San Francisco Ballet Pointes of View Lecture Series

Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson and Technical Director Christopher Dennis

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:21:10 -0700

Don Quixote is well-known as a rollicking comedy packed with virtuoso dance. We will hear from Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson and Technical Director Christopher Dennis about the process of bringing San Francisco Ballet new scenery

Carrie Gaiser Casey, Ph.D. and Visiting Scholar Dr. Beth Genné, Ph.D.

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:30:33 -0700

In this program, San Francisco Ballet performs three works by 20th century choreographic giant George Balanchine and focuses on the variety of his output, from the classic and traditional Divertimento #15, through a revival of the romantic Scotch Symphony. Ballet Scholar Carrie Gaiser Casey, Ph.D. with San Francisco Ballet’s Visiting Scholar Dr. Beth Genné, a historian of dance and of art at the University of Michigan and Dr. Stephen Hinton, Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Music at Stanford University, will explore and comment in depth on the role of modernism in art and music in the 1940s, focusing on the cutting-edge ballet The Four Temperaments, choreographed by Balanchine in 1946 and set to the music of Paul Hindemith.

Alana Altman and Roberto Bustamonte

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:24:38 -0700

The company shows off its versatility performing the lush classicism of Rudolph Nureyev’s Raymonda Act III, the wrenching drama of Yuri Possokhov’s RAkU, and the contemporary creation of Ashley Page’s world premiere Guide to Strange Places. Assistant to the Artistic Director and Ballet Master Ricardo Bustamente and Soloist Elana Altman expand on the training and the discipline that allow San Francisco Ballet dancers to master this span of styles.

Katita Waldo

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:28:40 -0700

This program features Symphonic Dances a world premier by emerging choreographer Edwaard Liang. Ballet Master Katita Waldo shares how a choreographer takes a work from conception to production. Also on the program is Helgi Tomasson’s The Fifth Season and Jerome Robbins’ Glass Pieces.

Martin West

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:38:38 -0800

The wealth of varied music in our repertoire contributes significantly to its impact. We will explore this through the eyes of Music Director and Principal Conductor Martin West as we discuss Choreographer in Residence Yuri Possokhov’s newest ballet Francesca da Rimini and the return of Alexei Ratmansky’s Le Carnaval des Animaux, along with an encore of Helgi Tomasson’s Trio.

Betsy Erickson, Gennadi Nedvigin, and Megan Williams

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:37:11 -0800

Prominent choreographer Mark Morris creates his 8th world premier Beaux for San Francisco Ballet. Ballet Master Betsy Erickson, Principal Dancer Gennadi Nedvigin, and Megan Williams Repetiteur for Mark Morris offer insights into the production of this world premiere. Returning contemporary works, Christopher Wheeldon’s Number Nine © and Wayne McGregor’s Chroma are also featured on this program.

Bruce Sansom, Ricardo Bustamante, Anita Paciotti

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:34:39 -0800

John Cranko’s Onegin opens the season and Assistants to the Artistic Director and Ballet Masters Bruce Sansom and Ricardo Bustamante along with Ballet Master Anita Paciotti, review the season and discuss the challenges and rewards of dancing full-length dramatic works and the company’s commitment to keeping this genre vital.

Glenn McCoy and Judy Flannery

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:38:43 -0800

As we wrap up the season, we revisit John Neumeier’s The Little Mermaid, a heart-wrenching story of sacrifice and unrequited love told through dance and drama and hear from Executive Director Glenn McCoy and Media Consultant and Producer Judy Flannery about SF Ballet’s past, present, and future media projects.

Jennifer Stahl and Gaetano Amico III

Fri, 06 May 2011 12:45:59 -0700

The acclaimed ballet Chroma, created by contemporary British choreographer Wayne McGregor, inspires a discussion about the edgy and challenging movement vocabulary SF Ballet dancers must master. Corps de Ballet Dancers Jennifer Stahl and Gaetano Amico III talk about volume and variety dancing in the corps presents as well as the opportunities they have been given to dance featured roles.

