pherank Posted March 6, 2018 Author Share Posted March 6, 2018 (edited) Here's a video of Vanessa Zahorian and Davit Karapetyan's new studio home for the Pennsylvania Ballet Academy. Pretty nice for a regional ballet studio. Edited March 6, 2018 by pherank Link to comment
pherank Posted April 22, 2018 Author Share Posted April 22, 2018 (edited) The Fjord Review just published an article about Aaron Robison: Wanderlust by PENELOPE FORD Quote The rigour of SFB’s schedule however proved challenging. SFB has a radically different way of working and producing their season than most other ballet companies, Robison explained, rehearsing repertoire and new ballets in one half of the year, and maintaining a rigorous performance schedule from “The Nutcracker” until May. “I found that challenging for the body,” he says. “I was a bit worried about my body, staying and working that way. I feel that when I’m doing a role, I need to learn the steps, take in the choreography and then perform it; that’s what works well for me. “Each role you do, you want to give your best and it requires a lot of work and concentration. And some roles don’t come so naturally, so you have to work on how to make it look good on your body” he says, adding, “But that’s what’s addictive too, trying to own a role.” Although Penelope Ford's quip in this quote doesn't come off right: 'Robison originated the role in Liam Scarlett’s “Frankenstein” (incidentally, he and Scarlett were in the same year at the Royal Ballet School), which he recently reprised as a guest artist. The company too, he notes, was not bad. “I’ve been lucky—I loved dancing with Sofiane Sylve, and loved dancing with Sasha de Sola, and Frances Chung.”' The company was not bad? That's a weird summation - and I think that's Ford's doing, not Robison's actual comment. It's interesting that Robison mentions wanting to perform in Onegin, but SFB just performed Onegin at the end of 2016 - wasn't he a part of that? Edited April 22, 2018 by pherank Link to comment
Josette Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 Aaron Robison danced with SFB for 2016 (mostly Nutcracker) - 2017 (January through May). Onegin was at the end of the 2016 spring season at the opera house and Aaron had not yet joined. Link to comment
pherank Posted April 23, 2018 Author Share Posted April 23, 2018 5 minutes ago, Josette said: Aaron Robison danced with SFB for 2016 (mostly Nutcracker) - 2017 (January through May). Onegin was at the end of the 2016 spring season at the opera house and Aaron had not yet joined. Thanks Josette. ;) Link to comment
California Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 (edited) Aaron Robison is returning to SFB after just one year at ENB! This was just announced in e-mail. I must say, this is great news for North America. And perhaps he'll be available for some guesting at ABT, like Maria Kochetkova. EDITED TO ADD: I'm not seeing any sort of announcement on the SFB page and I wonder if leaving "at the end of the current season" means 2019 or now. If he's not leaving until summer 2019, it seems early to make this announcement. Here's the e-mail: Aaron Robison leaves the Company EMBARGOED UNTIL 1PM – DO NOT SHARE UNTIL THEN Lead Principal Aaron Robison has decided to leave English National Ballet at the end of the current season. He returns to San Francisco Ballet where he danced as a Principal from 2016-17. We wish Aaron all the best for the future and look forward to welcoming him back as a Guest Artist in the future. Edited July 10, 2018 by California update Link to comment
pherank Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 9 hours ago, California said: Aaron Robison is returning to SFB after just one year at ENB! This was just announced in e-mail. I must say, this is great news for North America. And perhaps he'll be available for some guesting at ABT, like Maria Kochetkova. EDITED TO ADD: I'm not seeing any sort of announcement on the SFB page and I wonder if leaving "at the end of the current season" means 2019 or now. If he's not leaving until summer 2019, it seems early to make this announcement. That's the kind of update we really like to hear. 😉 Link to comment
