sf_herminator

Wei Wang's IG post now makes sense - what an exciting opportunity: I have mixed feelings about the guest artist. I do look forward to seeing Yasmine Naghdi (http://www.roh.org.uk/people/yasmine-naghdi) and also happy Joseph Walsh will now be able to dance in The Sleeping Beauty. However, I do feel there are many soloists who should have had the chance at Princess Aurora - although perhaps the time to learn the role was limited. Then again, sometimes that's how Soloists become Principals.... Perhaps with a different full-length - thinking Romeo & Juliet????

In the comments of her IG post she says she is dancing on the 12th (Tuesday) and 16th (Saturday) matinee!!

Found the clip - looks like she's rehearsing with Angelo Greco

Yes, only one student matinee of The Sleeping Beauty - https://www.sfballet.org/community/school-programs-resources/student-matinees. Last year, Natasha Sheehan and Wei Wang danced in the student matinee of The Sleeping Beauty.

I am looking forward to seeing the rest of casting posted. Looking back at last year's casting (link to last year's thread - https://balletalert.invisionzone.com/topic/43326-sfb-2018-sleeping-beauty/?tab=comments#comment-393197), note the following: Two of last year's Aurora's will not be seen this year (Maria Kochetkova - left the company at end of 2018 season, Frances Chung - pregnant). Fingers crossed Ana Sophia Scheller will grace the stage again as she was MIA for Don Q. Are there any other Aurora's waiting in the wings? Joseph Walsh, who was scheduled to dance with Maria last year, will hopefully be able to dance Prince Desire this year (as he stated in the Meet the Artist interview during Don Q - https://sfballet.blog/2019/02/01/joseph-walsh-don-quixote/). If he does, who will be his Aurora?

New Instagram post from Frances Chung: Congratulations!!!

Sensorium program has been posted: https://www.sfballet.org/season/casting - scroll to the bottom of the page Sensorium Tuesday, February 26, 2019 – 8:00 pm The Fifth Season Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: Karl Jenkins Conductor: Martin West Elizabeth Powell Aaron Robison Mathilde Froustey Daniel Deivison-Oliveira Yuan Yuan Tan Tiit Helimets Hurry Up, We're Dreaming Choreography: Justin Peck Music: M83 Dores Andre Joseph Walsh Elizabeth Powell Luke Ingham Gabriela Gonzalez Ulrik Birkkjaer

Soloist Henry Sidford was the artist for the Meet the Artist Interview on opening night of Program 2 Kaleidescope - here is the link: https://sfballet.blog/2019/02/16/henry-sidford-soloist-on-kaleidoscope/.

