Sorry to hear that Scout is out for Fall due to her ankle. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjn9oWgJUyq/

Betsy keeping her surname or going to Wexler?

Good to see Betsy get promoted. She was soloing at Texas Ballet Theater in Fort Worth before she joined ABT. Been fun watching her grow from that time, albeit remotely through her social media. Hoping Zimmi gets promoted soon, too, but she is indeed young. 

Very excited to see this all evolve. Good work, everybody. 

I forgot I started this thread. I did end up going on Dec 18th. Security detail left a lot to be desired, but I did get in, and it was a good performance, although a dancer did get injured shortly after intermission. I couldn't tell who. Masks were expected of patrons. Dancers were somewhat less than half masked. There was no Clara meet and greet afterwards.

But it's been nothing since then. And now, their next performance (first since Nutcracker) will be in the suburbs, not the Civic. 

Quote

A BOLD NIGHT OF BALLET HITS.

EMERGE | June 8 & 10th, 2022
Poway Center for the Performing Arts 15498 Espola Road, Poway

Golden State Ballet presents EMERGE, a bright evening of dance, mixing ballet hits from classical to contemporary, honoring the past, present, and future of ballet. This breakthrough performance displays the versatility of the GSB dancers featuring works by Petipa, Balanchine, and a world premiere by Andrea Schermoly. Includes a guest appearance from students of the award-winning Golden State Ballet Academy.

Run time: Approximately 90 minutes, including two intermissions.

Golden State Ballet, the new ballet in downtown San Diego, still doesn't have a published schedule. I saw their Nutcracker (their debut as a company) on Dec. 16th. No news about the future, though they occasionally post to their Instagram . 

On 12/17/2021 at 9:40 AM, Balletwannabe said:

But how silly is it to wear a mask with a dance partner and then a couple of hours later perform with that same partner without a mask??  Sometimes masks makes sense, and sometimes they make absolutely no sense.  Another example...yesterday I was at a concert and there were like 100 children on stage, shoulder to shoulder, they wore the masks to walk up to the stage, and then took them all off to sing together. 

Sometimes I feel like masks are just for show. All these perfectly masked group photos of ballet dancers (gymnasts, etc) and then, boom! Showtime and forget about it. YAGP is back on with Seattle and one other city I haven't seen (Tampa?) and a very few dancers are still masking, which is good. I think it's a good idea to still be masking. This variant is very quick to spread. Maybe not as deadly, but still deadly. Been watching a lot of gymnastics, too, and hearing about figure skating, and those worlds are being rocked by the virus. My local Golden State Ballet hasn't published a schedule since Nutcracker (which had two days f cancellations), and it would seem COVID is the main reason. 

I don't know. I'm rambling. The stats are what they are. Even if things may be improving, the situation is still bad, and it could go up and down. Not sure how many variants we'll end up having. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYRvoXyKzD2/

ENB is going forward with tomorrow's shows.

Golden State Ballet at the Civic Center in San Diego cancelled its two debut days (which were Nutcracker) but got through the rest of the run. Oddly no published schedule for the rest of the season (unless I'm navigating wrong. This website is essentially California Ballet Company's former site but rebranded for GSB. That's a bit concerning, since I thought most other major companies at least have schedules up, regardless of whether COVID rears its ugly head in the end.

CANCELLATION NOTICE: The debut, plus all performances of the Nutcracker through tomorrow, are cancelled due to a COVID case. I'm due to go on the 18th. Hopefully things get resolved somehow, but what a sad start to the season.

Actually, they did add the COVID stuff. Still digesting. I did get a PCR test last week (neg), but it looks like I may need another one.

Quote

COVID-19 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL SHOWS  

Per the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), prior to entering our theatre, all guests will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (at least two weeks after final dose) OR present proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before the start time of an event. 

• Acceptable proof of vaccination is either the original vaccination card, a printed copy of the vaccination card, or digital vaccination record with an appropriate ID matching the name on vaccination documentation.  

• Unvaccinated guests under the age of 12 or guests with a valid medical restriction & medical note will be required to take a COVID-19 diagnostic test within 72 hours before the start time of the event and will provide proof of a negative result before entering the venue. 

• Acceptable proof of a negative COVID-19 test result must be in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy). The documentation must include: 

• Type of test (indicating it is a PCR or antigen test) 

• The entity issuing the result (e.g. laboratory, healthcare entity, or telehealth service) 

• Specimen collection date. A negative test result must show the specimen was collected within the 3 days before the event start time.  

• Information that identifies the person (full name plus at least one other identifier such as date of birth or passport number) 

• Test Result 

• Over-the-counter tests will not be accepted as proof of negative results of COVID-19 

• ALL guests are required to wear a mask for the duration of the event except when eating or drinking. 

