sf_herminator

Initial thoughts: Great to see more female choreographers Mere Mortals is a bold choice, but looking forward to see something different Have to search for the Christian Lacroix designs, but very happy that Midsummer is returning to the stage Love that we are getting some British Icons Wishing for Bolero and Colorforms on the Encore A program, which is still to be announced Swan Lake will include guest artists - really curious to see who they will be....

The new season has been announced via video: 23–24 SEASON - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org) I will give comments later, but following are some highlights: Mere Mortals - an evening length work by choreographer Aszure Barton with music by Floating Points The return of Helgi Tomasson's Swan Lake The return of Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream - with updated costume and set designs by celebrated French designer Christian Lacroix (originally created for Paris Opera Ballet) British Icons: Ashton's Marguerite and Armand, plus MacMillan's Song of the Earth Dos Mujeres - Arielle Smith's Carmen, plus Annabelle Lopez Ochoa's Broken Wings next@90 Curtain Call: Possokhov's Violin Concerto, Blanc's Gateway to the Sign, and Rowe's Madcap Plus a second Encore program (called Encore A) to be announced More details: 23–24 SEASON - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org)

From Max Cauthorn's IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqq00IePF0H/

Here is the IG post: San Francisco Ballet (@sfballet) • Instagram photos and videos

Here is the link to the digital program book: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/2023-season/program-books/

Principal Casting CASTING: ROMEO & JULIET - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org) has been posted for Romeo & Juliet - the last program of the 2023 Rep Season: Friday, April 21, 8:00 PM Romeo: Angelo Greco Juliet: Jasmine Jimison Saturday, April 22, 2:00 PM Romeo: Joseph Walsh Juliet: Misa Kuranaga Saturday, April 22, 8:00 PM Romeo: Isaac Hernández Juliet: Dores André Sunday, April 23, 2:00 PM Romeo: Aaron Robison Juliet: Nikisha Fogo Tuesday, April 25, 2:00 PM Romeo: Joseph Walsh Juliet: Misa Kuranaga Wednesday, April 26, 2:00 PM Romeo: Aaron Robison Juliet: Nikisha Fogo Thursday, April 27, 8:00 PM Romeo: Angelo Greco Juliet: Jasmine Jimison Saturday, April 29, 2:00 PM Romeo: Isaac Hernández Juliet: Dores André Saturday, April 29, 8:00 PM Romeo: Angelo Greco Juliet: Jasmine Jimison Sunday, April 30, 2:00 PM Romeo: Aaron Robison Juliet: Yuan Yuan Tan *CASTING SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Conversation with Soloist Isabella DeVivo, who will be stepping into the gold slippers of Cinderella for the first time: https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/dance/sf-ballet-cinderella-isabella-devivo-17813622.

Pointes of View video with Misa Kuranaga and Isaac Hernandez is now available:

Link to the digital program book: 2023 PROGRAM BOOKS - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org)

Casting for Opening Night (Tuesday 3/14) of The Colors of Dance - CASTING: THE COLORS OF DANCE - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org) 7 FOR EIGHT Conductor: Martin West Piano: Mungunchimeg Buriad First Movement Yuan Yuan Tan, Aaron Robison Second Movement Norika Matsuyama, Cavan Conley Third Movement Ellen Rose Hummel, Carmela Mayo Lucas Erni Fourth Movement Cavan Conley, Luca Ferrò Norika Matsuyama, Carmela Mayo Fifth Movement Lucas Erni Sixth Movement Yuan Yuan Tan, Aaron Robison Seventh Movement Ensemble COLORFORMS Conductor: Martin West JASMINE JIMISON SASHA DE SOLA, AARON ROBISON MISA KURANAGA CAVAN CONLEY, ESTEBAN HERNÁNDEZ ISABELLA DEVIVO, STEVEN MORSE MAGGIE WEIRICH, DAVIDE OCCHIPINTI BLAKE WORKS I I Need a Forest Fire Sasha De Sola, Nikisha Fogo, Jasmine Jimison Kamryn Baldwin, Thamires Chuvas, Isabella DeVivo, Gabriela Gonzalez, Blake Johnston, Swane Messaoudi, Nicole Moyer, Lauren Parrott, Leili Rackow Max Cauthorn, Diego Cruz, Lucas Erni, Luca Ferrò, Esteban Hernández, Lleyton Ho, Alexis Francisco Valdes, Joseph Walsh Put That Away and Talk to Me Isabella DeVivo, Jasmine Jimison, Esteban Hernández The Colour in Anything Nikisha Fogo, Isaac Hernández I Hope My Life Sasha De Sola, Nikisha Fogo, Joseph Walsh, Max Cauthorn Ensemble Waves Know Shores Isabella DeVivo, Diego Cruz, Alexis Francisco Valdes Thamires Chuvas, Gabriela Gonzalez, Lauren Parrott, Lucas Erni, Luca Ferrò Two Men Down Joseph Walsh, Isaac Hernández, Max Cauthorn, Lucas Erni, Esteban Hernández Ensemble Forever Sasha De Sola, Max Cauthorn *CASTING SUBJECT TO CHANGE

