sf_herminator

Casting has been posted for the first two performances of Onegin, opening on Sat 4/30: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting Merde to all the dancers in this final program of the season. Also of note: As part of Bay Area Dance Week, Company Class is open to the public on Sunday 5/1. You can sign up to attend here: http://bayareandw.org/event-details/?e_id=190 I always mourn the end of the season as it always seems to be a long wait until we see them on the stage again. Luckily, the company will be in LA in October as part of the Forsythe festival. Plus awaiting the announcement of the Stern Grove Season and hopefully SFB will be there at the end of July.

A review of Sunday night's celebration: http://www.sfgate.com/performance/article/A-superlative-evening-honors-superlative-dancers-7255188.php

From the ballet's blog site, Vanessa writes about her memories of Gennadi, Pascal, and Joan: http://sfballetblog.org/2016/04/so-long-but-not-goodbye/

Here are the video tributes from last night's celebration, in the order in which they were shown: Gennadi Nedvigin: Pascal Molat: Joan Boada:

From this post on his Instagram, it looks like Joan is moving to Florida.... https://www.instagram.com/p/BCqSkYQQtJJ/?taken-by=joanboada75

Here are some posts from Vanessa Zahorian's Instagram in honor of the 'Three Musketeers': https://www.instagram.com/p/BESQAy_oVgJ/?taken-by=vzahorian https://www.instagram.com/p/BEUBig2oViz/?taken-by=vzahorian https://www.instagram.com/p/BEVlggEIVu2/?taken-by=vzahorian https://www.instagram.com/p/BEVmxfgIVgv/?taken-by=vzahorian

Here's an interview with the departing 'Three Musketeers': http://www.sfgate.com/performance/article/Last-dance-for-3-SF-Ballet-principals-7248499.php#photo-9798798.

From their Facebook page, SF Ballet will perform at the Music Center in Los Angeles Oct 21-23 to open the 2016-17 Dance Season along with Pacific Northwest Ballet and Houston Ballet. From the Music Center site, the program will be 'Celebrate Forsythe', with Pas/Parts 2016, The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude, and Artifact Suite. SF Ballet FB post: https://www.facebook.com/sfballet/posts/10153915513546293:0 The Music Center link: http://www.musiccenter.org/1617dance

The program and casting for the Farewell Celebration for Joan Boada, Pascal Molat, & Gennadi Nedvigin on Sunday 4/17 has been posted (https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting): Farewell Celebration - Sunday, April 17, 2016 - 7:00PM Excerpt from ALLES WALZER Composer: Johann Strauss II Choreography: Renato Zanella Conductor: Martin West Joan Boada, Pascal Molat (Gennadi video tribute) LES LUTINS Composer: Antonio Bazzini, Henri Wieniawski Choreography and Costume Design: Johan Kobborg Solo violin: Cordula Merks Solo piano: Roy Bogas Dores André, Esteban Hernandez, Gennadi Nedvigin CONCERTO GROSSO Composer: Francesco Geminiani after Corelli Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Conductor: Martin West Pascal Molat, Diego Cruz, Hansuke Yamamoto, Lonnie Weeks*, Max Cauthorn Intermission TWO BITS Composer: Aaron Jay Kernis Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Vanessa Zahorian, Gennadi Nedvigin (Pascal video tribute) Solo from BORDERLANDS Choreographer: Joel Cadbury and Paul Stoney Choreographer: Wayne McGregor Pascal Molat Balcony pas de deux from ROMEO & JULIET Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Composer: Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Martin West Maria Kochetkova, Joan Boada (Joan video tribute) MAGRITTOMANIA Composer: Yuri Krasavin, after Ludvig van Beethoven Choreography: Yuri Possokhov Conductor: Martin West Pascal Molat, Gennadi Nedvigin, Joan Boada - See more at: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting#sthash.6DWRHs8W.dpuf

Just looked at the casting (https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting). It appears that the order of Program 7 has been changed. On opening night (which was spectacular, by the way), the order was Continuum, In the Countenance of Kings, and Theme and Variations. The order now is Theme and Variations, Continuum, and In the Countenance of Kings.