Casting for second week of Program 3 (https://www.sfballet.org/season/casting) Tuesday, February 19, 2019 – 7:30 pm The Fifth Season Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: Karl Jenkins Conductor: Martin West Wona Park Angelo Greco Mathilde Froustey Daniel Deivison-Oliveira Yuan Yuan Tan Tiit Helimets Snowblind Choreography: Cathy Marston Music: Amy Beach, Arthur Foote, Arvo Pärt, Philip Sweeney Conductor: Martin West Piano: Mungunchimeg Buriad Ethan Frome: Luke Ingham Zeena Frome: Madison Keesler Mattie Silver: Dores Andre Etudes Choreography: Harald Lander Music: Knudåge Riisager after Carl Czerny Conductor: Martin West Sofiane Sylve Tour: Aaron Robison Mazurka: Ulrik Birkkjaer Pas de Deux Man: Tiit Helimets Wednesday, February 20, 2019 – 7:30 pm The Fifth Season Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: Karl Jenkins Conductor: Martin West Elizabeth Powell Aaron Robison Kimberly Marie Olivier John-Paul Simoens WanTing Zhao Carlo Di Lanno Snowblind Choreography: Cathy Marston Music: Amy Beach, Arthur Foote, Arvo Pärt, Philip Sweeney Conductor: Martin West Piano: Natasha Feygina Ethan Frome: Luke Ingham Zeena Frome: Madison Keesler Mattie Silver: Dores Andre Etudes Choreography: Harald Lander Music: Knudåge Riisager after Carl Czerny Conductor: Martin West Mathilde Froustey Tour: Vitor Luiz Mazurka: Wei Wang Pas de Deux Man: Benjamin Freemantle Friday, February 22, 2019 – 8:00 pm The Fifth Season Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: Karl Jenkins Conductor: Marin West Dores Andre Vitor Luiz Sofiane Sylve Luke Ingham Yuan Yuan Tan Tiit Helimets Snowblind Choreography: Cathy Marston Music: Amy Beach, Arthur Foote, Arvo Pärt, Philip Sweeney Conductor: Martin West Piano: Mungunchimeg Buriad Ethan Frome: Ulrik Birkkjaer Zeena Frome: Jennifer Stahl Mattie Silver: Mathilde Froustey Etudes Choreography: Harald Lander Music: Knudåge Riisager after Carl Czerny Conductor: Martin West Sasha De Sola Tour: Angelo Greco Mazurka: Joseph Walsh Pas de Deux Man: Carlo Di Lanno Sunday, February 24, 2019 – 2:00 pm The Fifth Season Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: Karl Jenkins Conductor: Martin West Dores Andre Vitor Luiz Kamryn Baldwin Daniel Deivison-Oliveira WanTing Zhao Carlo Di Lanno Snowblind Choreography: Cathy Marston Music: Amy Beach, Arthur Foote, Arvo Pärt, Philip Sweeney Conductor: Martin West Piano: Mungunchimeg Buriad Ethan Frome: Ulrik Birkkjaer Zeena Frome: Jennifer Stahl Mattie Silver: Mathilde Froustey Etudes Choreography: Harald Lander Music: Knudåge Riisager after Carl Czerny Conductor: Martin West Mathilde Froustey Tour: Vitor Luiz Mazurka: Luke Ingham Pas de Deux Man: Benjamin Freemantle

Updated casting for Saturday 2/16 performances (https://www.sfballet.org/season/casting) The Fifth Season - Kimberly Marie Olivier and John-Paul Simeons replace Mathilde Froustey and Daniel Deivison Olivera in the 2:00 PM performance (Mathilde and Daniel are still in the 8:00 PM performance). Snowblind - casting is flipped. Ulrik Birkkjaer/Jennifer Stahl/Mathilde Froustey will now dance in afternoon and Luke Ingham/Madison Keesler/Dores Andre will dance in the evening. Saturday, February 16, 2019 – 2:00 pm The Fifth Season Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: Karl Jenkins Conductor: Ming Luke Elizabeth Powell Aaron Robison Kimberly Marie Olivier John-Paul Simoens Yuan Yuan Tan Carlo Di Lanno Snowblind Choreography: Cathy Marston Music: Amy Beach, Arthur Foote, Arvo Pärt, Philip Sweeney Conductor: Ming Luke Piano: Mungunchimeg Buriad Ethan Frome: Ulrik Birkkjaer Zeena Frome: Jennifer Stahl Mattie Silver: Mathilde Froustey Etudes Choreography: Harald Lander Music: Knudåge Riisager after Carl Czerny Conductor: Martin West Sasha De Sola Tour: Angelo Greco Mazurka: Joseph Walsh Pas de Deux Man: Carlo Di Lanno Saturday, February 16, 2019 – 8:00 pm The Fifth Season Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: Karl Jenkins Conductor: Martin West Wona Park Angelo Greco Mathilde Froustey Daniel Deivison-Oliveira Yuan Yuan Tan Carlo Di Lanno Snowblind Choreography: Cathy Marston Music: Amy Beach, Arthur Foote, Arvo Pärt, Philip Sweeney Conductor: Martin West Piano: Mungunchimeg Buriad Ethan Frome: Luke Ingham Zeena Frome: Madison Keesler Mattie Silver: Dores Andre Etudes Choreography: Harald Lander Music: Knudåge Riisager after Carl Czerny Conductor: Martin West Sofiane Sylve Tour: Aaron Robison Mazurka: Ulrik Birkkjaer Pas de Deux Man: Carlo Di Lanno