A quick post: Last night Giselle returned triumphantly to the War Memorial Opera House stage. Last seen in 2015, Giselle still hits all the right notes. The Willis in Act 2 left no doubt that no other company can touch them. Sasha was heartbreaking in Act 1 and luminous in Act 2. Aaron was a worthy Albrecht. Nathaniel was able to handle the balancing act of Hilarion. Nikisha was a beautiful Myrtha. Can't wait to see the other casts. Last night, Wei Wang was the artist in the Meet the Artist interview. He talked about how he landed at San Francisco Ballet School (thank to an aunt in Sacramento), his partnership with Wona Park, and how he prepared for the role of Albrecht. It was great to hear all this as he was slated to debut this afternoon. ALERT: I just checked this afternoon's casting - Jasmine Jimison and Esteban Hernandez are now dancing this afternoon's Giselle. Originally, Wona Park and Wei Wang were scheduled. I hope they will still be able to dance on Wednesday night. Also wonder who will dance tomorrow afternoon..... https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting-giselle/ Saturday, February 25, 2:00 P Saturday, February 25, 2:00 PM Conductor: Martin West Viola Solo, Act II: Yi Zhou Giselle: JASMINE JIMISON Count Albrecht: ESTEBAN HERNÁNDEZ - in disguise as Loys, a peasant Hilarion: Alexander Reneff-Olson - a game keeper for the Court ACT I Wilfred: Steven Morse - Albrecht's squire Berthe: Katita Waldo -Giselle's mother The Duke of Courtland: Val Caniparoli Bathilde: Juliana Bellissimo - The Duke's daughter & fiancée to Albrecht Servant to the Duke: Lleyton Ho Peasant Pas de Cinq: Olivia Brothers, Thamires Chuvas, Elizabeth Powell, Alexis Francisco Valdes, Mingxuan Wang Giselle's Friends: Kamryn Baldwin, Samantha Bristow, Gabriela Gonzalez, SunMin Lee, Carmela Mayo, Leili Rackow Peasants: Maisee Anderson, Summer Brown, Jihyun Choi, Jacey Gailliard, Nicole Moyer, Tyla Steinbach, Jamie Adele Stephens, Seojeong Yun, Estéban Cuadrado, Luca Ferrò, Parker Garrison, Andris Kundzins, João Percilio da Silva, Nathaniel Remez, John-Paul Simoens, Jasper True Stanford Ladies & Gentlemen: Kaia Abraham, Sofia Albers, Vera Cortell, Antonia Deprey, Anna McKinney, Patrice Bertrand, James Griffen, Jacob Seltzer, Arif Toleugazin, Adrian Zeisel Villagers & Children: Supernumeraries and Students of San Francisco Ballet School ACT II Myrtha: SASHA MUKHAMEDOV - Queen of the Wilis Solo Wilis: Thamires Chuvas and Norika Matsuyama Wilis: Sofia Albers, Maisee Anderson, Juliana Bellissimo, Samantha Bristow, Olivia Brothers, Summer Brown, Maya Chandrashekaran, Jihyun Choi, Carlota Cruz, Jacey Gailliard, Gabriela Gonzalez, Petra Johnson, Blake Johnston, Chloe Kinzler, SunMin Lee, Nicole Moyer, Pemberley Ann Olson, Lauren Parrott, Tyla Steinbach, Jamie Adele Stephens, Angela Watson, Maggie Weirich, Juliana Wilder, Seojeong Yun

