up in a rigorously prescribed fashion. 'It is still said that geisha inhabit a separate world which they call the Karyūkai or "The Flower and Willow World". Before they disappeared, the courtesans were the colourful "flowers" and the geisha the "willows" because of their subtlety, strength, and grace.' --Leslie Downer The girls who enter geisha training are often quite young - the training process can be as long as that in the ballet world, interestingly enough.

In any case, your going to get your money's worth seeing 5 different pieces. And if the stars align correctly, Sofiane Sylve will be dancing Dawson's Swan Lake. That seems especially likely given that she's not appearing in Etudes (so far) in Program 3. Unfortunately, Aaron Robison and Ulrik Birkkjaer continue to be out. Let's hope they are able to take part in this season.

Benjamin Freemantle profile on ABC7 News: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Fd6svA9EQ/

Yes, this is the abbreviated version of the ballet, and it begins with such a long period of music that one forgets there's going to be a ballet shown too. 😉 I've never liked this version of the choreography - simply cutting to Apollo furiously swinging his arm about the lute (without the instrument being presented to him by the Muses) is just too abrupt for me. I think part of what is going on in this presentation, is that Michael Tilson Thomas restores all the music that Balanchine actually cut for his minimized version of Apollo. So the dancing fits into the musical scheme a bit oddly. But if anyone has seen this Wallcast presentation live, and knows the Apollo versions well, then maybe they can comment on how the music is matching with the dancing.

Perhaps in reply to PeggyTulle, Sasha posted another short video from her training with Diaz at the LINES dance studios: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8JsctFHwF-/

Froustey has worked with Giannone off and on for a number of years. Nice to see that Lisa has official status with SFB. I'm not sure if Jaime Diaz acts as a sub-contractor at the fitness studio, or exactly how that works.

I was watching MCB and the New World Symphony (led by MIchael Tilson Thomas) in the Stravinsky and Balanchine: Apollo and Violin Concerto Wallcast Concert last night (on medici.tv). I wondered if anyone had gone to see this event in person. https://www.medici.tv/en/concerts/apollo-violin-concerto-stravinsky-balanchine/ I'm still collecting my impressions together about the performance. I do feel bad for the audience members seated directly behind the stage - I hope those were inexpensive seats. ;)

Sasha Mukhamedov is doing rehab work with Jaime Diaz at The Garage fitness center: And Sasha De Sola is training there too:

Yes, I think you're right about that, but Sylve taught the master class for Etudes. I think I saw all the casts last time and Sylve was clearly "the master", imo. But anyway, good casting for that program.

The interesting bit is that Sofiane is dancing Infinite Ocean rather than Etudes on opening night. No one dances Etudes like Sylve, but I can guess that she's ready to move on. 😉

There will be plenty to see with these programs. I have a feeling some people would prefer a different Thatcher ballet though, but it is new (not sure how important that is at the moment).

With reference to the football Super Bowl (the SF 49ers taking part this year), Mathilde Froustey posted this short video regarding the athletic challenges of the ballet dancer: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8EydmEHN4c/