Program 2 casting for remaining performances (https://www.sfballet.org/season/casting). Casting is subject to change Sunday, February 17, 2019 – 2:00 pm Divertimento No. 15 Choreography: George Balanchine Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Conductor: Martin West Joseph Walsh Max Cauthorn Hansuke Yamamoto Sasha De Sola Wona Park Jahna Frantziskonis Dores Andre WanTing Zhao Appassionata (SF Ballet premiere) Choreography: Benjamin Millepied Music: Ludwig van Beethoven Piano: Natasha Feygina Jennifer Stahl Aaron Robison Mathilde Froustey Henry Sidford Madison Keesler Steven Morse Hurry Up, We're Dreaming Choreography: Justin Peck Music: M83 Ellen Rose Hummel Wei Wang Isabella DeVivo Henry Sid-ford Norika Matsuyama Hansuke Yamamoto Thursday, February 21, 2019 – 7:30 pm Divertimento No. 15 Choreography: George Balanchine Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Conductor: Martin West Angelo Greco Benjamin Freemantle Lonnie Weeks Wona Park Mathilde Froustey Isabella Devivo Julia Rowe Koto Ishihara Appassionata (SF Ballet premiere) Choreography: Benjamin Millepied Music: Ludwig van Beethoven Piano: Mungunchimeg Buriad Dores Andre Ulrik Birkkjaer Sasha De Sola Benjamin Freemantle Elizabeth Powell Jaime Garcia Castilla Hurry Up, We're Dreaming Choreography: Justin Peck Music: M83 Dores Andre Joseph Walsh Elizabeth Powell Luke Ingham Gabriela Gonzales Ulrik Birkkjaer Saturday, February 23, 2019 – 2:00 pm Divertimento No. 15 Choreography: George Balanchine Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Conductor: Martin West Joseph Walsh Max Cauthorn Hansuke Yamamoto Sasha De Sola Wona Park Jahna Frantziskonis Dores Andre WanTing Zhao Appassionata (SF Ballet premiere) Choreography: Benjamin Millepied Music: Ludwig van Beethoven Piano: Natasha Feygina Jennifer Stahl Aaron Robison Mathilde Froustey Henry Sidford Madison Keesler Steven Morse Hurry Up, We're Dreaming Choreography: Justin Peck Music: M83 Ellen Rose Hummel Wei Wang Isabella DeVivo Henry Sidford Norika Matsuyama Hansuke Yamamoto Saturday, February 23, 2019 – 8:00 pm Divertimento No. 15 Choreography: George Balanchine Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Conductor: Martin West Angelo Greco Benjamin Freemantle Lonnie Weeks Wona Park Mathilde Froustey Isabella DeVivo Julia Rowe Koto Ishihara Appassionata (SF Ballet premiere) Choreography: Benjamin Millepied Music: Ludwig van Beethoven Piano: Mungunchimeg Buriad Dores Andre Ulrik Birkkjaer Sasha de Sola Benjamin Freemantle Elizabeth Powell Jaime Garcia Castilla Hurry Up, We're Dreaming Choreography: Justin Peck Music: M83 Dores Andre Joseph Walsh Elizabeth Powell Luke Ingham Gabriela Gonzalez Ulrik Birkkjaer

Links to the Meet the Artist interviews during the Don Q run: Sasha De Sola - https://sfballet.blog/2019/01/30/sasha-de-sola-principal-dancer-on-don-quixote/ Joseph Walsh - https://sfballet.blog/2019/02/01/joseph-walsh-don-quixote/ Wei Wang - https://sfballet.blog/2019/02/05/principal-dancer-wei-wang-on-don-quixote/ Angelo Greco - https://sfballet.blog/2019/02/07/angelo-greco-principal-dancer-on-don-quixote/ The podcasts are posted about one week after the event and available through normal podcast avenues or on the SFB website - https://sfballet.blog/category/listen/