Complete casting for the Opening Night Performance has been posted: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting-giselle/ Merde to everyone tonight!! I will be there!! Friday, February 24, 800 Conductor: Martin West Viola Solo, Act II: Yi Zhou Giselle: SASHA DE SOLA Count Albrecht: AARON ROBISON - in disguise as Loys, a peasant Hilarion: Nathaniel Remez - a game keeper for the Court ACT I Wilfred: Myles Thatcher - Albrecht's squire Berthe: Anita Paciotti - Giselle's mother The Duke of Courtland: Ricardo Bustamante Bathilde: Sasha Mukhamedov - The Duke's daughter & fiancée to Albrecht Servant to the Duke: Andris Kundzins Peasant Pas de Cinq: Isabella DeVivo, Norika Matsuyama, Carmela Mayo, Max Cauthorn, Hansuke Yamamoto Giselle's Friends: Thamires Chuvas, Ellen Rose Hummel, Lauren Parrott, Elizabeth Powell, Julia Rowe, Tyla Steinbach Peasants: Kamryn Baldwin, Samantha Bristow, Olivia Brothers, Blake Johnston, SunMin Lee, Pemberley Ann Olson, Angela Watson, Maggie Weirich, Rubén Cítores Nieto, Estéban Cuadrado, Luca Ferrò, Davide Occhipinti, Alexander Reneff-Olson, Jacob Seltzer, John-Paul Simoens, Adrian Zeisel Ladies & Gentlemen: Kaia Abraham, Jacey Gailliard, Anna McKinney, Jamie Adele Stephens, Seojeong Yun, Benjamin Davidoff, Lleyton Ho, João Percilio da Silva, Jasper True Stanford, Alexis Francisco Valdes Villagers & Children: Supernumeraries and Students of San Francisco Ballet School ACT II Myrtha: NIKISHA FOGO Queen of the Wilis Solo Wilis: Ellen Rose Hummel and Julia Rowe Wilis: Sofia Albers, Maisee Anderson, Kamryn Baldwin, Juliana Bellissimo, Samantha Bristow, Olivia Brothers, Maya Chandrashekaran, Jihyun Choi, Thamires Chuvas, Jacey Gailliard, Gabriela Gonzalez, Petra Johnson, Blake Johnston, SunMin Lee, Carmela Mayo, Nicole Moyer, Pemberley Ann Olson, Lauren Parrott, Leili Rackow, Tyla Steinbach, Jamie Adele Stephens, Angela Watson, Maggie Weirich, Seojeong Yun

Pointes of View for Giselle is now available. Mary Wood in conversation with Principal Dancer Jennifer Stahl (Myrtha) and Corps de Ballet member Nathaniel Remez (Hilarion). FB - https://fb.watch/iPIN1iAK9C/, YT - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BMb48kVje0

The Program Book for Giselle is available in digital format: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/2023-season/program-books/

Myrtha has been added to the casting. - https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting-giselle/ These are the dancers who will portray Myrtha: Jennifer Stahl, Dores Andre, Nikisha Fogo, WanTing Zhao, and Sasha Mukhamedov. Here is the updated casting: Friday, February 24, 8:00 PM Giselle: Sasha De Sola Albrecht: Aaron Robison Myrtha: Nikisha Fogo Saturday, February 25, 2:00 PM Giselle: Wona Park Albrecht: Wei Wang Myrtha: Sasha Mukhamedov Saturday, February 25, 8:00 PM Giselle: Misa Kuranaga Albrecht: Angelo Greco Myrtha: Jennifer Stahl Sunday, February 26, 2:00 PM Giselle: Jasmine Jimison Albrecht: Esteban Hernández Myrtha: Dores André Tuesday, February 28, 7:30 PM Giselle: Sasha De Sola Albrecht: Aaron Robison Myrtha: Nikisha Fogo Wednesday, March 1, 7:30 PM Giselle: Wona Park Albrecht: Wei Wang Myrtha: Sasha Mukhamedov Thursday, March 2, 7:30 PM Giselle: Misa Kuranaga Albrecht: Angelo Greco Myrtha: Jennifer Stahl Saturday, March 4, 2:00 PM Giselle: Jasmine Jimison Albrecht: Esteban Hernández Myrtha: Dores André Saturday, March 4, 8:00 PM Giselle: Sasha De Sola Albrecht: Aaron Robison Myrtha: WanTing Zhao Sunday, March 5, 2:00 PM Giselle: Misa Kuranaga Albrecht: Angelo Greco Myrtha: Jennifer Stahl *Casting is subject to change