Casting for the first week of Program 6: Program 6 - Tuesday, April 05, 2016 - 7:30pm—Opening Night PRISM Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Conductor: Martin West Piano: Roy Bogas Sasha De Sola, Vitor Luiz, Carlos Quenedit* Sofiane Sylve, Luke Ingham* Taras Domitro SEVEN SONATAS SF Ballet Premiere Composer: Domenico Scarlatti Choreographer: Alexei Ratmansky Pianist: Mungunchimeg Buriad Mathilde Froustey*, Joseph Walsh* Frances Chung*, Gennadi Nedvigin* Vanessa Zahorian*, Davit Karapetyan* RUSH© Composer: Bohuslav Martinů Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon Conductor: Martin West Lauren Strongin, Francisco Mungamba* Jahna Frantziskonis*, Max Cauthorn* Maria Kochetkova*, Joan Boada Program 6 - Wednesday, April 06, 2016 - 7:30pm PRISM Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Conductor: Martin West Piano: Roy Bogas Sasha De Sola, Vitor Luiz, Carlos Quenedit Sofiane Sylve, Luke Ingham Taras Domitro SEVEN SONATAS SF Ballet Premiere Composer: Domenico Scarlatti Choreographer: Alexei Ratmansky Pianist: Mungunchimeg Buriad Mathilde Froustey, Joseph Walsh Frances Chung, Gennadi Nedvigin Vanessa Zahorian, Davit Karapetyan RUSH© Composer: Bohuslav Martinů Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon Conductor: Martin West Lauren Strongin, Francisco Mungamba Jahna Frantziskonis, Max Cauthorn Maria Kochetkova, Joan Boada Program 6 - Friday, April 08, 2016 - 8pm PRISM Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Conductor: Martin West Piano: Roy Bogas Vanessa Zahorian, Vitor Luiz, Carlos Quenedit Yuan Yuan Tan, Tiit Helimets Taras Domitro SEVEN SONATAS Composer: Domenico Scarlatti Choreographer: Alexei Ratmansky Pianist: Mungunchimeg Buriad Lorena Feijóo*, Carlos Quenedit* Dores André*, Vitor Luiz* Sofiane Sylve*, Carlo Di Lanno* RUSH© Composer: Bohuslav Martinů Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon Conductor: Martin West Lauren Strongin, Francisco Mungamba Jahna Frantziskonis, Max Cauthorn Maria Kochetkova, Joan Boada Program 6 - Sunday, April 10, 2016 - 2pm PRISM Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Conductor: Martin West Piano: Roy Bogas Mathilde Froustey*, Carlo Di Lanno*, Henry Sidford* Yuan Yuan Tan, Tiit Helimets Francisco Mungamba* SEVEN SONATAS Composer: Domenico Scarlatti Choreographer: Alexei Ratmansky Pianist: Mungunchimeg Buriad Lorena Feijóo, Carlos Quenedit Dores André, Vitor Luiz Sofiane Sylve, Carlo Di Lanno RUSH© Composer: Bohuslav Martinů Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon Conductor: Martin West Lauren Strongin, Francisco Mungamba Koto Ishihara, Wei Wang* Sasha De Sola*, Luke Ingham* In the event of injury or illness, casting is subject to change. *Premiere in ballet - See more at: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting#sthash.8cu2Gl7e.dpuf