Chris Dennis

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:35:10 -0700

Technical Director Christopher Dennis begins by describing his journey from being a student of theater to his current position overseeing the technical aspects of all SFB productions. Through a discussion of the season's varied repertoire, he highlights the challenging problems to be solved in bringing the designer's vision to the stage.

Doug Fullington

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:47:49 -0700

Guest Speaker: Doug Fullington

San Francisco Ballet’s 2011 Visiting Scholar Doug Fullington, gives a lecture and detailed history of Coppélia. He traces the ballet’s lineage from its origins in France, on into Russia and, finally, over to America, culminating in George Balanchine’s brilliant 1974 production for New York City Ballet.

Principal dancers Sophiane Sylve and Pascal Molat

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:45:08 -0700

Guests: Sophiane Sylve and Pascal Molat Principal dancers Sophiane Sylve and Pascal Molat describe their career journeys from their French training through performing in other companies, and being attracted to SFB by the diverse and varied repertoire. They each discuss the challenges and satisfactions of performing the classics, Balanchine works, and the contemporary ballets of Forsythe and McGregor. Sophiane Sylve comments on her commitment to transmitting the art form as a teacher in the SFB School.

Helgi Tomasson, Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:38:34 -0800

SFB's Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer, Helgi Tomasson, presented his views on maintaining the company's widely diverse repertoire. He feels strongly that classical technique and discipline are the key to the dancers' versatility. He discussed his newest work, Trio, as well as the other contrasting works on this all-Tchaikovsky program.

Martin West, Music Director and Principal Conductor; Bruce Sansom, Assistant to the Artistic Director and Ballet Master.

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:20:04 -0800

Martin West, Music Director and Principal Conductor; Bruce Sansom, Assistant to the Artistic Director and Ballet Master. Martin West and Bruce Sansom discussed how music informs the movement in George Balanchine’s Symphony in C, Ashton's Symphonic Variations, and other ballets. Martin described the collaboration involved in the creation of Yuri Possokhov's RAkU to a commissioned score by SF Ballet Orchestra bassist Shinji Eshima. Bruce recounted his experience of learning and performing Symphonic Variations at the Royal Ballet.

Ricardo Bustamante, Assistant to the Artistic Director and Ballet Master

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 12:44:46 -0800

Ricardo Bustamante, Assistant to the Artistic Director and Ballet Master Ricardo Bustamante presented an overview of the responsibilities of his position, and provided a review of the company's trip to Copenhagen during August, 2010. He joined host Mary Wood in updates of promotions and new company members, then commented on the repertoire for the season ahead. He concluded with a vivid description of the ballet Giselle, and included commentary on 2 video clips, one from SFB's current production, one from his own production done for the Dutch National Ballet.

Music director Martin West and UC Berkeley Musicologist Richard Taruskin

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:27:40 -0800

Mary discusses the legendary career of ballet icon, George Balanchine.

Anita Paciotti and Ghosts Costume Designer Mark Zappone

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:25:02 -0800

Dance Scholar Mary Wood interviews Ballet Master Anita Paciotti and Ghosts Costume Designer Mark Zappone

Sonia Evers, Art Historian, Educator and San Francisco Ballet Trustee

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:11:22 -0700

Dance Scholar Mary Woods gives a preview of the 2010 season including insights about the new productions and other upcoming highlights. Later, Sonia Evers discusses her role on the Board and her involvement with SF Ballet School.

Val Caniparoli-Pointes of View Lecture (part 2)

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:23:47 -0700

Dance Scholar Mary Woods interviews Principal Character Dancer, Val Caniparoli about choreographers Stanton Welch and William Forsythe, as well as his own choreographic endeavors.

Val Caniparoli-Pointes of View Lecture (part 1)

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:22:32 -0700

Dance Scholar Mary Woods interviews Principal Character Dancer, Val Caniparoli about choreographers Stanton Welch and William Forsythe, as well as his own choreographic endeavors.

Glenn McCoy-Executive Director

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:57:58 -0700

Dance Scholar Mary Wood Interviews San Francisco Ballet Executive Director, Glenn McCoy

Jim Sohm-former Company dancer

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:19:50 -0800

Mary Wood interviews Ballet School Administrative Manager and former Company dancer Jim Sohm