Casting for Friday 2/15 performance, which is also Nite Out (https://www.sfballet.org/niteout) https://www.sfballet.org/season/casting Kaleidoscope - Friday, February 15, 2019 – 8:00 pm Divertimento No. 15 Choreography: George Balanchine Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Conductor: Martin West Joseph Walsh Max Cauthorn Hansuke Yamamoto Sasha De Sola Wona Park Jahna Frantziskonis Dores Andre WanTing Zhao Appassionata (SF Ballet premiere) Choreography: Benjamin Millepied Music: Ludwig van Beethoven Dores Andre Ulrik Birkkjaer Sasha De Sola Benjamin Freemantle Elizabeth Powell Jaime Garcia Castilla Hurry Up, We're Dreaming Choreography: Justin Peck Music: M83 Ellen Rose Hummel Wei Wang Isabella DeVivo Henry Sidford Norika Matsuyama Hansuke Yamamoto As a reminder: Casting subject to change

Casting for Saturday 2/16 performances of Program 3-In Space & Time https://www.sfballet.org/season/casting Saturday, February 16, 2019 – 2:00 pm The Fifth Season Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: Karl Jenkins Conductor: Martin West Elizabeth Powell Aaron Robison Mathilde Froustey Daniel Deivison-Oliveira Yuan Yuan Tan Carlo Di Lanno Snowblind Choreography: Cathy Marston Music: Amy Beach, Arthur Foote, Arvo Pärt, Philip Sweeney Conductor: Martin West Piano: Mungunchimeg Buriad Ethan Frome: Luke Ingham Zeena Frome: Madison Keesler Mattie Silver: Dores Andre Etudes Choreography: Harald Lander Music: Knudåge Riisager after Carl Czerny Conductor: Martin West Sasha De Sola Tour: Angelo Greco Mazurka: Joseph Walsh Pas de Deux Man: Carlo Di Lanno Saturday, February 16, 2019 – 8:00 pm The Fifth Season Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: Karl Jenkins Conductor: Martin West Wona Park Angelo Greco Mathilde Froustey Daniel Deivison-Oliveira Yuan Yuan Tan Carlo Di Lanno Snowblind Choreography: Cathy Marston Music: Amy Beach, Arthur Foote, Arvo Pärt, Philip Sweeney Conductor: Martin West Piano: Mungunchimeg Buriad Ethan Frome: Ulrik Birkkjaer Zeena Frome: Jennifer Stahl Mattie Silver: Mathilde Froustey Etudes Choreography: Harald Lander Music: Knudåge Riisager after Carl Czerny Conductor: Martin West Sofiane Sylve Tour: Aaron Robison Mazurka: Luke Ingham Pas de Deux Man: Carlo Di Lanno As a reminder: Casting subject to change Lots of exciting debuts, although I'm not sure why it is no longer designated on the website as it has been in the past.

He has actually already performed Prince Desire. His Princess Aurora was Natasha Sheehan. In this link to the cover story you can scroll down and see a picture of them from last year's student matinee: https://www.pointemagazine.com/natasha-sheehan-ballet-2627550597.html?utm_campaign=RebelMouse&socialux=facebook&share_id=4356430&utm_medium=social&utm_content=Pointe&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR281Tv_uHrVxbKDgt1_fLm0S-5A-NHxnW2SD2cLBrDXVxrklYQJJ-vrstU.

Updated casting for Sunday 2/3 performance (https://www.sfballet.org/season/casting): Sunday, February 3, 2019 – 2:00 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: Vitor Luiz Don Quixote: Nathaniel Remez Sancho Panza: Davide Occhipinti Gamache: Myles Thatcher

Sensorium is returning after a one year hiatus: https://www.sfballet.org/sensorium. No program details posted yet, but will update once available.

Thanks for posting the KTVU piece. Madison had an IG post about it (https://www.instagram.com/p/BtQMn2PhGoB/) and I was going to try to search for it. I agree she is a good speaker. During last year's Unbound Festival there was a panel discussion at SFMOMA. She was part of the panel with Sofiane Sylve and James Sofranko, and the moderators were beloved former SFB dancers Muriel Maffre and Pascal Molat. I was impressed with Madison as I thought she gave very thoughtful responses and projected well, very well composed.