Casting is up for the first three performances this week: Program 7 - Thursday, April 07, 2016 - 7:30pm—Opening Night CONTINUUM© Composer: György Ligeti Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon Piano: Mungunchimeg Buriad, Natal'ya Feygina Vanessa Zahorian, Luke Ingham Frances Chung*, Joseph Walsh* Sofiane Sylve, Tiit Helimets* Dores André, Steven Morse* IN THE COUNTENANCE OF KINGS World Premiere Composer: Sufjan Stevens Choreography: Justin Peck Conductor: Martin West Quantus: Dores André* Electress: Frances Chung* Botanica: Jennifer Stahl* The Protagonist: Joseph Walsh* The Foil: Gennadi Nedvigin* The Hero: Luke Ingham* The School of Thought: Sean Orza*, Max Cauthorn*, Steven Morse*, Wei Wang*, Jillian Harvey*, Isabella DeVivo, Jahna Frantziskonis*, Lauren Parrott*, Emma Rubinowitz*, Grace Shibley*, Ami Yuki*, Skyla Schreter* THEME AND VARIATIONS Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreography: George Balanchine Conductor: Martin West Maria Kochetkova, Gennadi Nedvigin Program 7 - Saturday, April 09, 2016 - 2pm CONTINUUM© Composer: György Ligeti Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon Piano: Mungunchimeg Buriad, Natal'ya Feygina Vanessa Zahorian, Luke Ingham Koto Ishihara*, Esteban Hernandez* Sasha De Sola*, Carlos Quenedit* Lauren Strongin*, Myles Thatcher* IN THE COUNTENANCE OF KINGS Composer: Sufjan Stevens Choreography: Justin Peck Conductor: Martin West Quantus: Isabella DeVivo Electress: Norika Matsuyama* Botanica: Lauren Strongin* The Protagonist: Francisco Mungamba* The Foil: Daniel Deivison-Oliveira* The Hero: Henry Sidford* The School of Thought: Sean Orza, Max Cauthorn, Steven Morse, Wei Wang, Jillian Harvey, Julia Rowe*, Jahna Frantziskonis, Lauren Parrott, Emma Rubinowitz, Grace Shibley, Ami Yuki, Skyla Schreter THEME AND VARIATIONS Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreography: George Balanchine Conductor: Martin West Frances Chung, Vitor Luiz Program 7 - Saturday, April 09, 2016 - 8pm CONTINUUM© Composer: György Ligeti Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon Piano: Mungunchimeg Buriad, Natal'ya Feygina Vanessa Zahorian, Luke Ingham Frances Chung, Joseph Walsh Sofiane Sylve, Tiit Helimets Dores André, Steven Morse IN THE COUNTENANCE OF KINGS Composer: Sufjan Stevens Choreography: Justin Peck Conductor: Martin West Quantus: Dores André Electress: Frances Chung Botanica: Jennifer Stahl The Protagonist: Joseph Walsh The Foil: Gennadi Nedvigin The Hero: Luke Ingham The School of Thought: Sean Orza, Max Cauthorn, Steven Morse, Wei Wang, Jillian Harvey, Isabella DeVivo, Jahna Frantziskonis, Lauren Parrott, Emma Rubinowitz, Grace Shibley, Ami Yuki, Skyla Schreter THEME AND VARIATIONS Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreography: George Balanchine Conductor: Martin West Maria Kochetkova, Gennadi Nedvigin In the event of injury or illness, casting is subject to change. *Premiere in ballet - See more at: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting#sthash.8cu2Gl7e.dpuf

The school will remain. Here is the press release from Silicon Valley Ballet, courtesy of Odette's Ordeal - Teri McCollum's ballet page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OdettesOrdeal/posts/1142121842487627:0?__mref=message This is good news for the students.

Just saw Coppelia tonight. Gennadi was Franz tonight. He was terrific!!! My friends were also very impressed with him tonight. Also, opening night casting for Program 5 next Wednesday has been posted. He will be dancing in Swimmer. Looking towards the other programs, he was partnering Frances Chung in the new Justin Peck piece (https://www.facebook.com/sfballet/photos/a.209483166292.171774.27923251292/10153369396546293/?type=3&theater) on Program 7 and he will be in Onegin as Lensky. There will also be the special performance, most likely along with fellow retiring principals Joan Boada and Pascal Molat. Still no announcement, but patiently waiting for the news. Tonight was a reminder that Gennadi will be missed.

Casting for opening night (Wed 3/16) has been posted: Program 5 - Wednesday, March 16, 2016 - 7:30pm—Opening Night DANCES AT A GATHERING Composer: Frédéric Chopin Choreographer: Jerome Robbins Piano: Roy Bogas Pink/Purple: Yuan Yuan Tan, Davit Karapetyan Mauve/Green: Vanessa Zahorian, Carlo Di Lanno Yellow/Brown: Mathilde Froustey, Joseph Walsh Blue/Blue: Sasha De Sola*, Steven Morse Green/Brick: Lorena Feijóo, Vitor Luiz SWIMMER Composers: Shinji Eshima, Tom Waits, Kathleen Brennan, and Gavin Bryars Choreography: Yuri Possokhov Conductor: Martin West The Swimmer: Taras Domitro Maria Kochetkova, Tiit Helimets Lorena Feijóo, Vitor Luiz Yuan Yuan Tan Wei Wang, Gennadi Nedvigin, Pascal Molat Links: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting https://www.facebook.com/OdettesOrdeal/posts/1141495522550259? (with beautiful pictures from last year's performances) I can't believe we are at the halfway point of the season!!

