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Making Froustey, Powell and Freemantle do back-to-back ballets seems a recipe for trouble. No Strongin and no Frantziskonis (with SVP and Chung out for who knows how long). I'd expect to be seeing WanTing Zhao scheduled for Programs 2 and or 3, but not so far...

I don't envy her the task of competing with SVP's acting abilities, but if Stahl succeeds, she will look like a hero. Toi toi toi.

Globe-trotting Maria Kochetkova, who has been guesting at Norwegian National Ballet this winter, is scheduled now to guest in La Sylphide with Staatsballett Berlin and Danil Simkin. FR 01.03.2019, 7.30 PM TU 12.03.2019, 7.30 PM MO 22.04.2019, 4.00 PM

That's great news - I'm glad she has found a high quality company to continue her career with.

There will likely be a handful of seminars and master classes this season. Currently, I only know of classes planned for Lander's Etudes, and Sleeping Beauty. If anyone has plans to attend the Etudes 1-day course [Sunday, February 10, 2pm], or attend/observe the Etudes Master Class with Sofiane Sylve [February 3, 2019], we would love to hear your report.

Madison Keesler on hosting the student matinees: "I absolutely loved being able to host the Student Matinee performance of @sfballet’s Don Quixote this past week! . As the host I was responsible for collaboratively writing a script and speaking to around 3000 children and teens in our opera house (@sfwarmemorial). I gave a brief description of the story, introduced the characters, taught a little pantomime, and more. . It was a great challenge and I loved every second. I'm looking forward to working on the script for the next student matinee for Sleeping Beauty." https://www.instagram.com/p/Btcp1l3h4EO/ Sounds like Keesler is working on making this a regular thing.

Mathilde posted another nice shout out to the Corps dancers of SFB: https://www.instagram.com/p/BtcKCEeFCw4/ "I have no words to express how grateful I am to all the dancers of @sfballet for your support and your energy on stage and backstage. I have been in the Corps de Ballet for 15years before to become Principal Dancer, I know and remember all the pain, difficulties but also joy this position gives. But if there is one thing I learned by becoming Principal Dancer is that there is no show without great Corps Dancers, they are the strength of any ballet you’ll see."

Because there are multiple SFB threads active at present, it gets confusing... Regarding SVP's 'condition' - that was mentioned by Dreamer (who was there in person to see SVP, Chung, and Tamara Rojo with Hernandez in the audience) in the 2019 Gala thread. https://balletalert.invisionzone.com/topic/44427-sfb-2019-opening-night-gala/ As per Helene, I've seen no official, or unofficial, statements about Chung's condition (and she's a private person), nor has Scheller posted anything yet regarding any injuries. I'm sure Scheller would love to dance Sleeping Beauty again. If anyone is likely to make a public announcement it's Scheller. Last season was an "all hands on deck" situation, and the company made it through mostly intact, but now that things are back to 'normal', all manner of difficulties suddenly crop up. 😉 How very human that is. I'd like to see Anima Animus in Program 2 because it is likely one of the last ballets featuring, and created on, Sofiane Sylve. I'm really hoping that it stays in the upcoming London tour and the Europeans get a chance to see it. The sad reality is - that unless Sylve is trying to beat Sylvie Guillem's record for longevity - we likely only have a small number of opportunities to see her dance again. The same goes for Yuan Yuan Tan. This is the final stretch.

There's a couple months for people to heal up, so that's not a worry - yet [I've not heard any confirmation of whether or not Frances Chung is pregnant, at the same time as her good friend SVP]. And again, the young dancers are wanting their "star" moment, too. Wona Park just had hers in Don Quixote, so maybe someone else will step up for the abstract ballets...

A good explanation, Mira. An unhappy situation for so early in the season, but that's life. If it were up to me, I would move Anima Animus into the Björk Ballet spot. ;) But it's not up to me.

