Cinderella
The San Francisco Ballet celebrates its 80th year with three world premieres and an all-new production of “Cinderella.”- By Monica Poling
San Francisco’s love affair with ballet dates back nearly 100 years. Although the 1906 earthquake crippled the city, it was revived in 1915 as the host city of the tremendously successful Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Considered one of the most beloved world’s fairs in U.S. history, the expo celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal the year prior while showcasing ballerina Anna Pavlova performing in “California Poppy,” bringing many San Franciscans their very first exposure to the art of ballet.
It would be another 18 years, however, before the city would see the arrival of its own ballet company. The opening of the War Memorial Opera House in 1932 necessitated a ballet company to train dancers to perform in the San Francisco Opera’s lavish new productions, and in 1933 the San Francisco Opera Ballet was born.
Today, the San Francisco Ballet, which celebrates its 80th year this season, is the oldest ballet company in the United States. With a roster of 70 dancers and 100 performances, it is also one of the three largest ballet companies in the nation, joining the ranks of the New York City Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre.
Dancing Into the Spotlight
In 1937, classically trained ballet dancer Willam Christensen joined the San Francisco Opera Ballet as a soloist; within a year he’d become the company’s ballet master and choreographer. Christensen, a former vaudeville performer, introduced a number of firsts to American audiences.
Within his first two years, he staged the company’s first full-length performance, “Coppélia,” and in 1940 he staged the first-ever American performance of “Swan Lake.” With Christensen as artistic director, the company became an independent entity in 1942, renaming itself the San Francisco Ballet. Looking for a way to fill an empty house during the holiday season, Christensen staged the U.S. premiere of “The Nutcracker” two years later, thereby creating an enduring American holiday tradition.
Despite its many successes, the San Francisco Ballet would be largely defined as a “regional” ballet company until 1985, when Helgi Tómasson assumed the role of artistic director and principal choreographer. Born in Reykjavik, Iceland, Tómasson enjoyed a successful career as a dancer with the Joffrey Ballet, the Harkness Ballet and the New York City Ballet before assuming an administrative role in San Francisco.
The San Francisco Ballet has flourished under his leadership, having initiated an ambitious touring schedule that elevated the company’s international status. After a 26-year absence, the company made its first appearance in New York City in 1991, and has since scheduled tours in cities including Hamburg, Moscow and Washington, D.C.
Tómasson’s commitment to classically trained dancers has resulted in an internationally acclaimed company, featuring elite performers who have the ability to undertake a varied and innovative repertoire.
Contemporary Classics
Tómasson himself has choreographed more than 40 ballets for the company, including last season’s highlight, a reworked, full-length production of “Don Quixote.”
The production was a rework of a 2003 show choreographed by Tómasson and Yuri Possokhov, San Francisco Ballet’s choreographer-in-residence. In its latest incarnation, 19th century Spain was brought to life through the vision of the late Martin Pakledinaz, who won Tony Awards for his Broadway productions of “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “Kiss Me Kate.”
This season, the company will feature another classic tale—“Cinderella.” The ballet, co-created in conjunction with the Dutch National Ballet, brings with it an award-winning powerhouse team, including choreography by Christopher Wheeldon, sets by Julian Crouch and a libretto by Craig Lucas.
Cinderella’s story, based on the Brothers Grimm version of the tale, will not be a story that is familiar to all audiences.
“From the design point of view, this is very different from other ‘Cinderella’ [productions],” Tómasson says in a recent “Point of View” podcast produced by the San Francisco Ballet. The program promises to utilize unique projection effects, lighting, and cinematography, giving it a 21st century visual appeal.
“The stepsisters will be danced by women as opposed to male dancers, unlike other, traditional ‘Cinderella’ [ballets],” technical director Christopher Dennis says. “The story doesn’t start with Cinderella cleaning the kitchen; it starts with her mother and father. Then we move into why she ended up the way she did so you get an intro to her life.”
Cinderella makes its world premiere in December with the Dutch National Ballet, and makes its U.S. premiere in San Francisco on May 3, 2013.