pherank Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 I guess I should record for posterity that Maria Kochetkova has left SFB to freelance, join the Norwegian National Ballet for some of the 2018/2019 season (coincidentally, she'll be dancing Manon, which Robison will be missing out on), and is still likely, imo, to join Daniil Simkin at Staatsballett Berlin after that. Masha just posted to Instagram from the City Dance Studios* in San Francisco: "Californian warm up. So nice to be in SF for a few days after visiting 8 countries and traveling non stop in the last two months. Back on the road tomorrow" https://www.instagram.com/p/BlCBJp3hXnO/?taken-by=balletrusse *City Dance Studios is being pushed out of their home on Otis Street to make way for luxury condos. A now typical story. It's no longer crazy to think that Hunter's Point will become 'gentrified' one day. Link to comment
sf_herminator Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 and the website has been updated with Mr. Robison (just scroll down a bit): https://www.sfballet.org/artists/dancers/principals his bio: https://www.sfballet.org/artists/dancers/aaron_robison Link to comment
Dreamer Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 Carlos Quendit has joined the Houston Ballet. I so happy he has not quit dancing. Time to start planning a trip to Houston. Link to comment
Josette Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 I agree, Dreamer. I'm so happy for Carlos to be dancing again with a ballet company! This is good news! Link to comment
pherank Posted July 26, 2018 Author Share Posted July 26, 2018 (edited) SFB has announced: Dana Genshaft Receives Prestigious Princess Grace Award "Beloved SF Ballet School Faculty member—and former SF Ballet Soloist Dana Genshaft—has been awarded a Princess Grace Award in Choreography. Selected by the Princess Grace Foundation, she will receive financial assistance and ongoing support as an emerging choreographer. Dana became a faculty member in 2015 following her retirement from the Company, and since then she has taught contemporary repertory, conditioning, and choreography at SF Ballet School. She has also choreographed for the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company and James Sofranko’s SFDanceworks, among others. The Princess Grace Foundation identifies and assists emerging artists in theater, dance, and film by awarding grants in the form of scholarships, apprenticeships, and fellowships. Since its inception, the Foundation has given awards to nearly 800 recipients. Notable winners in dance and choreography include Robert Battle, Gillian Murphy, Tiler Peck, Kyle Abraham, and Michelle Dorrance, and SF Ballet Principal Joseph Walsh. For more information, visit pgfusa.org." Edited July 26, 2018 by pherank Link to comment
miliosr Posted July 28, 2018 Share Posted July 28, 2018 Didn't see this posted anywhere: https://www.instagram.com/p/Blvb9_rg8jD/?hl=en&taken-by=rubenmartincintas He's leaving the San Francisco Ballet to join the Washington Ballet as a Ballet Master. Link to comment
pherank Posted July 28, 2018 Author Share Posted July 28, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, miliosr said: Didn't see this posted anywhere: https://www.instagram.com/p/Blvb9_rg8jD/?hl=en&taken-by=rubenmartincintas He's leaving the San Francisco Ballet to join the Washington Ballet as a Ballet Master. That's great news. Every time I see his name I wonder what he is up to. 😉 Many of the posting comments are from his students/ex students, which is nice to see. I like that Afternoon of a Faun photo too. Edited July 28, 2018 by pherank Link to comment
miliosr Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 23 hours ago, pherank said: That's great news. Every time I see his name I wonder what he is up to. 😉 But what will become of Paellas & Cos?!? https://www.instagram.com/paellasandcos/ While his departure is a loss for the school, decamping for Washington Ballet seems like a good move for him career-wise. It will also bring him closer to his brother, who is now with the Atlanta Ballet, (He'll also be closer to the Karapetyans in Pennsylvania.) Link to comment
pherank Posted July 29, 2018 Author Share Posted July 29, 2018 1 hour ago, miliosr said: But what will become of Paellas & Cos?!? https://www.instagram.com/paellasandcos/ While his departure is a loss for the school, decamping for Washington Ballet seems like a good move for him career-wise. It will also bring him closer to his brother, who is now with the Atlanta Ballet, (He'll also be closer to the Karapetyans in Pennsylvania.) A very good question. ;) Will Diego follow Ruben to Washington, or relatively nearby Atlanta? I definitely wonder about what the school will do to find a replacement. The teacher network is a mysterious thing, but generally dancers know who the really great, effective teachers are. Link to comment