This was originally posted earlier this week on Odette's Ordeal's FB page - before the press picked up on it: https://www.facebook.com/OdettesOrdeal/posts/1140365655996579:0?__mref=message_bubble When I checked the SVB website on Monday, the link for tickets had been removed. The information for the remaining programs of the season had also been removed. This is very sad indeed. I only saw them once (Giselle last October) but enough to make me want to see them again. And I think that there was room in the Bay Area for a ballet company. But it is another blow to the arts in the San Jose area.

Just announced: https://www.sfballet.org/about/media_center/press_releases/_gennadi http://www.atlantaballet.com/news/atlanta-ballet-names-gennadi-nedvigin-new-artistic-director https://www.instagram.com/sfballet/ https://www.facebook.com/sfballet/?fref=nf His final performances will be during Onegin as Lensky. There will also be a special farewell performance with details to follow (wonder if it will be combined with Pascal Molat & Joan Boada). He will take over at Atlanta Ballet in August. Another great dancer to leave this year. So many great performances: Basilio in Don Q, Albrecht in Giselle, Mercutio in R & J, Scarlett's Hummingbird and Fearful Symmetries, Mark Morris's Joyride & Beaux, Balanchine's Agon, Tomasson's 7 for Eight & Trio, just to name a few. Congratulations & Best Wishes to Gennadi, and thank you for all your years of dancing!!!

Here's a small piece from the San Francisco Chronicle about costumes and the style of two of SF Ballet's newest dancers - including Jahna Frantziskonis: http://www.sfchronicle.com/style/article/S-F-ballet-dancers-channel-a-pair-of-Hepburns-6759638.php#photo-9159826

Performances through Tue 2/23 have been updated with Von Rothbart: Swan Lake - Friday, February 19, 2016 - 8pm—Opening Night Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Conductor: Martin West Odette/Odile: Yuan Yuan Tan Siegfried: Tiit Helimets Von Rothbart: Alexander Reneff-Olson^+ Swan Lake - Saturday, February 20, 2016 - 2pm Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Conductor: Ming Luke Odette/Odile: Sofiane Sylve+ Siegfried: Carlo Di Lanno+ Von Rothbart: Tiit Helimets^ Swan Lake - Saturday, February 20, 2016 - 8pm Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Conductor: Martin West Odette/Odile: Maria Kochetkova Siegfried: Davit Karapetyan Von Rothbart: Daniel Deivison-Oliveira^ Swan Lake - Sunday, February 21, 2016 - 2pm Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Conductor: Martin West Odette/Odile: Mathilde Froustey^+ Siegfried: Luke Ingham^+ Von Rothbart: Sean Bennett^+ Swan Lake - Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - 7:30pm Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Conductor: Ming Luke Odette/Odile: Sofiane Sylve Siegfried: Carlo Di Lanno Von Rothbart: Tiit Helimets ^Premiere in role +Premiere in SF Ballet production https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Tiit will be doing double duty, dancing Siegfried to Yuan Yuan's Odette/Odile AND Von Rothbart to Sofiane's Odette/Odile. This is the first time I've seen this happen here at SFB, but not unprecedented. At ABT I believe both Marcelo Gomes and James Whiteside alternated between Siegfried & Von Rothbart. * After playing Tybalt & Hilarion respectively, Daniel Deivison-Oliveira and Alexander Reneff-Olson add Von Rothbart to their villain portrayals. * Great to see Sean Bennett debut as Von Rothbart. Sad to see (so far) no Anthony Vincent - the only dancer to have previously danced Von Rothbart.

Yes, I just watched the short clip again and clearly she was rehearsing with Diego Cruz. Diego is in the first cast - now I will have to see who he was partnering because I really can't remember (Dores? Skyla?), I am at work and do not have the casting sheet hand. They did list who were the dancers in the various solos, duos, trios, and ensembles. I am definitely going to see Pas/Parts again. It seems that the first cast will be dancing all four performances this week. Judging by who else was rehearsing in the video I can't wait to see the second cast. On another note: Those who were present for the Meet the Artist Interview preceding the performance were fortunate to see William Forsythe!!! Back to Sasha - I hope she is OK and we will see her later this season. IIRC she has danced 7 for Eight, and I would think she would have been in either the Scarlett or Morris piece (she was in Scarlett's Hummingbird and she may have done Drink to Me before - again I will need to go through my archives to see). She was at the gala as she posted some pics on Instagram.

