sf_herminator Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 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!!! Link to comment
Helene Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 Congratulation to him, and I wish him much success in his new career I loved his dancing and felt privileged when I could see it. Link to comment
pherank Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 Congratulations to Gennadi - but I wish he was not leaving SFB. ;) Another one of the stalwart "old guard" gone. He was a very versatile performer - I thought he was as good or better in the modern works as he was in the traditional roles. Link to comment
PeggyTulle Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 I loved his dancing, too. I expected other retirements this year, but not his. Link to comment
Drew Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 Very excited about Nedvigin's future role in Atlanta! He staged Possokhov's Classical Symphony on the company and I'm under the impression from an AJC article about his coming to direct Atlanta Ballet that the hope is that he will develop Atlanta Ballet and its dancers in a way that allows for more ambitious neo-classical repertory along the lines of much of what San Francisco ballet does. (As opposed to what I would call 'pop' ballet, contemporary eclectic, and outright modern dance--all of which Atlanta Ballet does as much or more than anything else.) Atlanta Ballet does dance some neoclassical works--John McFall has brought some fine works to the company including the Possokhov--but it has been a very mixed--and mixed quality--rep and one that hardly seems designed to develop the dancers' classical skills consistently. And would it be too much to hope that Nedvigin's coming to Atlanta might mean the company occasionally performing Balanchine again??? Anyway, on principle I feel for San Francisco fans, but this announcement has also filled me with some rare optimism about my local company. Link to comment
Josette Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Oh no. He is such a wonderful dancer, with a plush, perfect technique, beautiful ports de bras, charismatic presence. One of my favorite male dancers and was a joy to watch every time he stepped on stage. This is hard to take - Pascal Molat, Joan Boada, and Gennadi Nedvigin all leaving. Sob. Atlanta Ballet should be thrilled to have him as director. Link to comment
Terez Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Wow, what a year for saying goodbyes to longtime SFB male principals. Next year's roster is going to be pretty interesting to behold. (Finally room for Di Lanno on the principal roster would be my guess.) I'm very happy for Nedvigin, but sad for us, the audience. I've seen lots of him so far this season, it seems. Have enjoyed everything he's done. Congrats to the Atlanta Ballet; this is exciting news. Link to comment
sf_herminator Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 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. Link to comment
pherank Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Very excited about Nedvigin's future role in Atlanta! He staged Possokhov's Classical Symphony on the company and I'm under the impression from an AJC article about his coming to direct Atlanta Ballet that the hope is that he will develop Atlanta Ballet and its dancers in a way that allows for more ambitious neo-classical repertory along the lines of much of what San Francisco ballet does. (As opposed to what I would call 'pop' ballet, contemporary eclectic, and outright modern dance--all of which Atlanta Ballet does as much or more than anything else.) Atlanta Ballet does dance some neoclassical works--John McFall has brought some fine works to the company including the Possokhov--but it has been a very mixed--and mixed quality--rep and one that hardly seems designed to develop the dancers' classical skills consistently. And would it be too much to hope that Nedvigin's coming to Atlanta might mean the company occasionally performing Balanchine again??? Anyway, on principle I feel for San Francisco fans, but this announcement has also filled me with some rare optimism about my local company. It is hard to tell about his tastes, other than to say that he seems to have eclectic interests. It's just so hard to have to swallow the loss of Gennadi, Boada and Molat all at once. And coming right after the retirement of Damien Smith. I'm going to guess that Hansuke Yamamoto will be promoted. Tomasson made some fine choices in hiring Walsh and Di Lanno, but they both still need some development. As much as I like Di Lanno's dancing, I don't think his partnering skills are there yet. And he just doesn't have the "man of steel" strength of Helimets, or even Karapetyan, for lifts. I get nervous watching him catch the girls. Tomasson is going to be busy looking for danseurs, and they will have to be experienced soloists. I don't think SFB can afford to hire only youngsters who "look promising". Link to comment
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