S.F. Ballet season shows serious range
Between story ballets, mixed bills, an international guest company and a truly grand finale, San Francisco Ballet’s 85th season offers 25 works — including 12 world premieres — that range from purely classical to of-themoment modern. Program 1 — “The Sleeping Beauty”: The season dawns with the most classical of ballets — and the ultimate test of a ballerina’s mastery. Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson created his fairy-tale production in 1990, but new costumes will make it look freshly magical. Tuesday, Jan. 23-Feb. 4. Program 2 — “Bright Fast Cool Blue”: Showcasing the choreographic legacy of New York City Ballet, Tomasson’s alma mater, this bill juxtaposes George Balanchine’s “Serenade” with recent works by two NYCB alums: an expanded version of Benjamin Millepied’s “The Chairman Dances,” and “Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes” by Justin Peck. Feb. 13-24. Program 3 — “Distinctly S.F. Ballet”: Three generations of in-house dance makers, working in three different genres, make up this triple bill: Tomasson’s neoclassical “On a Theme of Paganini,” Val Caniparoli’s dance-drama “Ibsen’s House,” and up-and-comer Myles Thatcher’s postmodern “Ghost in the Machine.” Feb. 15-25.
Program 4 — “Frankenstein”: Last season’s monster hit surges back to life for just six performances. Co-commissioned by the Royal Ballet, Liam Scarlett’s adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel features electrifying stagecraft and a terrific score by Lowell Liebermann. March 6-11.
Program 5 — “Robbins: Ballet &
Broadway”: In celebration of Jerome Robbins’ centennial year, this program offers four examples of his profound and diverse genius. Set to music by Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Chopin and Bernstein, “Opus 19/The Dreamer,” “The Cage,” “Other Dances” and “Fancy Free” highlight Robbins’ inventiveness and musicality. March 20-25.
Program 6: On its first visit since 2008, the National Ballet of Canada drops in to perform John Neumeier’s bio-drama “Nijinsky.” Hamburg Ballet danced it here in 2013, yet this is a rare opportunity to see the superb artists from Toronto. April 3-8.
Unbound: A Festival of New Works: The dance world is buzzing about the eagerly awaited festival, a two-week event featuring dance films, symposia and pop-up mixers along with new commissions by 12 world-class choreographers. Program A: Alonzo King, Christopher Wheeldon, Justin Peck; Program B: Myles Thatcher, Cathy Marston, David Dawson; Program C: Stanton Welch, Trey McIntyre, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa; Program D: Edwaard Liang, Dwight Rhoden, Arthur Pita. Friday, April 20-Sunday, May 6.