When did that change happen? Yesterday I listened to the Podcast 'To The Pointe' via iTunes which included discussion about Anima Animus, but now I see the Podcast has been updated on the SFB website: https://sfballet.blog/2019/01/28/to-the-pointe-kaleidoscope/. I will have to check out iTunes again and see if it has been updated. I am not going to guess the reason for the change, but I do hope Anima Animus will return next season.

If you haven't seen Don Q yet and you're trying to decide which one to go see, I highly suggest going Saturday afternoon to see Wona Park and Joseph Walsh. They delivered and then some. I was happy to Joe's return to the stage. Wona - what can I say?? There are not enough words and I don't want to use the normal cliches (a star is born) - even if it's true. But from her first entrance in Act 1 all the way through the end she grabbed your attention and did not let go. A perfect combination of technical prowess, acting, and characterization. Plus, the chemistry between the two was the best IMHO. I will just add: I can't wait to see what she does next. I'll try to post more later, but two additional things: 1) I have seen all four principal couples so far and I think they all did a fine job - but if I didn't mention it before you should go see Wona & Joe; 2) I also want to heap lots of praise on Don Q (Nathaniel Remez), Sancho Panza (Davide Occhipinti), and Gamache (Alexandre Cagnat). I remember when they were Trainees, joined the company as Apprentices, and are now in their second year in the Corps. They were alI wonderful in their roles and I noticed little things with each one (Gamache entering the Gypsy Camp in Act 2 sitting on the horse backwards, Sancho Panza dancing on the side in Act 1 with the three couples center stage, Don Q in the Act 2 dream sequence). I think with the three of them and Wona (along with the rest of the company), the future of SFB is really bright!!!

Casting for the last three performances of Don Q (https://www.sfballet.org/season/casting): Saturday, February 2, 2019 – 2:00 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: Myles Thatcher Saturday, February 2, 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: Mathilde Froustey Basilio: Angelo Greco Don Quixote: Jim Sohm Sancho Panza: Pascal Molat Gamache: Alexandre Cagnat Sunday, February 3, 2019 – 2:00 pm Choreography: Alexander Gorsky after Marius Petipa Staging and Additional Choreography: Helgi Tomasson and Yuri Possokhov Music: Ludwig Minkus Conductor: Martin West Kitri: Ana Sophia Scheller Basilio: Vitor Luiz Don Quixote: Nathaniel Remez Sancho Panza: Davide Occhipinti Gamache: Myles Thatcher

Luke danced Espada in the Saturday evening performance of DonQ, so it does appear it was a minor issue. He should be fine (fingers crossed) for The Sleeping Beauty.

(thought this was the most appropriate place to post this....) Kurt Froman, former NYCB dancer, Celebrity Dance/Movement Coach (he worked on the movies Black Swan & Red Sparrow), and Choreographer-Ballet Repetiteur-Ballet Archivist, has been posting archival clips of NYCB on IG. Recently he posted these clips of Heather Watts and Helgi Tomasson from a 1982 broadcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/BswcbnuA3Ya/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BsweMZYgmBI/

SVP is not the only SFB dancer to appear on Ms. Weir's show. Both Pascal Molat and Joan Boada appeared on her show twice. I also recall a FB post (I think on the SFB page) of James Sofranko with Joanne Weir. I found this list of episodes of her show Joanne Weir Gets Fresh (https://www.joanneweir.com/getsfresh/) and scrolled down the list of Season 1 to find the episodes with SVP, Pascal, & Joan. Joan also appears in the first episode of season 2. James Sofranko appears on Episode 11 of Plates and Places Season 2: https://ww2.kqed.org/pressroom/2019/01/11/joanne-weirs-plates-places-season-2/.

Wow!!! Wona Park is one of the Kitri's!! In the 2017 Student Showcase, she danced the Don Q PDD (to perhaps the fastest recording ever). With her promotion at the end of last season, I was wondering if she would be learning Kitri - now we know. I wonder who her Basilio will be. On another note - no Frances Chung as Kitri??? Of the ladies this run, only Mathilde has danced it before. Ana Sophia has probably danced it elsewhere but will be debuting in the SFB production. I knew she would be Kitri - after all, that's the name of her dog!!