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And that sounds very much like a Balanchine remark. ;) Doris Day was a Pop singer and never truly a bluesy or Jazz singer. That said, her vocal control allowed her to borrow aspects of the Blues nightclub voice popular in the 1940s and 50s. She often sang with a slightly hoarse, breathy overtone that (thankfully) helped take the edge off the overly sweet and cloying songs that were often the mainstay of her repertoire. She had a tendency to choose novelty songs over anything "deep" or ultimately thought provoking. Day's singles don't represent the best of the Great American Songbook composers to the same degree as singers like Ella Fitzgerald, or Billie Holiday. But her voice is very distinct, and relatively pure - she was never a heavily mannered singer. Yeah for that. But you have to like slow ballads: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8P_p7dB2dw Her recording of Por Favor has both the novelty and the nightclub qualities I mention above: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5piPFOFzJY

SFB just released a 2019 Thank You video: https://sfballet.blog/2019/05/13/2019-thank-you-video/

Video of today's promotion celebration in class (contracts officially begin today): https://www.instagram.com/p/BxamiKQAiCW/ EDIT: more great end-of-season photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/BxYwqkFh8XI/

Another unique personality, and career, of bygone times. Her role in Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) was memorable. Rest in peace, Doris. The notice in Variety gives more background about Day: https://variety.com/2019/film/news/doris-day-dead-dies-actress-singer-1203212685/

I can't tell from Madison Keesler's wording whether Sean Orza is retiring from ballet, in general, or just San Francisco Ballet. But I wish him well. I hope all these dancers are able to find quality work with other companies.

End of program/season Thank You message from Mathilde: https://www.instagram.com/p/BxYaQUfAxak/

I think we're seeing Tiit Helimets, Isabella DeVivo, Felipe Diaz, Yuan Yuan Tan and Vitor Luiz. Here's another by way of YYT: https://www.instagram.com/p/BxMSzH0jiyM/

Commemorative photos... https://www.instagram.com/p/BxVMT-aHHHP/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BxT9R7EgxBI/

I think Orza has been in the Corps now for 11 years - that's a long time. If this is true, I wish him well.

More of the above (from Pointe Magazine): When a Ballerina Decides to Marry a Michelin Star Chef https://www.dancemagazine.com/mourad-lahlou-mathilde-froustey-2633042975.html

A sequence of Theme and Variations (with Berlin Staatsballett) short videos: https://www.instagram.com/p/BxW__bilxnE/

It may be worth doing a search on eBay for Martha Swope photos - you might get lucky: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.H0.XMartha+Swope.TRS0&_nkw=Martha+Swope&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=George+Platt+Lynes Here's Allegra Kent by Swope: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Allegra-Kent-in-profile-portrait-by-Martha-Swope-65-ballet-ballerina-photo-NYCB/192889890202?hash=item2ce922259a:g:XdAAAOSwhUpciEPQ I purchased some George Platt Lynes dance prints that way.

