pherank Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 (edited) There's no word yet about any International tours, short or otherwise, but I have a feeling that Tomasson is going to give his dancers a long rest period after an intense season. And Helgi now has his work cut out for him replacing retirees. For people in the Bay Area, SFB will be participating in the following popular events: Friday, July 21, 2017 Festival Napa Valley Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Center SF Ballet returns to Festival Napa Valley for one performance only on Friday, July 21, 2017, accompanied by members of the SF Ballet Orchestra. The Company will perform a mix of contemporary and classical works. Sunday, July 30, 2017 Stern Grove Festival 19th Avenue and Sloat, San Francisco SF Ballet will give their annual Stern Grove Festival performance on Sunday, July 30, 2017, accompanied by members of the SF Ballet Orchestra. The Company will perform a mix of contemporary and classical works. I do know that this just happened: "4 premiers dancers of San-Francisco Ballet will perform Variations for two couples, the Benois winner piece" at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. Three of the dancers were Lauren Strongin, Joseph Walsh and Dores Andre. (Benois de la Danse Stars in a Quarter of a Century Gala) http://www.bolshoi.ru/en/performances/9000/ "The jubilee gala on May 30 will be opened by Joseph Walsh, the premier of the San Francisco Ballet, and Victoria Jaiani from the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago, who last year performed the duet from Lan Lubovitch’s Otello alongside Fabrice Calmel. Victoria and Joseph will animate the sculpture of Benois de la Danse: they will present a miniature choreographed by Yuri Possokhov to the music by Ilya Demutsky, who have conceived this duet as a gift to the jubilee of Benois." http://benois.theatre.ru/english/history/2017/ Reaction from Strongin and Walsh:https://www.instagram.com/p/BUvWJBmABgT/?taken-by=josephwalshsf Congratulations to the dancers on their Bolshoi debut, and maybe first time on a raked stage for Walsh and Strongin. ;) Edited October 27, 2017 by pherank Link to comment
pherank Posted May 31, 2017 Author Share Posted May 31, 2017 (edited) Mathilde Froustey has spent her injury rehabilitation period founding an artist space, called La Maison, in Oakland, California: "An artist-run initiative, venue and residency that provides a free space for artists of all practices to meet, collaborate, perform and exhibit." At the La Maison inauguration party, Froustey and Sarah Cecilia danced a short piece choreographed by former SFB soloist Dana Genshaft (now a teacher at the SFB school, teaching Contemporary and Conditioning). And she recently danced in a fashion show for designer Yuka Uehara:Tokyo Gamine Stages Chic Ballet Fashion Show at Pia the Storehttp://hauteliving.com/2017/05/tokyo-gamine-pia-trunk-show-spring-2017/636667/ Edited June 1, 2017 by pherank Link to comment
JumpFrog Posted June 1, 2017 Share Posted June 1, 2017 I knew that I adored Froustey as a dancer after seeing her work her magic onstage but I can't help but feel enormous respect for her as a person as I read this. I think an injury when your craft is your own body must be just awful and to come back stronger and actually give back as part of the healing process wow. Link to comment
pherank Posted June 1, 2017 Author Share Posted June 1, 2017 4 minutes ago, JumpFrog said: I knew that I adored Froustey as a dancer after seeing her work her magic onstage but I can't help but feel enormous respect for her as a person as I read this. I think an injury when your craft is your own body must be just awful and to come back stronger and actually give back as part of the healing process wow. I like that she didn't roll up into a ball of misery during the season, while others danced - she went crazy with her own projects. The woman is a force of nature. I've figured out from a post by Dores André that the other SFB dancer at the Bolshoi was Carlo Di Lanno. Dores wrote: Dance (and not fall) at the Bolshoi raked stage ....CHECK✔️ Good job! ;) Link to comment
pherank Posted June 8, 2017 Author Share Posted June 8, 2017 Yuan Yuan Tan, Sasha De Sola, Carlo Di Lanno (fresh from the Bolshoi appearance) and choreographer Medhi Walerski are in Shanghai for the Shanghai International Ballet Competition and Masterclasseshttps://www.instagram.com/p/BVCd87Xgfun/?taken-by=tanyuanyuansf Link to comment