Thanks for the link, Quiggin. There is another interview with Peck, and Marston and Tomasson worth a read (on Datebook): Three wise choreographers talk past, present and future of SF Ballet https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/dance/three-wise-choreographers-talk-past-present-and-future-of-sf-ballet

The Conversations on Dance interview with Madison Keesler is now available. I personally found her descriptions of life at the ENB and Hamburg Ballet to be very interesting. I had no idea how different the schedule at ENB would be from the SFB schedule. "In my 2nd year we did 8 months of Swan Lake shows..." Yikes! She tells the story of being asked to learn the Juliet role at SFB (partnered by Joan Boada) to replace an injured lead, but the injured dancer returned and she wasn't able to perform as Juliet in the end. Madison was also just interviewed by San Francisco KTVU Fox 2 about Don Quixote and the upcoming season: (there is also footage of Mathilde Froustey dancing Kitri, and Sofiane Sylve) https://www.ktvu.com/news/386319202-video She's also going to be the host for this year's student matinees (makes sense to me - I think she's a good speaker) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs-4GhyhNFT/

Thanks for the write ups everyone - I hope PeggyR can report back too. 😉 Joe Walsh posted some curtain call bow photos to Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BtKyc9XA-DS/ "Yesterday with @wonapark .... we had our premiere of Don Q, a ballet I had never imagined myself in before. I am so grateful for the opportunity to dance this role and to share the stage as a star was being born in Wona..."

And so it goes. 😉 That's the daily 'problem' that Tomasson has to deal with - there's lots of impressive talent chomping at the bit, to be allowed into the lead roles. It's a better problem for a company to have than most. "That’s my guess too. The original cast of Anima Animus included Kochetkova. On the tour to DC last fall, Frances took over that role." > My question is why there's no one else that can be brought into the 'Kochetkova' role? As per our comments above, it can't be for lack of interest among the dancers.

That's just my guess - that he has a role in SB. Unless he's dancing in Program 2, but I kind of doubt that. Lately the mixed rep programs have featured younger dancers. I've not heard anything about who is rehearsing the "Liam Scarlett World Premiere". So that's a possibility, but again, I expect the younger dancers to be taking up most of the roles. I received an email from SFB (you probably have it by now): "Programming Change on Program 2: Kaleidoscope This is to inform you that there has been a programming change on Program 2: Kaleidoscope. David Dawson's Anima Animus will be replaced by Justin Peck's Hurry Up We're Dreaming. Information has been updated on our website. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to seeing you for Program 2 in February."

On another note, count me as disappointed that Dawson's Anima/Animus has been withdrawn from Program 2 in favor of Peck's Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (Peck's Rodeo already being part of the season). The only Dawson available in the U.S. goes bye-bye. Personally, I rather they had swapped out Millepied's piece.

It's possible that he meant to be sending a private message to the people who "already follow" him. But he blew it. 😉 In the original post, Helimets stated that he had a rather long down period through March and early April, and he needed more dance work to stay in shape. I understand that, but I don't think it will be that hard for him to find a side project with a choreographer, or a guest opportunity, to keep himself busy. As one of the original post's commentators mentioned, at SFB, there are many young male dancers needing roles - so Tomasson has to find work for everyone. Last year was a hectic season with 12 new ballets added into the mix, but this season is much more 'normal' in its demands. If each male danseur gets into 4 ballets (the number Helimets said he would be dancing in) that's a believable number. I'm going to guess that Helimets is scheduled for lead roles in Sleeping Beauty, The Fifth Season, The Little Mermaid and Shostokovich Trilogy (with London tour). Not a terrible season, but I understand that it wasn't the quality he was complaining about, but the lack of steady dance work.

No participation from San Francisco Ballet this year, is curious.

Simply an interesting post from Tiit Helimets on Instagram (and there are comments to read from Tiit and others): https://www.instagram.com/p/BtPHs22gIRd/

New dance video directed and choreographed(?) by Emma Rubinowitz, featuring Corps and Soloist dancers of SFB: You Don't Own Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw4AQb4Anew&feature=youtu.be Dancers: Maggie Weirich, Thamires Chuvas, Lauren Parrot, Skyla Schreter, Elizabeth Powell, Miranda Silveira, and Norika Matsuyama Music by Lesley Gore. 😉

