S.F. Ballet scraps live ‘Nutcracker’
The San Francisco Ballet will not present live performances of “The Nutcracker” this year, making the annual holiday dance tradition the latest casualty of the ongoing COVID19 pandemic in the arts world.
The dance company’s decision cited the continued restrictions on public gatherings and the closing of the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, which includes the company’s home at the War Memorial Opera House, according to an announcement on Monday, Aug. 24.
“‘Nutcracker’ is a tradition that I look forward to each year,” Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson said in a statement. “Even though we will not be able to experience ‘Nutcracker’ in person this year due to the health crisis, I know San Francisco Ballet will be a part of the Bay Area’s holiday tradition, maybe digitally or through other creative avenues.”
The Ballet’s association with Tchaikovsky’s beloved dance score goes back to 1944, when the company presented the first complete American performance of the work. The current production, choreographed by Tomasson, had its premiere in 2004 and has been staged annually ever since.
The company said that plans for digital offerings of “Nutcracker” and other virtual events would be made public at a future date.
Joshua Kosman is The San Francisco Chronicle’s music critic. Email: jkosman@ sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JoshuaKosman