fromthebalcony

Just confirmed on Ballet Alert - Fernando and Victor Prigent are leaving for SFB: Here is the FB post regarding the roster: (5) In addition to our exciting 24/25 Season... - San Francisco Ballet | Facebook The big news: Principal Dancers Max Cauthorn & Dores Andre are returning!! Also, promotions: Kamryn Baldwin, Carmela Mayo, and Joshua Jack Price are promoted to Soloist. Apprentices Sofia Albers, Jacey Galliard, and Dylan Pierzina are promoted to the Corps De Ballet New dancers: Soloists Fernando Carratala Coloma and Victor Prigent join as Soloists, having danced previously at English National Ballet Corps De Ballet Rebecca Blenkinsop (English National Ballet) Jakub Groot (Czech National Ballet) Lucas Lopez (Joffrey Studio Company Archie Sullivan (English National Ballet) Juliette Windey

YY shared the instagram post on her own Instagram story. The comments in the Instagram post indicated that YY wanted to retire next year and make it a full 30 years with the company but was denied that opportunity.

As female dancers age and especially those who have sustained prior (serious) injury, it is imperative that they are with partners with whom they feel most comfortable. Having known and watched Sarah before she left Boston, I doubt she would allow herself to be partnered with someone she could not trust at this point in her career. I was just speaking with a female dancer the other day who had sustained a recent injury, and she said it was imperative that even in Nutcracker that she be paired with somene she could trust to partner her well. Additionally, the rapport that dancers have with each other is important, and I believe that trust and rapport makes for a better performance for all of us in the audience. I also believe that Ryoichi is very handsome, and not sure why one would make a Gere/DeNirio comparison. Just my opiinon of course. Merde to Sarah and Ryoichi!

Would love to see this program. Theme & Variations is worth the ticket alone. I cannot locate it right now, but I remember reading an article in which David Hallberg said that the lead in T&V is definitely one of the hardest male roles one can dance. It is pretty amazing. The rest of the program sounds wonderful and I cannot wait to read the reviews here! Enjoy!

I know I don’t comment much, but glaring promotional omissions for me - Katja Khaniukova, Ken Saruhashi, and Precious Adams. I also agree with others that there are too many ranks.

https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/dance/sf-ballet-danielle-stgermain-resigns-17910944

I don’t understand why they don’t utilize Katja Khaniukova more.

Other than the major classics like Ashton's Cinderella and The Dream, MacMillan's R&J, and Bournonville's La Sylphide (and Wheeldon's work), we don't get the opportunity to see many European choreographers. ABT just performed Sinfonietta and The Dream. The biggest exception I can think of is Boston Ballet. They have performed a number of Kylian's works over the years - Falling Angels, Sarabande, Petite Mort, Symphony of Psalms, Wings of Wax, Tar and Feathers, and Bella Figura. All have been really well-received. They have also performed works by Ashton, Cranko, Nureyev, Neumeier, Ekman, Elo, Bruce, Dawson,and other lesser know European choreographers. Now, my wish is that they would perform some MacMillan. And, I agree with you, Jan, I would love to see some Lightfoot/Leon. I wonder if cost is the issue.

Boston Ballet actually danced Bruce's "Rooster." I guess Mr. Galloway was not informed of that. Obviously, he is not able to use the music without permission. He does have quite the resume, and was actually a Forsythe dancer. He also worked with Jagger previously on his creative team: https://www.bostonballet.org/stories/behindthescenes-stephen-galloway/ I saw the performance of "Devil's Eye." It was fun to watch and I preferred it to "Rooster." As a regular ballet attendee, it's not something I want to see all the time, but the audience loved it.

I don't get over there much, and I haven't been across the pond since the start of covid. However, I want to add that I loved watching Joe Caley. I have followed his career since leaving Royal Ballet School. For me, his clean classical technique and wonderful partnering stood out. David Hallberg is smart to bring him in. I am very happy for them, but sad for London to lose him.

