Sunday, January 2

[dirac]

A review of San Francisco Ballet by Rita Felciano for danceviewtimes.com.

Quote

Few principals were cast in this performance.; most notable among them was SFB’s new  Principal Nikisha Fogo as the Sugar Plum Fairy-–long-limbed, secure but not particularly warm. Principal Estaban Hernandez is a fierce and athletic dancer; his Nutcracker Prince was charming and lean.  However,  in the Grand Pas de Deux with Julia Rowe, he didn’t yet fill a princely part, particularly in the many lifts. Rowe danced exquisitely, in total command with port de bras floating over whipping turns, stretching into precarious balances and the multiple arabesques. Strength and frailty combined.  Both dancers are of medium height, I would love to see them be paired again.Tiit Helimets, SFB’s elegant prince, has become an equally elegant Drosselmeyer–-mysterious, gentlemanly with arms like wings, observing everything and, ultimately, the superb Master of Ceremonies who controls every one  and all.