California residents may request a digital vaccination

Still no roster, but it looks like they will be gearing up for a Nutcracker, in person, and with the traditional meeting of Clara and the rest of the characters afterwards. Nothing whatsoever on COVID protocols, yet, though. Very curious how that will be handled, as the post-show meeting area at the Civic gets pretty crammed.

https://www.goldenstateballet.org/nutcracker

I'm mixed on the masked dancing issue. Some companies have made or bought masks that actually look quite striking with the costumes---Clara, swans, etc---but I have seen instances where the masks partially or completely fall off, which is distracting for the viewer (well, me, anyway) and potentially dangerous to be trying to dodge as you dance.

Raul Salamanca is the AD (final AD of CBC), and Magda O'Neill continues as Executive Director. Not sure the venue, but it looks like it's back at the Civic. I hope this goes well.

 https://www.goldenstateballet.org/company

I'll make a new thread now. Next chapter ahead, it looks like.

Nothing official, but last I checked, a few days ago, the company blanked their website, save for an email I wasn't familiar with. Also, a couple dancers of Cal Bal that I follow on Instagram were posting about a new company or project, which involves some (now former) California Ballet dancers. 

Ballet Collective SD

•pandemic relief dance project program
•for professionals and trainees in SD
•Chapter V: Angels Among Us out now!

(off of their Instagram )

I had been a fairly frequent patron of California Ballet Company here in San Diego. It's one of the bigger companies here in town, at the Civic Center downtown. But I know that the current artistic director, Raul Salamanca, is, I think, the second in four years. The previous one was around for a very short time. I don't know much about either.  They haven't updated their IG since, I think, March, and they blanked out their website. I do worry that that company might be going under. Shame, since all my ballet going memories have been with them. 

I noticed a lot of companies doing their work online rather than in person, and considering our panddemic situation, it's an enjoyable alternative to in person ballet, but CBC never did this. Not sure if other local companies were better in this respect .

ETA: I did actually see SD Civic Youth Ballet's Nutcracker, and that was very good. But we need more in this town.

Or not. 

Anybody familiar with the scene there? Their Instagram was posted to last back in Mid-March with a dancer profile for Sona Jaeger. And their website seems like it hasn't changed at all since---well, maybe since the OP of this thread. I don't think they even attempted more than one online alternative show, and I think that was to replace the last Beer and Ballet which was so long ago now.

Chime in, locals, if you follow this company or its staff.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKkrvZ-hOFm/

No word on what's next. "Stepping down from the stage". Best of luck.

I haven't even looked for anything bigger, because I was under the impression that they all were being cancelled (the main ballet I attend here in San Diego did, as with a few others close by). From this thread, it seems that's not true at all. But thus far (both last night! lol), I have seen two 2020 Nutcracker productions. Both are by smaller companies (River City Ballet, in Louisville [?]) and Highlands Ranch Community Association, in suburban Denver. Production's a tad bit rough, but I was in a Nutcracker mood, so I went for it. They were both free, and worth my time. Good to support the ballet, wherever and however it may exist. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LVWhgON8oU&t=19s <---This is River City Ballet. YouTube will not allow embedding.

Rory could have made a good Clara.

On 8/27/2020 at 7:01 PM, pherank said:

To everything it's season? Americans like their Christmas-themed events near Christmas time. Unfortunately, the media, commercialism and capitalism do play a large part in how the year is organized. Events have to stick to their time slots. This year’s Indianapolis 500 was the lowest-rated broadcast ever, most likely because it wasn't run at its normal time of the year due to the pandemic closures.
 

It's certainly true that a true work of art can be viewed/listened to at any time of the year and still be appreciated. For some people though, there's an added special element to witnessing a seasonal event during its 'proper' season. I'm pretty sure my father wouldn't feel right if he hadn't watched the Vienna Philharmonic perform The Blue Danube and the Radetsky March at the New Year concert.  😉

I went to the Indy 500 in 1989 (have family and family friends in the Midwest). Completely unaware of the schedule changes this year and missed half of it. Maddening (though it had to happen). 

I'm kind of looking forward to the Nutcracker all year. I'll image search and go onto YouTube any time of year. But there is indeed a "warmth" to seeing it in December (falling on or at least straddling my birthday, anyhow).

I decided to start a new thread, since '19 seems so long ago. 

Also, just today on IG, there was a statement that Magda O'Neill is the new Executive Director and Raul Salamanca is the new Artistic Director, replacing Jared Nelson. 

 More news forthcoming.

So Tokyo is pushed back to '21 for now. Will it even go off at that point? I've kind of lost track of how gymnastics (WAG) is being qualified for. Surely things have changed?

California Ballet Company has a relief fund (scroll down a tiny bit):

https://www.californiaballet.org/support