This season will be Sasha's first time dancing Giselle. In 2015, she danced Myrtha - I was fortunate to see her on a Saturday afternoon. She was wonderful in the role. Here is a post from her IG when she was rehearsing Giselle last year: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck6G0FRpH2Z/

Principal Casting (Giselle & Albrecht) has been posted - CASTING: GISELLE - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org) Remember, casting is subject to change. Friday, February 24, 8:00 PM Giselle: Sasha De Sola Albrecht: Aaron Robison Saturday, February 25, 2:00 PM Giselle: Wona Park Albrecht: Wei Wang Saturday, February 25, 8:00 PM Giselle: Misa Kuranaga Albrecht: Angelo Greco Sunday, February 26, 2:00 PM Giselle: Jasmine Jimison Albrecht: Esteban Hernández Tuesday, February 28, 7:30 PM Giselle: Sasha De Sola Albrecht: Aaron Robison Wednesday, March 1, 7:30 PM Giselle: Wona Park Albrecht: Wei Wang Thursday, March 2, 7:30 PM Giselle: Misa Kuranaga Albrecht: Angelo Greco Saturday, March 4, 2:00 PM Giselle: Jasmine Jimison Albrecht: Esteban Hernández Saturday, March 4, 8:00 PM Giselle: Sasha De Sola Albrecht: Aaron Robison Sunday, March 5, 2:00 PM Giselle: Misa Kuranaga Albrecht: Angelo Greco

Casting change alert: Julia Rowe will now dance with Esteban Hernandez in the excerpts from both Haffner Serenade and Bolero (only posting changes below but you can go to the link https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/) I. Third Movement from HAFFNER SERENADE (World Premiere) JULIA ROWE, ESTEBAN HERNÁNDEZ Gabriela Gonzalez, SunMin Lee, Elizabeth Mateer, Carmela Mayo Luca Ferrò, Lleyton Ho, Joshua Jack Price, Nathaniel Remez X. Excerpt from BOLERO (World Premiere) WONA PARK, JOSEPH WALSH JULIA ROWE, ESTEBAN HERNÁNDEZ SASHA MUKHAMEDOV, DANIEL DEIVISON-OLIVEIRA Juliana Bellissimo, Gabriela Gonzalez, SunMin Lee, Elizabeth Mateer, Carmela Mayo Luca Ferrò, Joshua Jack Price, Nathaniel Remez, John-Paul Simoens, Hansuke Yamamoto