pherank Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share Posted July 4, 2017 Jen Stahl appeared on Greece's So You Think You Can Dance? TV program (dancing Kitri's variation). Exactly why in Greece, I don't know.https://www.instagram.com/p/BWEAZ1MFB0K/?taken-by=sfballet She is also performing in a music video by Greek artist Kostas Martakishttps://www.instagram.com/p/BWHHMFqjCaL/?taken-by=jenstahl.weitz Link to comment
sf_herminator Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 On 5/31/2017 at 2:29 PM, pherank said: Friday, July 21, 2017 Festival Napa Valley Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Center SF Ballet returns to Festival Napa Valley for one performance only on Friday, July 21, 2017, accompanied by members of the SF Ballet Orchestra. The Company will perform a mix of contemporary and classical works. Program and casting for the Napa performance has been posted (https://www.sfballet.org/season/casting) FESTIVAL NAPA VALLEY Friday, July 21, 2017 - 6 pm WITHIN THE GOLDEN HOUR©Composer: Ezio Bosso and Antonio Vivaldi Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Conductor: Martin West Mathilde Froustey, Joseph Walsh Sarah Van Patten, Luke Ingham Maria Kochetkova, Vitor Luiz PAS DE DEUX FROM AGONComposer: Igor Stravinsky Choreographer: George Balanchine Conductor: Martin West Sofiane Sylve, Carlo Di Lanno* CONCERTO GROSSOComposer: Francesco Geminiani after Corelli Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Violin I: Cordula Merks Violin II: Craig Reiss Viola: Yi Zhou Cello: Eric Sung Esteban Hernandez, Wei Wang, Jaime Garcia Castilla, Max Cauthorn, Lonnie Weeks PAS DE DEUX FROM ACT II OF SWAN LAKEComposer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Violin: Cordula Merks Cello: Eric Sung Yuan Yuan Tan, Tiit Helimets "BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY (OF COMPANY B)" FROM COMPANY BMusic: Sung by The Andrews Sisters Choreographer: Paul Taylor Joseph Walsh PAS DE DEUX FROM FLAMES OF PARISComposer: Boris Assafiev Choreographer: Vassili Vainonen Frances Chung, Angelo Greco Link to comment
sf_herminator Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 Program and casting for the Stern Grove performance Sunday 7/30 (https://www.sfballet.org/season/casting): STERN GROVE FESTIVAL Sunday, July 30, 2017 - 2 pm HAFFNER SYMPHONYComposer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Conductor: Martin West Sasha De Sola, Angelo Greco Pas de Deux from AGONComposer: Igor Stravinsky Choreographer: George Balanchine Conductor: Martin West Sofiane Sylve, Carlo Di Lanno Pas de Deux from BELLSComposer: Sergei Rachmaninov Choreographer: Yuri Possokhov Pianist: Mungunchimeg Buriad Yuan Yuan Tan, Vitor Luiz CONCERTO GROSSOComposer: Francesco Geminiani after Corelli Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Conductor: Martin West Esteban Hernandez, Wei Wang, Jaime Garcia Castilla, Max Cauthorn, Lonnie Weeks “BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY (OF COMPANY B)” from COMPANY BComposer: Sung by The Andrews Sisters Choreographer: Paul Taylor Joseph Walsh WITHIN THE GOLDEN HOUR©Composer: Ezio Bosso and Antonio Vivaldi Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Conductor: Martin West Mathilde Froustey, Myles Thatcher Sarah Van Patten, Luke Ingham Maria Kochetkova, Vitor Luiz Link to comment
pherank Posted July 25, 2017 Author Share Posted July 25, 2017 (edited) Of all the festival pairings, I think Chung with Greco is the most interesting one. I hope that proved to be an inspired choice. (It's now a given that the pairing of Sylve and Di Lanno will be riveting.) SFB has announced that Ballet Master Felipe Diaz is now (also) an Assistant to the Artistic Director. Edited July 25, 2017 by pherank Link to comment
pherank Posted August 1, 2017 Author Share Posted August 1, 2017 From the 2017 Stern Grove Festival: Masha looking sullen https://scontent-atl3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/20479204_131823280754454_1298716797989552128_n.jpg Joe Walsh with Orson https://scontent-atl3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/20478662_492251794445201_401356237020594176_n.jpg Ishihara, Rowe and Powell https://scontent-atl3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/20479159_131003094173899_7571814965305147392_n.jpg Natasha Sheehan https://scontent-atl3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/20482186_119511725355352_3844332283557314560_n.jpg "Woodland Nymphs" (Sasha de Sola's picture title) https://scontent-atl3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/20478460_1570821739647229_4912285741477789696_n.jpg Link to comment