miliosr Posted August 5, 2018 Share Posted August 5, 2018 On 7/28/2018 at 8:35 PM, pherank said: A very good question. ;) Will Diego follow Ruben to Washington, or relatively nearby Atlanta? I definitely wonder about what the school will do to find a replacement. The teacher network is a mysterious thing, but generally dancers know who the really great, effective teachers are. Well, this is a relief: https://www.instagram.com/p/BmBcq7ugszZ/?hl=en&taken-by=paellasandcos Also, last day at the San Francisco Ballet School: https://www.instagram.com/p/BmELE7RAerX/?hl=en&taken-by=rubenmartincintas Link to comment
pherank Posted August 14, 2018 Author Share Posted August 14, 2018 A new article about Carlos Quenedit joining Houston Ballet as a Principal: A member of Cuba’s ballet royalty laces up in Houstonhttps://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/article/A-member-of-Cuba-s-ballet-royalty-laces-up-in-13153088.php "He arrives during a pivotal moment in his career, at 32, ready for a comeback after he thought his performing days might be done. He still winces a bit when he recalls what could have been a career-ending injury." Link to comment
pherank Posted August 24, 2018 Author Share Posted August 24, 2018 (edited) Remember this guy? https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmp6MgYB8cu/?taken-by=tanyuanyuansf Yuan Yuan Tan and Damian Smith reunite in Melbourne, Australia for a few days. Smith is now "National Theatre Ballet School Artistic Director & International Artist". He has also worked as a répétiteur. https://www.instagram.com/p/BmpL6xAntr1/?taken-by=damiansmithartist Edited August 24, 2018 by pherank Link to comment
Josette Posted August 25, 2018 Share Posted August 25, 2018 Damian was a wonderful dancer and presence on stage in everything he danced. And their partnership was so special. Link to comment
Helene Posted August 25, 2018 Share Posted August 25, 2018 I still get chills thinking about his Dr. Coppelius. It really was like he was giving up his soul. Link to comment
pherank Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 This being Nutcracker season, here's a report from Vanessa Zahorian regarding Zahorian and Karapetyan's first Nutcracker production at Pennsylvania Ballet Academy "...Endless nights and discussions started at home, to the studio, with many rehearsals, to the lighting, music and tempos, characters, who would dance what to their abilities with only two months to prepare an almost full production, putting together premiere and original choreography in two months, finding costumes, scheduling everyone and everything to work, visualizing the props, putting fourth the vision, the added quartet musicians, which backdrop, the blizzard snow vision with contemporary flair and chairs, etc..." https://www.instagram.com/p/Bredcd3ghsV/ Link to comment
PeggyTulle Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 Isabella Walsh announced on Instagram that she is joining Dutch National Ballet for the rest of the season. Link to comment
pherank Posted February 5, 2019 Author Share Posted February 5, 2019 4 hours ago, PeggyTulle said: Isabella Walsh announced on Instagram that she is joining Dutch National Ballet for the rest of the season. That's great news - I'm glad she has found a high quality company to continue her career with. Link to comment
pherank Posted February 5, 2019 Author Share Posted February 5, 2019 Globe-trotting Maria Kochetkova, who has been guesting at Norwegian National Ballet this winter, is scheduled now to guest in La Sylphide with Staatsballett Berlin and Danil Simkin. FR 01.03.2019, 7.30 PM TU 12.03.2019, 7.30 PM MO 22.04.2019, 4.00 PM Link to comment
pherank Posted February 17, 2019 Author Share Posted February 17, 2019 (edited) Davit Karapetyan choreographed this piece for one of his students at the Pennsylvania Ballet Academy (a 2018 Prix de Lausanne participant). I believe the film has been entered into the 2019 SF Dance Film Festival (though I don't have any details on that). https://www.instagram.com/p/BtyccIYgnHH/ Davit was at the 2019 SFB Gala, and he posted some nice pictures: https://www.instagram.com/p/BtM217YlJuH/ Edited February 17, 2019 by pherank Link to comment
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