Casting is now posted for the gala performance: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/ GALA CASTING Thursday, January 19, 6:30 PM I. Third Movement from HAFFNER SERENADE (World Premiere) KATHERINE BARKMAN, ESTEBAN HERNÁNDEZ Gabriela Gonzalez, SunMin Lee, Elizabeth Mateer, Carmela Mayo Luca Ferrò, Lleyton Ho, Joshua Jack Price, Nathaniel Remez II. Balcony Pas de Deux from ROMEO & JULIET DORES ANDRÉ, ISAAC HERNÁNDEZ III. POSTSCRIPTUM (World Premiere) YUAN YUAN TAN, AARON ROBISON IV. Excerpt from MADCAP (World Premiere) The Clown: TIIT HELIMETS The Oracle: JENNIFER STAHL The Juggled: MAX CAUTHORN, ALEXIS VALDES, WEI WANG Thamires Chuvas, Parker Garrison, Jasmine Jimison, Davide Occhipinti, Leili Rackow, Henry Sidford, Tyla Steinbach, Jamie Adele Stephens V. DOUBLE STOP WANTING ZHAO, LUKE INGHAM Eric Sung, Cello VI. Pas de Deux from GISELLE, Act II MISA KURANAGA, ANGELO GRECO Yi Zhou, Viola VII. “The Colour in Anything” from BLAKE WORKS I NIKISHA FOGO, ISAAC HERNÁNDEZ VIII. Pas de Deux from CINDERELLA, Act II SASHA DE SOLA, JOSEPH WALSH IX. Excerpt from GATEWAY TO THE SUN (World Premiere) MAX CAUTHORN JENNIFER STAHL, LUKE INGHAM Eric Sung, Cello X. Excerpt from BOLERO (World Premiere) WONA PARK, JOSEPH WALSH KATHERINE BARKMAN, ESTEBAN HERNÁNDEZ SASHA MUKHAMEDOV, DANIEL DEIVISON-OLIVEIRA Juliana Bellissimo, Gabriela Gonzalez, SunMin Lee, Elizabeth Mateer, Carmela Mayo Luca Ferrò, Joshua Jack Price, Nathaniel Remez, John-Paul Simoens, Hansuke Yamamoto *CASTING SUBJECT TO CHANGE

I received the following email today: As a valued member of San Francisco Ballet, you’re the first to know! Tiit Helimets’ final performance as Principal Dancer will be held on February 11 during the Garland / Roberts / Rowe Premieres at the next@90 festival. Helimets joined San Francisco Ballet as a principal dancer in 2005 and has appeared in hundreds of performances with the Company since. He will remain on SF Ballet’s roster as a Principal Character Dancer. You can watch him perform in MADCAP opening night, January 20 at 8 pm or check casting here. Thank you and happy retirement, Tiit! I knew this was coming, but was hoping that we would still see Tiit in 7 for Eight or in Wheeldon's Cinderella as her father. He is also in Breiner's The Queen's. Daughter Additionally, he assisted Yuri Possokhov with the creation of Violin Concerto. I will always remember him as Albrecht in Giselle. I also had the great fortune to take a couple of drop-in classes where he was the teacher. Thank you Tiit!!

The Opening Night Gala Performance of the 2023 Season will be on Thursday, January 19. Programming has been posted, which will include excerpts from some of the next@90 pieces (casting has not been posted at this time): https://www.sfballet.org/productions/gala/ GALA PROGRAMMING Third Movement from Haffner Serenade (World Premiere) Choreographer: Robert Garland Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Balcony Pas de Deux from Romeo & Juliet Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Composer: Sergei Prokofiev Postcripum (World Premiere) Choreographer: Yuri Possokhov Composer: Shinji Eshima Excerpt from MADCAP (World Premiere) Choreographer: Danielle Rowe Composer: Pär Hagström Music arranged By: Philip Feeney Double Stop Choreographer: Val Caniparoli Composer: Philip Glass Pas de Deux from Giselle, Act II Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson after Marius Petipa, Jules Perrot, and Jean Coralli Composer: Adolphe Adam "The Colour of Anything" from Blake Works I Choreographer: William Forsythe Composer: James Blake Pas de Deux from Cinderella, Act II Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Composer: Sergei Prokofiev Excerpt from Gateway to the Sun (World Premiere) Choreographer: Nicolas Blanc Composer: Anna Clyne Excerpt from BOLERO (World Premiere) Choreographer: Yuka Oishi Composer: Maurice Ravel

Here are the short videos of the pieces on the first program: Garland's Haffner Serenade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2YCCri51_8&t=37s Roberts' Resurrection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25CnhNq6WLU Rowe's Madcap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb7_wzxaUWU