pherank Posted August 15, 2017 Author Share Posted August 15, 2017 Look who will be on the cover of the September 2017 Dance Magazine: "I don't do average" Link to comment
pherank Posted August 22, 2017 Author Share Posted August 22, 2017 (edited) Much of the above Dance Magazine interview with Wonder Woman can be read online: http://www.dancemagazine.com/sofiane-sylve-2472967800.html Quote Sofiane Sylve doesn't mince words. "If you are just going through the motions," she says to her trainee class at the San Francisco Ballet School, "we might as well stay home." The veteran SFB principal is famed as much for her directness as for her exquisite technique, astonishing interpretive range and captivating stage presence. "I don't do average," she says in an interview at SFB headquarters, across a tree-lined street from the War Memorial Opera House. "If somebody has made the effort to come and sit in the audience, I'm going to give everything I have. There is no holding back." I liked this statement, "Sylve, who hopes to become an artistic director herself, has found a satisfying outlet in teaching". I've said before that I would like to see her as an A.D. But what company will provide this opportunity? SFB has two men 'assisting' Tomasson - waiting in the wings, for the position. Se is going to need some management mentoring. Edited August 22, 2017 by pherank Link to comment
pherank Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 Ana Sophia Scheller on Her Surprising Switch From NYCB to San Francisco Ballethttp://www.pointemagazine.com/ana-sophia-scheller-on-her-surprising-switch-from-nycb-to-san-francisc-2450410348.html Link to comment
pherank Posted October 27, 2017 Author Share Posted October 27, 2017 (edited) Happy Birthday to Diego Cruz - apparently everyone went to company class with his picture on their tops: https://www.instagram.com/p/BautBPBFcdZ/?taken-by=diegocruzcooosss Short video of the surprise: https://www.instagram.com/p/BaurH4MFSzw/?taken-by=diegocruzcooosss Edited October 27, 2017 by pherank Link to comment
Josette Posted October 27, 2017 Share Posted October 27, 2017 Well, how could anyone not love Diego Cruz? Link to comment
pherank Posted October 31, 2017 Author Share Posted October 31, 2017 (edited) This caught my eye: Maria and Carlo participated in the Canadian "All Star" Dance Gala in Toronto, and it looks like former SFB dancer Aaron Robison showed up as well: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DNaeXT4V4AAfMD2.jpg https://twitter.com/balletrusse Edited October 31, 2017 by pherank Link to comment
Josette Posted October 31, 2017 Share Posted October 31, 2017 In the past few months, Aaron Robison has danced Song of the Earth and Romeo to Jurgita Dronina's Juliet in Nureyev's Romeo and Juliet in his first season with the English National Ballet. He seems to have found his right place. Link to comment
pherank Posted October 31, 2017 Author Share Posted October 31, 2017 (edited) 7 hours ago, Josette said: In the past few months, Aaron Robison has danced Song of the Earth and Romeo to Jurgita Dronina's Juliet in Nureyev's Romeo and Juliet in his first season with the English National Ballet. He seems to have found his right place. Aaron is a Lead Principal at ENB so he gets to dance all the good stuff. ;) But to be fair to SFB, he would have had his pick from among 24 ballets in the 2018 season. 12 of them brand new. That's not really a lame offering. I think he's just happy to be back in England though. I don't fault Madison Keesler for leaving ENB - she was too far down the ladder to get the kind of opportunities that Aaron now receives. Edited November 1, 2017 by pherank Link to comment
Josette Posted October 31, 2017 Share Posted October 31, 2017 24 minutes ago, pherank said: Aaron is a Lead Principal at ENB so he gets to dance all the good stuff. ;) But to be fair to SFB, he would have had his pick form among 24 ballets in the 2018 season. 12 of them brand new. That's not really a lame offering. I think he's just happy to be back in England though. I don't fault Madison Keesler for leaving ENB - she was too far down the ladder to get the kind of opportunities that Aaron now receives. Madison was chosen by choreographer Akram Khan to dance for several performances the lead in his Giselle, which was a huge honor and responsibility. I am looking forward to seeing her again on stage in SF. I selfishly wish that Aaron were still at SFB for another year because I found him exhilarating on stage. He has a beautiful, finished technique and a spontaneous quality. I wouldn't doubt for a moment what you state as to his being happy to be back in England. Link to comment
