pherank Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Only one destination has been announced at this time: Iceland"The Reykjavík Arts Festival has just announced that the San Francisco Ballet, under the direction of Helgi Tómasson, will perform at the festival this spring. There will be four performances in Harpa Concert Hall, on the Eldborg stage, May 28-30."(Helgi Tómasson was born in Reykjavík, Iceland)http://icelandreview.com/news/2015/12/11/san-francisco-ballet-perform-harpa-may I wonder if from Iceland, there will also be a trip to Great Britain or Scandinavia... Link to comment
Helene Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 What great news for the company: Reykjavic's a great place to visit. I hope the dancers will get to explore more of the island, too. It would be a shame if they all had to rush back. Link to comment
Terez Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Does Helgi frequently take the company "home" to his native country? I can't help but visualize some new corps dancer, excited about international touring, visualizing Paris and London and Beijing, and then... Iceland. I suppose the feeling would be much worse if it were an Oct/Nov tour. That's a very early tour for them, though, right on the heels of their repertory season. Although the works will still be fresh in their mind, if they cull from 2016 season. Link to comment
Helene Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Lucky for young'uns, there's a lot of info on the internet and social media that would make them think small city in Northern BC or Alaska, not London or Paris and certainly not Beijing -- there are more people in The East Village than in all of Iceland -- and they can even find out whether they might have a Bjork sighting while they are there. The only thing that should surprise them is sticker shock: although the exchange rate is now about 70% better than before the financial crisis, most food and drink has to be imported. They might find being in the Blue Lagoon soothes their aches and pains. It will definitely make their skin baby soft Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 I passed through Iceland in the middle of July and the high temperature was 14ºC...which was why my companion balked at visiting the Blue Lagoon. And everything was frightfully expensive, though the imported food and drink were uniformly excellent. Link to comment
pherank Posted December 24, 2015 Author Share Posted December 24, 2015 Does Helgi frequently take the company "home" to his native country? I couldn't find any evidence of a past tour to Iceland, but perhaps years ago. Not everyone knows this, but Iceland is a small enough culture, that Helgi, and Björk for that matter, ARE their "full" names. It's only in dealing with the outside world - that expects to see family names as well - that the Icelanders use a Patronymic or Matronymic last name: Tomasson (son of Tomas), Björk Guðmundsdóttir (Guðmunds daughter). Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 SFB dancers should be warned that the "North American" (and British) wing of Keflavik International Airport is a nightmare where departures are concerned. All of the flights, about a dozen each day, take off within 45 minutes of each other. This can't make life easy for the check-in staff, baggage handlers or air traffic controllers of such a small airport, so I assume it's a demand of the border agents who stamp travelers out of the Schengen Area. Seating in the waiting area is totally inadequate, and you'll rarely see queues like the ones in the departures cafeteria. Apparently flights to Iceland count as "mid-Atlantic" rather than "trans-Atlantic," so the price of Icelandair tickets does not include a meal, leading to a run on pizzas at the airport. Link to comment
Terez Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Not everyone knows this, but Iceland is a small enough culture, that Helgi, and Björk for that matter, ARE their "full" names. It's only in dealing with the outside world - that expects to see family names as well - that the Icelanders use a Patronymic or Matronymic last name: Tomasson (son of Tomas), Björk Guðmundsdóttir (Guðmunds daughter). Wow, one needs to live in a very small country to make THAT work. Then again, thanks to his success, Helgi can go by first name alone here in the U.S., or certainly throughout the ballet world! Iceland must be so very proud of him. Link to comment
California Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 I just noticed that Kochetkova opens Le Corsaire at the Met on May 31, although judging from her Instagram, she spends a lot of time jetting around the world. Link to comment
pherank Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 Here's a collection of photos from the Iceland 2016 tour. From the "Mathilde goes to Iceland and gets into hot water" series:https://instagram.fsan1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t51.2885-15/e35/13329245_1579671895659428_1412940218_n.jpghttps://instagram.fsan1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t51.2885-15/e35/13298128_1080750748673296_1608439916_n.jpg Icelandic lunch https://www.instagram.com/p/BGCNi5nnrXj/?taken-by=lapetitefrench_ Setting for Tiit Helimet's birthday celebration: https://www.instagram.com/p/BGA4c6mHrfj/?taken-by=lapetitefrench_ Le Corsaire costume: https://instagram.fsan1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t51.2885-15/e35/13266864_185245585206218_723875598_n.jpg End of tour photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/BGF3oSOBkwV/?taken-by=tiithelimets Tiit with Bowie https://www.instagram.com/p/BF9poEQhk2z/?taken-by=tiithelimets Joseph Walsh and Lauren Strongin as tourists https://instagram.fsan1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t51.2885-15/e35/13266678_279978262342131_1827421642_n.jpg Jahna Frantziskonis and the Rubies cast https://instagram.fsan1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t51.2885-15/s750x750/sh0.08/e35/13269395_1745233349081858_1797385935_n.jpg Sasha De Sola at Harpa Concert Hall by Erik Tomasson https://instagram.fsan1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t51.2885-15/e35/13269544_1213693745331834_97396027_n.jpg Link to comment