Forsythe does a lot of work with Boston Ballet. I know he had a five year contract with them, which started back in 2016, I believe. I don’t know if that contract was renewed. Boston is getting ready to perform Blake Works III. His home is in Vermont, so I believe what he is doing, setting his works on different companies, suits him well. In terms of leadership for ABT - I could see Kent and her husband, Victor Barbee, directing. He was McKenzie’s right hand man. But Victor is in his late 60’s. Julie is still young at 52. I think Hallberg would be great, but not sure how long his contract with Australian Ballet is. Some have thrown Stella Abrera’s name around, and perhaps she and her husband, Sascha Radetsky could co-direct. Stella has been overseeing the Kaatsbaan program. Sascha has directed the Studio company, as well as the ABT/NYU Master’s in Ballet Pedagogy Program. They would both be willing to carry on McKenzie’s legacy.

San Francisco has already performed Blake Works 1.

The beauty of dance - there is something for everyone.

Hernandez did not perform in Chicago. It was only Cirio and Arrieta.

I think you are right. Going to another company does not happen overnight and would take negotiations. Incidentally, I went to Chicago to see Creature and there were a number of Boston fans in the audience, including the Director. The work was extremely well-received by the audience. I saw two shows, both with Cirio. I was glad to see it twice, as there were things I missed the first time around. Saturday night, Cirio gave an unbelievable and spellbinding performance (maybe his last of Creature?) with Oliviera as Marie. She was stunning as well, and perhaps made more of the role. It is interesting to note the difference in reviews between London and Chicago. While reviewers in Chicago agree that the material is dystopian and depressing, they seemed to embrace the work.

Some of those dancers are nearing the end of their careers ... Yuan Yuan Tan, Sarah Van Patten, Tiit Helimets and most likely Luke Ingham. And then there are a few who have entered the 35-40 year old age range - Frances Chung, Misa Kuranaga, and I believe Ulrik Birkkjaer. I wonder about Aaron Robison and Madison Keesler who left ENB. Will they stay on?

Competitions are a very tricky thing. While preparation for competition is valuable, those surrounding the dancer (teachers, parents, coaches) should make sure to discuss the fact that competition medals mean very little in the grand scheme of things. It is the preparation and opportunity to perform on stage which can help the dancer who is desirous of a career in dance. There are countless professional dancers who either never competed in a ballet competition or did not win a ballet competition. Ballet is very difficult and dancers must have a thick skin. I feel very sorry for your granddaughter, that her hopes were dashed. But it sounds as if she is happy doing something else, so maybe ballet wasn't what she really wanted to do. Could she return if she wanted? You can tell her that I know of so many dancers who didn't win at competition, but are dancing in major companies around the world. Politics can play a role in competition as well. I know a story of one young man in our home town who was sent to Korea to compete. He knew one of the judges. This young man got the silver medal, and the judge he knew told him that they could not give him the gold medal, even though he deserved it. They had to give it to a Korean. He is now a principal dancer with a wonderful career.

They have not all been terrific. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/19/arts/dance/raymonda-english-national-ballet-tamara-rojo.html

My guess is Stella Abrera.

Many ballet companies here in the states have connections to universities which enable dancers to take business classes. I know many who have gotten or are getting their degrees while dancing.

Of course, I don't have the knowledge of British ballet nor all those involved. But would Darcey Bussell be a possibility?

Cirio just turned 30. I doubt he would be ready to stop dancing quite yet.

That could be. I believe he is in his early 60's. I do like what he has done in Sarasota. As far as San Fran rep goes, they do Balanchine and Forsythe, but their season always includes several full-length ballets and a very healthy dose of other choreographers.

Two directors here in the states that I believe would be wonderful and have roots in British ballet: Ashley Wheater, who has done wonderful things with Joffrey Ballet, and Iain Webb, who despite a very small budget in Sarasota, has delighted audiences with Ashton and MacMillan's works. I really thought Wheater might have been a good pick for San Francisco since he had danced there.

Press Release: https://www.sfballet.org/discover/press-center/press-releases/release/2022announcement/?fbclid=IwAR1xP2eHac3oLPJ4bM3JfrnixngBS2IXLRiQdocfParV9xV0wiGZd3y8naw