A Season of Innovation
While the pre-season buzz is largely about “Cinderella,” the entire eight-program season promises to be an innovative one, including three world premiere performances.
Program 1 opens Jan. 29, 2013 and features three works, including the San Francisco Ballet premiere of Serge Lifar’s “Suite en Blanc,” as well Jerome Robbins’ “In the Night,” an elegant work set to the music of Chopin. The third piece will be a world premiere from contemporary choreographer Wayne McGregor, who recently created a massive dance spectacle for the London 2012 Festival, held in advance of the 2012 Olympics.
Program 2, featuring the Northern California premiere of John Neumeier’s “Nijinsky,” performed by the Hamburg Ballet, opens on Feb. 13, 2013. Set to a score by Chopin, Robert Schumann, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Dmitri Shostakovich, “Nijinsky” tells the story of the turbulent life of great Polish-Russian dancer Vaslav Nijinsky.
Program 3, opening Feb. 26, 2013, features the Mark Morris-choreographed “Beaux,” which celebrated its world premiere in San Francisco last season. Also on the program is “Guide to Strange Places,” choreographed by Ashley Page and set to a score of the same name by composer John Adams.
Also part of Program 3, San Francisco Ballet resident choreographer Yuri Possokhov will present the company’s third world premiere production of the season. In addition to his new, yet-to-be-named piece, San Francisco Ballet will also present Possokhov’s “Francesca da Rimini,” later in the year. Set against the gates of hell, “Francesca da Rimini” tells the story of adulterous lovers Francesca and Paolo from “The Inferno,” the fifth canto in Dante Alighieri’s “The Divine Comedy.”
Opening March 1, 2013, Program 4 includes George Balanchine’s “Scotch Symphony,” Wheeldon’s “Within the Golden Hour” and a brand new work by Alexei Ratmansky. Ratmansky is the former artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet and current artist-in-residence at the American Ballet Theatre. The San Francisco Ballet has previously performed two of his works, including last season’s “Le Carnaval des Animaux.”
The season continues with three more programs, including “Onegin” in Program 5, back by popular demand. Program 6 will feature “Raymonda Act III,” “Ibsen’s House” and “Symphonic Dances,” while Program 7 includes Possokhov’s “Francesca da Rimini,” “Criss-Cross” and “Symphony in Three Movements.” The season concludes with “Cinderella,” which runs May 3 to 12, 2013.
An Audience Favorite
In a company known for presenting innovative works, even its annual “Nutcracker” is a standout. The current production is unabashedly San Francisco-centric, set during the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exhibition. The ballet opens on a bustling street lined with Victorian homes, and many of the second act’s popular dances get their inspiration from local neighborhoods and landmarks.
For those interested in further exploring the San Francisco Ballet’s version of “The Nutcracker,” the company launched an interactive guide last year entitled “Nutcracker Guide to Our City.” The guide explores some of the neighborhoods that inspired the production and includes short video vignettes by company dancers, as well as vintage photography and blogs by local historians.
San Francisco Ballet presents “The Nutcracker” from Dec. 7 to 28, followed by its 80th season opener on Jan. 29, 2013.
Whether audiences are seeking a holiday classic or a contemporary twist on a favorite ballet, San Francisco Ballet will be sure to entertain and delight in its celebratory season.
Upcoming Performances
Program 1
Jan. 29 – Feb. 3
“Suite en Blanc”
“In the Night”
A world premiere by Wayne McGregor
Program 2
Feb. 13 – 19
The Hamburg Ballet in “Nijinsky”
Program 3
Feb. 26 – March 10
“Beaux”
“Guide to Strange Places”
A world premiere by Yuri Possokhov
Program 4
March 1 – 9
“Scotch Symphony”
A world premiere by Alexei Ratmansky
“Within the Golden Hour”
Program 5
March 21 – 28
“Onegin”
Program 6
April 9 – 20
“Raymonda Act III”
“Ibsen’s House”
“Symphonic Dances”
Program 7
April 11 – 21
“Criss-Cross”
“Francesa da Rimini”
“Symphony in Three Movements”
Program 8
May 3 – 12
“Cinderella”