I was looking around the SFB website and found that casting has been posted for the 3 different programs. Below are the links for each Program, along with the opening night cast posted: Garland/Roberts/Rowe (Festival A): https://www.sfballet.org/productions/festival-a/ Opening Night Friday 1/20: Garland's Haffner Serenade (Music: Mozart's Serenade for Orchestra in D) Katherine Barkman, Esteban Hernández Gabriela Gonzalez, SunMin Lee, Elizabeth Mateer, Carmela Mayo Luca Ferrò, Lleyton Ho, Joshua Jack Price, Nathaniel Remez Roberts' Resurrection (Music: Mahler's Totenfeier for orchestra) Dores André, Isaac Hernández WanTing Zhao, Aaron Robison Samantha Bristow, Isabella DeVivo, Ellen Rose Hummel, Pemberley Ann Olson Rubén Cítores Nieto, Lucas Erni, Andris Kundzins, Steven Morse Rowe's Madcap (Music arranged by Philip Feeney) Tiit Helimets, Jennifer Stahl Sasha De Sola, Max Cauthorn, Alexis Valdes, Wei Wang Parker Garrison, Davide Occhipinti, Henry Sidford Thamires Chuvas, Leili Rackow, Tyla Steinbach, Jamie Adele Stephens Canipraroli/Breiner/Ohishi (Festival B): https://www.sfballet.org/productions/festival-b/ Opening Night Saturday 1/21 Caniparoli's Emergence (Music: Dobrinka Tabakova's Concerto for Cello and Strings) Nikisha Fogo, Ellen Rose Hummel, Misa Kuranaga, WanTing Zhao Lucas Erni, Angelo Greco, Steven Morse, Aaron Robison Breiner's The Queen's Daughter (Music: Violin Concerto Op. 15 by Benjamin Britten) Sasha De Sola, Wei Wang Jennifer Stahl, Tiit Helimets Henry Sidford, Myles Thatcher, Lonnie Weeks Thamires Chuvas, Leili Rackow, Jamie Adele Stephens Davide Occhipinti, Jacob Seltzer, Alexis Valdes Oishi's Bolero (Music by Ravel, additional music by Shinya Kiyokawa) Yuan Yuan Tan, Joseph Walsh Katherine Barkman, Esteban Hernández Sasha Mukhamedov, Daniel Deivison-Oliveira Juliana Bellissimo, Gabriela Gonzalez, SunMin Lee, Elizabeth Mateer, Carmela Mayo Luca Ferrò, Joshua Jack Price, Nathaniel Remez, John-Paul Simoens, Hansuke Yamamoto Blanc / Schreier / Possokhov (Festival C): https://www.sfballet.org/productions/festival-c/ Opening Night - Wednesday 1/25 Blanc's Gateway to the Sun (Music: Anna Clyne's DANCE for cello and orchestra) Max Cauthorn Sasha De Sola, Wei Wang Jennifer Stahl, Luke Ingham Samantha Bristow, Nicole Moyer, Leili Rackow, Jamie Adele Stephens Davide Occhipinti, Jacob Seltzer, Alexis Valdes, Adrian Zeisel Schreier's Kin (Music by Tanner Porter - commissioned score) Dores André, Isaac Hernández WanTing Zhao, Aaron Robison Norika Matsuyama, Steven Morse Isabella DeVivo, João Percilio da Silva Ellen Rose Hummel, Lucas Erni Samantha Bristow, Olivia Brothers, Pemberley Ann Olson Rubén Cítores Nieto, Andris Kundzins, Mingxuan Wang Possokhov's Violin Concerto (Music by Stravinsky) Wona Park, Joseph Walsh Sasha Mukhamedov Katherine Barkman, Esteban Hernández Carmela Mayo, Cavan Conley Juliana Bellissimo, Gabriela Gonzalez, Elizabeth Mateer, Angela Watson Joshua Jack Price, Nathaniel Remez, John-Paul Simoens, Mingxuan Wang This is a link to the program book for the festival: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/2023-season/program-books/ Various clips have been posted - I will put them in a separate post later. There is a lot to be excited about with next@90!! I will be attending the opening nights of all 3 programs.

Today I received an email regarding Nutcracker. Tickets are now and sale - and casting (principal only) has been posted for ALL performances!!! Here is the link (as always, casting is subject to change): CASTING: NUTCRACKER - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org) I was really surprised but also pleased to see the casting. Curious to what others think about the casting. Performances will be December 8 - December 27.

It appears he is replacing Benjamin Millepied. I am happy that Val is getting this opportunity.