pherank Posted November 1, 2017 Author Share Posted November 1, 2017 1 hour ago, Josette said: Madison was chosen by choreographer Akram Khan to dance for several performances the lead in his Giselle, which was a huge honor and responsibility. I am looking forward to seeing her again on stage in SF. I selfishly wish that Aaron were still at SFB for another year because I found him exhilarating on stage. He has a beautiful, finished technique and a spontaneous quality. I wouldn't doubt for a moment what you state as to his being happy to be back in England. I got the feeling that he was liked well enough by staff and the other dancers, so I don't think there were "personality" issues. It was just unfortunate timing for SFB that he got such a tempting offer. He did mention the expense of living in SF (a problem for everyone not of the 1%). I hadn't seen this Erik Tomasson photo before - posted by Aaron (shown with WanTing Zhao). Yowza! Link to comment
pherank Posted November 1, 2017 Author Share Posted November 1, 2017 Some excellent long photo series by photographer Jack Devant of SFB dancers: Dores Andre, Joseph Walsh, Lauren Strongin and Carlo Di Lanno in Variations for Two Couples Benois de la Danse 2017, Brilliant Quarter of Century, shot in the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow on 31.5.2017https://www.jackdevant.com/dores-andre-joseph-walsh-lauren-strongin-and-carlo-di-lanno-in-variations-for-two-couples/ Yuan Yuan Tan and Davit Karapetyan in The Bells Music by Sergei Rachmaninoff, choreography by Yuri Possokhov. Dance Open 2017 Gala, shot 24.4.2017 in the Alexandrinsky Theatre, St Petersburg, Russia.https://www.jackdevant.com/yuan-yuan-tan-and-davit-karapetyan-in-the-bells/ Yuan Yuan Tan and Davit Karapetyan in Finding Light Music by Antonio Vivaldi, choreography by Edwaard Liang. Dance Open 2017 Gala, shot 24.4.2017 in the Alexandrinsky Theatre, St Petersburg, Russia.https://www.jackdevant.com/yuan-yuan-tan-and-davit-karapetyan-in-finding-light/ Maria Kochetkova and Sebastian Kloborg in the Swimmer (Lolita scene) Music by Tom Waits, choreography by Yuri Possokhov. Dance Open 2017 Gala, shot 24.4.2017 in the Alexandrinsky Theatre, St Petersburg, Russia.https://www.jackdevant.com/maria-kochetkova-and-sebastian-kloborg-in-the-swimmer-lolita/ Maria Kochetkova in Styx Shot in the State Kremlin Palace (Moscow, Russia) on 15.10.2016, Kremlin Ballet Gala 2016.https://www.jackdevant.com/maria-kochetkova-in-styx/ Link to comment
pherank Posted November 11, 2017 Author Share Posted November 11, 2017 Joseph Walsh has been appointed John and Barbara Osterweis Principal Dancer in 2017. Congratulations to Joe - he is very deserving of sponsorship. And FINALLY!!! Sofiane Sylve has been appointed Diane B. Wilsey Principal Dancer in 2017. I'm so glad this finally happened. [Vanessa Zahorian (now retired) was formerly a Diane B. Wilsey Principal Dancer.] Link to comment
pherank Posted November 27, 2017 Author Share Posted November 27, 2017 Angelo Greco has been dancing with Rebecca Bianchi in Don Quixote at the Teatro Dell'Opera di Roma. On Instagram he credits Eleonora Abbagnato for inviting him to perform - I'm not exactly certain if she is now the acting A.D. for dance productions, or what exactly. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb-G7KcHH2u/?taken-by=_angelogreco_http://www.operaroma.it/en/shows/don-chisciotte/ This information on the ballet production made me laugh: Choreography Laurent Hilaire inspired by original version for the American Ballet Theatre by Mikhail Baryshnikov after Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky Choreographer collaborator Yury Vasilkov Assistant Choreographers Patricia Ruanne and Gillian Whittingham Link to comment
miliosr Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 37 minutes ago, pherank said: On Instagram he credits Eleonora Abbagnato for inviting him to perform - I'm not exactly certain if she is now the acting A.D. for dance productions, or what exactly. Yes, she's been doing double-duty as an etoile at the Paris Opera Ballet and director of the Rome Opera Ballet for two years. Link to comment
pherank Posted November 27, 2017 Author Share Posted November 27, 2017 8 minutes ago, miliosr said: Yes, she's been doing double-duty as an etoile at the Paris Opera Ballet and director of the Rome Opera Ballet for two years. Thanks, Milliosr - I couldn't find much useful information on their website regarding staff. In fact, I don't think there was anything more than a contact page. Link to comment
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