I've been poking about for opening season reviews. I'm probably behind the times, but it looks like most SFB dance reviews are now being posted to the Datebook website, which is new to me (though I certainly remember the days of the "Pink Section" of the Sunday paper). Rachel Howard did a short write-up about the gala: https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/dance/review-falling-in-love-with-sf-ballet-all-over-again-during-gala-performance And there's a good article on Danielle Rowe and her new piece for the gala: https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/dance/building-a-dance-step-by-step-for-a-world-premiere-at-sf-ballet-gala 'Her first commission was “For Pixie,” named for her grandmother back home in Adelaide. It premiered three years ago. “It went well,” she says. “People are still dancing it.” Last summer, Dores Andre and Joseph Walsh of the SF Ballet danced it at Ballet Sun Valley. Tomasson asked for a tape of it and two weeks later offered her the commission. She went to her music library, meaning she put Spotify on her iPhone and arrived quickly at “Grains (An Hailstorm)” from the album “And the Things that Remain,” by Bosso.' "...Just then the studio door opens, and in comes ballet master Katita Waldo. Then the door opens again, and in comes Tomasson to lean on a chair and watch. “That made me nervous,” she says later. “But I tried not to show it.” No one says a word, and when the piano slows to a tinkle at the end, all that can be heard are four feet pounding on the studio floor."

Recommended: Daily Life at the SFB Orchestra - "Join SF Ballet’s Music Director and Principal Conductor Martin West as he previews the music and ballets of the 2019 Season." https://sfballet.blog/2019/01/18/season-preview-with-martin-west/

A portion of Sam Whiting's Datebook write-up of the gala: 'Retired ballerina Danielle Rowe, who choreographed a duet titled “UnSaid” — the only world premiere commissioned for the gala, sat in orchestra seats with a strong grip on the hand of her husband, principal dancer Luke Ingham, who had been scratched from the program due to a back injury. Rowe’s piece, danced in the second half of the evening by Sofiane Sylve and Aaron Robison, brought the first standing ovation of the night. The piece was so well-received, the crowd demanded Rowe be brought to the stage to take a bow with the dancers. “I kept it together more than I thought I would,” she said afterward, her hands still clammy.' I'm really hoping Ingham's back issues are minor. The story ballet's need him.

Tuesday, January 29, 2019 – 7:30 pm Choreography: Alexander Gorsky after Marius Petipa Staging and Additional Choreography: Helgi Tomasson and Yuri Possokhov Music: Ludwig Minkus Conductor: Martin West Kitri: Wona Park Basilio: Joseph Walsh Don Quixote: Nathaniel Remez Sancho Panza: Davide Occhipinti Gamache: Alexandre Cagnat Wednesday, January 30, 2019 – 7:30 pm Choreography: Alexander Gorsky after Marius Petipa Staging and Additional Choreography: Helgi Tomasson and Yuri Possokhov Music: Ludwig Minkus Conductor: Martin West Kitri: Mathilde Froustey Basilio: Angelo Greco Don Quixote: Jim Sohm Sancho Panza: Pascal Molat Gamache: Myles Thatcher Thursday, January 31, 2019 – 7:30 pm Choreography: Alexander Gorsky after Marius Petipa Staging and Additional Choreography: Helgi Tomasson and Yuri Possokhov Music: Ludwig Minkus Conductor: Martin West Kitri: Sasha de Sola Basilio: Aaron Robison Don Quixote: Jim Sohm Sancho Panza: Pascal Molat Gamache: Alexandre Cagnat Friday, February 1, 2019 – 8:00 pm Choreography: Alexander Gorsky after Marius Petipa Staging and Additional Choreography: Helgi Tomasson and Yuri Possokhov Music: Ludwig Minkus Conductor: Martin West Kitri: Dores Andre Basilio: Vitor Luiz Don Quixote: Jim Sohm Sancho Panza: Pascal Molat Gamache: Alexandre Cagnat

As close as I'm going to get to the gala... So far, I've only seen these two Instagram postings: "The ladies of Dressing Room 12! With adopted beauty @misakuranaga and guest appearance by @_angelogreco_" https://www.instagram.com/p/BtCAQrpniCw/ Natasha Sheehan https://www.instagram.com/p/BtBt7drALGd/ EDIT - Here's a couple more posted by Scheller: https://www.instagram.com/p/BtClA24gmQL/ and this one (I like how Yuan Yuan's leg appears to be attached to Marlene) And a 2 photo sequence posted by Aaron Robison, also featuring Sofian Sylve and Danielle Rowe: https://www.instagram.com/p/BtETgKelnOn/