Hi Cristian, The one thing I definitely remember that was different with respect to the music was the very end. The flute is playing as the sun is rising and Giselle bids farewell to Albrecht. In this version, all of a sudden the music sped up. It was as if Albrecht lives to see another day and springs back to life!! It was a bit jarring for me since I was not used to that. I did recognize Giselle telling Albrecht she should go back to the grave as you describe Another aspect that I noticed is that at the end of the first act, Albrecht's squire is doing everything he can to get Albrecht out of the chaos of the village. Here he did not leave and fell to Giselle's feet as the curtain comes down During Giselle's entrechats in Act 2, the music seemed as if it was a bit faster. Probably because of that, it appeared to me that the entrechats were very fast but not very high. I thought Carreño was fine as Hilarion, I actually had never seen him dance before. BTW, this production used recorded music. It's what I expected, but of course live music is always better. According to the program, this production of Giselle was created by Ms. Alonso for Paris Opera Ballet, 1972 (I'll send you some pics from the program & cast sheet). Wished I could have seen a second performance - I never tire of Giselle!!

I see there haven't been any posts here for a while, which is a bit disappointing. While not as well known as San Francisco Ballet, Silicon Valley Ballet (formerly known as Ballet San Jose) has scored such fine addition to their rep. With the changes in the relationship between the US and Cuba, this is quite noteworthy. Here are links to a few articles (which are also posted in Links) Coaching - http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/2015/10/14/silicon-valley-ballet-makes-history-with-cuban-giselle/ Review - http://www.sfgate.com/performance/article/Rebranded-Silicon-Valley-Ballet-makes-spirited-6575580.php There were four performances over this weekend. I went to the Saturday matinee. This was a beautiful production and the company danced wonderfully. Principal Dancer Junna Ige was Giselle, Soloist Rudy Candida was Albrecht, Soloist Jing Zhang was Myrtha, and Artistic Director Jose Manuel Carreño was Hilarion. Here is a pic of the program which I had posted on Instagram: https://instagram.com/p/886puss45-/?taken-by=herminator65 I am glad I had the chance to see this....

I missed the first hour, but joined as the Giselle rehearsal was in progress. It was great to see Yuan Yuan & Tiit dancing together again. How exciting to see Carlo rehearsing as Alrbrecht to Mathilde's Giselle. I saw them as Romeo & Juliet and know they will be wonderful in Giselle. It was great to see the duos rehearsing for The Fifth Season, Rush, and especially Hummingbird because Liam Scarlett was there to work on his new piece. I am really excited for the new Scarlett. He has chosen wonderful music and by the looks of it Fearful Symmetries is going to be fabulous. I especially liked seeing the dancers who will be in the piece. Can't wait for the clip to be posted on You Tube so I can watch it again!!

THere's a new dancer listed in the Corps De Ballet - Kristine Butler. No picture and no other information except for she's from Buffalo. Other updates to the dancer pages: Clara Blanco no longer listed Pics for new dancers added (Soloist Lauren Strongin, Corps members Kamryn Baldwin and Jahna Frantziskonis, and Apprentices Grace Choi, Blake Kessler, Anastasia Kubanda, Chisako Oga, and Francisco Sebastião New pics for Principals Luke Ingham and Pascal Molat and Corps dancers Kimberly Braylock-Oliver (note name change) and Wan-Ting Zhao (there may be others I missed)

Yes, you are correct. San Francisco Ballet has only performed Kingdom of the Shades in 2014 and 2015, which Makarova set on the company. Maria posted the following to her Instagram (and also posted on her Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mariakochetkova?fref=ts): in rehearsal - https://instagram.com/p/3QKhxAkUTC/?taken-by=balletrusse curtain call - https://instagram.com/p/3dO9SjEUZK/?taken-by=balletrusse I had the great fortune to be in New York (visiting from San Francisco) and caught last night's performance - she was wonderful!!! This was my first time seeing the full length and I really enjoyed it.