People always want to know about casting, but unfortunately this is rarely revealed until the week before, so, I've cobbled together the most recent "1st casts" I could find. ALL SUBJECT TO CHANGE, of course. ;) Programme A - Shostakovich Trilogy 29 & 30 May, 2 June Currently being performed in San Francisco. There have been two alternating casts that I can see (but some substitutions have been scheduled, so this is an approximation). Both lineups are equally strong. Current First Cast - Symphony #9 Jennifer Stahl, Aaron Robison Dores Andre, Joseph Walsh Wei Wang Chamber Symphony Ulrik Birkkjaer Sasha De Sola Mathilde Froustey Yuan Yuan Tan Piano Concerto #1 Sofiane Sylve, Carlo Di Lanno Wona Park, Angelo Greco Current Second Cast - Symphony #9 Mathilde Froustey, Luke Ingham Sasha De Sola, Esteban Hernandez Hansuke Yamamoto Chamber Symphony Aaron Robison Jahna Frantziskonis Dores Andre Jennifer Stahl Piano Concerto #1 Yuan Yuan Tan, Tiit Helimets Isabella Devivo, Vitor Luiz Programme B – Liang / Marston / Pita 31 May & 1 June The Infinite Ocean Choreography: Edwaard Liang Music: Oliver Davis Sofiane Sylve, Tiit Helimets Yuan Yuan Tan, Vitor Luiz Snowblind Choreography: Cathy Marston Music: Amy Beach, Philip Feeney, Arthur Foote, and Arvo Pärt Ethan Frome: Ulrik Birkkjaer Zeena Frome: Jennifer Stahl or Madison Keesler [Sarah Van Patten role] Mattie Silver: Mathilde Froustey Björk Ballet Choreography: Arthur Pita Music: Composers: Björk Gudmundsdottir, Alejandro Ghersi, and Sjón Carmela Mayo Dores Andre Elizabeth Powell Joseph Walsh Luke Ingham Ulrik Birkkjaer Programme C - Welch / Scarlett / Peck 5 & 8 June Bespoke Choreography: Stanton Welch Music: Johann Sebastian Bach Mathilde Froustey, Frances Chung [out on maternity leave], Jennifer Stahl, Sasha De Sola, Isabella DeVivo, Ellen Rose Hummel Carlo Di Lanno, Angelo Greco, Jaime Garcia Castilla, Esteban Hernandez, Alexandre Cagnat, Lonnie Weeks Hummingbird Choreographer: Liam Scarlett Composer: Philip Glass I think the only dancers still around from the original performances are: Yuan Yuan Tan, Luke Ingham, Dores Andre, Joseph Walsh Vitor Luiz Hurry Up, We're Dreaming Choreography: Justin Peck Music: Anthony Gonzalez, Yann Gonzalez, Bradley Laner, and Justin Meldal-Johnsen Dores André, Wei Wang or Joseph Walsh Elizabeth Powell, Luke Ingham Gabriela Gonzalez, Ulrik Birkkjaer Programme D – McIntyre / Wheeldon / Dawson 6 & 7 June Your Flesh Shall Be a Great Poem Choreography: Trey McIntyre Music: Chris Garneau Benjamin Freemantle Isabella DeVivo Sasha De Sola Jennifer Stahl Steven Morse Jaime Garcilla Castilla Alexandre Cagnat Esteban Hernandez Lonnie Weeks Bound To Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon Music: Keaton Henson Dores Andre Sasha De Sola Isabella DeVivo Jennifer Stahl Yuan Yuan Tan Jaime Garcilla Castilla Carlo Di Lanno Benjamin Freemantle Angelo Greco Lonnie Weeks (final solo) Anima Animus Choreography: David Dawson Music: Ezio Bosso ??? [Maria Kochetkova role], Sofiane Sylve Henry Sidford, Carlo Di Lanno, Luke Ingham, Wei Wang Elizabeth Powell, Skyla Schreter, Kamryn Baldwin, Elizabeth Mateer

Just a "footnote" of a company. ;) New York and New England have always been enthusiastic (and expert) at "blowing their own horn", so in a way, this is more of a problem with self-promotion and local media interest. If you've ever watched a Bay Area TV interview with staff/dancers at SFB, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Oakland Ballet, etc. the TV host displays total ignorance of the subject and often ends up playing up the cutesy and "delightful" aspects of ballet (translation: bring your daughters for the pink costumes!) But there's little comprehension of the artistic or athletic aspects of the art form. No grasp of ballet's oral history tradition. [And you can forget about the efforts of the orchestra and stage crews, but that's probably another subject.] The TV host is often so dumbfounded you would think he/she was interviewing an expert on deep sea octopuses. Occasionally we get an interviewer who has actually taken ballet classes as a child. But even those reporters seem to relegate ballet to a pleasant aspect of childhood only. Contrast that with the deference shown by the New York media when marketing NYCB or ABT (I'm not talking about the recent exposés, which are not strictly-speaking marketing. However, even then the writers continue to get in a few references to how "iconic" and "world-class" everything is/should be/was that the exposé still functions as marketing to some degree.) For quality reviews of West Coast dance programs I recommend the Fjord Review, not the occasional Bay Area newspaper reviews.