Dreamer Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 Thanks for the links, pherank. Great to know that Anthony Vincent is back. I don't think I saw him in anything this past season. Link to comment
pherank Posted June 6, 2016 Author Share Posted June 6, 2016 A nice photo of the touring company: https://www.instagram.com/p/BGT44sCHrfk/?taken-by=lapetitefrench_ Carlo Di Lanno seems to be missing from this photo (or is that him behind Helgi?), which does include Masha though, who was only in Iceland for a couple of days before returning to the ABT season. The summer tour schedule is posted here. Next up is an appearance at the Napa Valley Festival... Link to comment
Dreamer Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 Carlo Di Lanno seems to be missing from this photo (or is that him behind Helgi?), which does include Masha though, who was only in Iceland for a couple of days before returning to the ABT season. I believe it might be Max Cauthorn behind Helgi. Link to comment
pherank Posted June 16, 2016 Author Share Posted June 16, 2016 SFB posted 3 short pieces about the Iceland Tour: An Iceland Homecoming Preparing for Iceland Iceland Tour Diary of Julia Rowe Link to comment
pherank Posted June 30, 2016 Author Share Posted June 30, 2016 Forsythe Project: 2016 Pas Parts Excerpts (San Francisco Ballet) promo:https://vimeo.com/162575606 I think I see the following dancers: Sofiane Sylve, Carlo Di Lanno, Dores Andre, Frances Chung, James Sofranko, Maria Kochetkova, Francisco Mungamba, Wei Wang, Joseph Walsh (can't quite make out his partner though), Yuan Yuan Tan… Learn more here: http://www.musiccenter.org/forsythe And here's a wrap up blog article for the Iceland tour: http://sfballetblog.org/2016/06/sf-ballet-takes-iceland/ "Nearly two percent of the population of Iceland attended our four performances and one show was broadcast on Iceland’s public television nationwide" Link to comment
Josette Posted June 30, 2016 Share Posted June 30, 2016 Joseph Walsh is dancing with newly promoted soloist Julia Rowe (yea, Julia!). Link to comment
pherank Posted June 30, 2016 Author Share Posted June 30, 2016 Joseph Walsh is dancing with newly promoted soloist Julia Rowe (yea, Julia!). Thanks Josette. ;) This interview with Julia Rowe contains a photo from the same Pas/Parts performance: https://aballeteducation.com/2016/02/29/julia-rowe/ Is it just my imagination, or is her hair much darker now? Link to comment
Josette Posted July 1, 2016 Share Posted July 1, 2016 I think her hair is darker. Thanks for the link- a very good read. I intend to go to all three Forsythe performances this fall at the L.A, Music Center and am especially looking forward to seeing dancers from PNB and Houston Ballet, as well as Artifact Suite again, which I loved when I saw SFB perform it several seasons ago. Link to comment
sandik Posted July 2, 2016 Share Posted July 2, 2016 I intend to go to all three Forsythe performances this fall at the L.A, Music Center I wish I could go! Link to comment
pherank Posted July 23, 2016 Author Share Posted July 23, 2016 "SF Ballet makes its Festival Napa Valley debut on Friday, July 22, accompanied by members of the SF Ballet Orchestra. The mixed-bill program features Tomasson’s The Fifth Season; van Manen’s Solo; various pas de deux from Tomasson/Possokhov’s Don Quixote; Forsythe’s in the middle, somewhat elevated; Petipa’s Le Corsaire; and Wheeldon’s After the Rain©."Luke and Yuan Yuan at the festivalhttps://www.instagram.com/p/BIMfxiOjZeo/?taken-by=tanyuanyuansf Maria Kochetkova waiting her turn https://www.instagram.com/p/BIMFZgmAJ0o/?taken-by=balletrusse The Festival Napa Valley tends to be a place where incredibly "successful" people can rub elbows and view imported culture. I wonder if Natalia Makarova will be there to see SFB (she lives nearby). Next up: the annual Stern Grove Festival, San Francisco, CA July 31, 2016 Link to comment
Josette Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Frances Chung is dancing Odette in Swan Lake Act II with Tiit Helimets at Stern Grove! Link to comment
pherank Posted July 26, 2016 Author Share Posted July 26, 2016 Frances Chung is dancing Odette in Swan Lake Act II with Tiit Helimets at Stern Grove! Thanks for the reminder, Josette - here's the official casting: Stern Grove Festival - Sunday, July 31, 2016 - 2pm SWAN LAKE ACT II Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Conductor: Martin West Odette: Frances Chung^ Siegfried: Tiit Helimets Von Rothbart: Alexander Reneff-Olson THE FIFTH SEASON Composer: Karl Jenkins Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Conductor: Martin West Dores André, Aaron Robison Mathilde Froustey, Carlos Quenedit Yuan Yuan Tan, Tiit Helimets Pas de Deux from AFTER THE RAIN© Composer: Arvo Pärt Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Yuan Yuan Tan, Luke Ingham RUBIES Composer: Igor Stravinsky Choreographer: George Balanchine Conductor: Martin West Piano: Roy Bogas Vanessa Zahorian, Joseph Walsh Jennifer Stahl Did anyone see any casting for the Napa Valley Festival? I wonder if SFB found that little excursion to be worthwhile. Link to comment
Josette Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 I saw the casting and it was several pas de deux and tidbits, including Zahorian and Domitro in Le Corsaire, and Kuchetkova and new soloist Angelo Greco in Don Q pas de deux, I believe. Link to comment
pherank Posted July 27, 2016 Author Share Posted July 27, 2016 I saw the casting and it was several pas de deux and tidbits, including Zahorian and Domitro in Le Corsaire, and Kuchetkova and new soloist Angelo Greco in Don Q pas de deux, I believe. That's interesting that Greco took part. So he's ready to go. I haven't heard if Aaron Robison has put in an appearance yet, or if he still in 'moving to California' hell. Somehow, it doesn't seem accidental that after acquiring dancers from Houston Ballet and La Scala, Tomasson then gets another Houston dancer and another La Scala dancer. Did they come recommended by their 'compatriots'? Link to comment
miliosr Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 I haven't heard if Aaron Robison has put in an appearance yet He already started appearing with them at Napa. There's a photo of him on his Instagram feed just after finishing his first performance with San Francisco Ballet. Link to comment
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