Ishihara was dancing really well this past season, when I saw her perform. I wonder if this her own choice - moving back to Japan?

Any fundraising effort needs to be high-profile, and obvious - I'm surprised at how low-key their effort is. Fundraising may not be to Daukayev's taste, but it is about survival. And their are people who are expert in such things (and can charge non-profit organization prices for the work).

Some nice comments by Madison Keesler on Ben Freemantle's promotion: "…Ben is a phenomenal dancer and is also very good at his job (those can be two very different things sometimes in our world), but he is also the most honest and gracious human. Every day I get to see how much work and love he pours into this artform -- from writing detailed notes of every step in a role, to dancing around our living room to go through ballets, and always being humble and open to learning more in the studios. This is someone who always has a clear dream or goal for his life and has turned those dreams into reality time and time again. . Sometimes people say that he is lucky, but I disagree. I believe that "luck" is when preparation meets opportunity. He has prepared and worked hard for every opportunity that has come his way…" https://www.instagram.com/p/BxBvckaF51m/

New from the Fjord Review: Rachel Elderkin Dance Dialogues: A Podcast "Join London-based dance artist and writer Rachel Elderkin for Dance Dialogues: A Podcast. Each episode a guest from the dance world will join us to discuss their life, work and what matters in the dance world right now. From artists and choreographers, to directors and critics, this lively conversational podcast has got the dance world covered. Follow @DanceDialoguesPodcast on Instagram for updates and behind the scenes." Episodes 1 (Detective Work) and 2 (Making it Work) are now available online: https://www.fjordreview.com/dance-dialogues-podcast/

Thanks, Jack - it's good to know that she is still dancing.

Frances (with baby bump) getting "help and inspiration" from Dores: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw7dxQ8gDvF/

Congratulations to them both - it seemed to be in the cards. Wona Park was just promoted to soloist so it doesn't make much sense (to me, anyway) that she then be promoted again, to principal. She needs more experience, imo. She shows a lot of "promise" in classical roles, but needs time to really develop in those roles and with those techniques. And in contemporary roles she doesn't stand out yet in any particular way. A principal needs to be consistently convincing in both classical and contemporary pieces.

A great collection of Little Mermaid cast photos courtesy of Thamires Chuvas: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw4tbXgAX_S/ Nathaniel Remez taking his bows (with a glimpse of Mathilde Froustey too): https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw4iz8GgDof/

Jen Stahl dances in the film Avoidance (with partner James Gilmer) for Tiny Bubbles for Big Dreams benefit: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw-RRFBAvEi/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja7jheEqnlc&feature=youtu.be

Today's SFB email: ⚡Two Day Flash Sale! Save $30 on ANY Performance⚡ To celebrate the end of our Season, you're invited to save $30 off the final program, Shostakovich Trilogy, which opens May 7 and runs through May 12 for only seven performances!* This is your last chance to see the Company until Stern Grove this summer! Shostakovich Trilogy features choreography by the most sought-after choreographer today, Alexei Ratmansky and music by Dmitri Shostakovich, one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. Are you a visual person? Great, we are too. Watch the trailer for a sneak peek. Casting through May 11 is now posted! See who is dancing and when. To purchase tickets, visit sfballet.org and enter promo code LASTCHANCE. Then, select the performance you wish to attend. Done! Hurry! This offer ends Saturday, May 4 at NOON. We hope you'll join us.

Sasha De Sola does Grand Pirouettes in socks: Natasha Sheehan and Wei Wang rehearsing a PDD from Sleeping Beauty [3 short videos]