Feature Stories

SF Ballet Dancers Span the Globe During Break

Recently, we asked dancers to share their experiences this summer during their six-week break in May and June. Their stories, as we think you'll agree, are inspiring.

I traveled with my husband and his parents to Hungary for two weeks visiting cities where his father, Andre Gabany, had lived when he was younger. Our mission was to videotape Andre as he recalled his experience escaping from the Nazis during World War II. As a teenager during World War II, Andre lived with his mother in a Jewish ghetto in the town of Sopron. When the Nazi's looked for recruits for hard labor, his mother urged him to volunteer with her. Not long after, the ghetto was evacuated, and everyone remaining was taken to concentration camps. Andre and his mother were spared. Through luck, courage, and his mother's intuition, Andre survived the war and eventually settled in San Rafael, California. Reliving his story with him was incredibly moving and made history come alive for me.
— Dalene Bramer, corps de ballet

Corps de Ballet Dancer Dana Genshaft with daughter, Nadia

My family is in Manhattan so I spent two weeks there visiting. I took my two-year-old daughter Nadia to the Museum of Natural History and the Manhattan Children's Museum. I also saw my friend Michele Wiles, a soloist with American Ballet Theatre, perform in George Balanchine's Ballet Imperial. Back in San Francisco, I started college (The LEAP program at St. Mary's College); enrolled Nadia in swimming and children's painting classes; and taught ballet at San Francisco's City Ballet School. The most important achievement during my time off was getting my driver's license so I can pick up Nadia from day care. In order to get it, I had to take driving classes on my only day off during the Ballet season, but it definitely paid off.
— Dana Genshaft, corps de ballet

Corps de Ballet Dancers Garrett Anderson and Courtney Wright at their wedding

I went to Italy where my girlfriend, Cindy Sheppard, was dancing as a guest artist with the Arena di Verona. Without a schedule, we were able to relax and travel to some of the smaller towns and villages along the coast. I also attended [SF Ballet Corps de Ballet members] Garrett Anderson and Courtney Wright's wedding on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands, which is two hours north of Seattle. They gave many of their friends a role in the wedding — I was asked to play the piano during the service, which was such an honor. I also enjoyed the mix of people. Among the guests were fellow SF Ballet dancers as well as Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers and students with whom Garrett and Courtney trained. We made a real vacation out of it and rented a house on the island for a week with eight others from the wedding, barbequing, rowing on the lake, and hanging out.
— James Sofranko, corps de ballet

Principal Dancer Katita Waldo sets Possokhov's Magrittomania on the Bolshoi Ballet

I had the fortune of setting [SF Ballet Principal Dancer and Choreographer] Yuri Possokhov's Magrittomania on the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, Russia. It actually happened by accident. I overheard Yuri talking one day about how no one was available to set the work so I volunteered. While I danced in Magrittomania, I've never had to teach a ballet, so for two weeks I spent two or three hours a day watching the ballet on video and learning every single role, step, and music count. I spent four and half weeks with the company and had a wonderful time. The biggest thrill was seeing my name with the title "Assistant Choreographer" up on huge posters! I was very pleased with how well Magrittomania was received. On this trip I really noticed how vast the spaces are and what a transition Moscow is in. I was there for Victory Day (May 9), a national holiday honoring all Soviet citizens who died in World War II. Their losses were so huge; I really felt the weight of history.
— Katita Waldo, principal dancer

Principal Dancer Stephen Legate at the Fat Tire Bike Week in Colorado

The highlight of my time off this summer was my family's third annual trip to Colorado. My wife Evelyn [Cisneros], [my son] Ethan, and I spent three weeks cycling and camping. I'm a cyclist so I try to do one or two races every year. It just so happened that the Fat Tire Bike Week in Crested Butte, Colorado, coincided with the Kansas City Ballet Summer Intensive Workshop where Evelyn was teaching master classes. I entered a cross-country race — a 9 1/2-mile loop where cyclists climb 1,800 feet at elevations between 9,200 and 11,000 feet. I finished the race in an hour and eight minutes and ended up winning first in my age group and second in my division! I also did this fun, chainless downhill race. Racers forfeit the use of their chains or take them off completely. You can't use your pedals so here I was plunging down a mountain pass for 7 1/2 miles. I came in second in my age group in this one. What stands out to me about cycling and racing is less about winning and more about the break it provides me from the intensity of dancing during the season. The cross training keeps me in shape, keeps my muscles and heart strong, and prepares me to begin rehearsals again.
— Stephen Legate, principal dancer

Soloist Nicole Starbuck in India

I traveled with a friend to India for six weeks and spent ten days at a Vipassana meditation course where you remain completely silent; it was the third one I've done. After that, we traveled around the country. Hampi was one of my favorite towns. We met two young boys — Harish and Mutu — who befriended us and became our tour guides during our weeklong visit there. What struck me was that even though their lives were incredibly difficult (each was trying to raise money for school), they had wonderful senses of humor. It was hard to say goodbye to them, but we have their addresses and plan on sending them presents. India is so surreal — I saw the biggest bull I've ever seen, and the buildings are like sandcastles: very light colored — straight out of a movie. Seeing how the caste system works and the way people relate to the "untouchables" was especially painful and has changed my life profoundly. Since the trip, I have a different perspective, and I feel grateful for everything.
— Nicole Starbuck, soloist

Soloist Peter Brandenhoff teaches ballet in South Africa

Two years ago, I worked with the Royal Danish Ballet and the South African Ballet Theatre (SABT) in Johannesburg, South Africa. SABT lost funding after the end of apartheid and was struggling to rebuild. With [SF Ballet Education Manager] Charles McNeal's encouragement, I returned this summer to assist with their outreach program, which enables the company to receive crucial funding. For two weeks in June, Charles and I traveled with [SF Ballet Master] Ricardo Bustamante to South Africa. We went into various townships and taught the local children ballet, rhythm, and movement. Most of them were barefoot, wearing street clothes. We taught them in makeshift studios, like churches, so we had to improvise. While we were doing outreach, Ricardo taught at SABT. After the two weeks, I stayed on with SABT to perform in Pretoria and Grahamstown. I wanted to give something back, so I donated my fee to scholarships for two children from the Alexandra and Mamalodi townships. Each scholarship covers one year's tuition to SABT's school, as well as free dance clothes and transportation to the school. Being involved in this project was the most rewarding experience I've ever had, and I plan on going back.
— Peter Brandenhoff, soloist

The Palais Garnier in Paris where the Paris Opéra Ballet performs

I had a whirlwind trip! Because my family and friends are so spread out and I haven't seen them in at least a year, I traveled to four different places in Europe trying to catch up with everyone — Paris, Montpellier, Monaco, and Antwerp. In Paris, I stayed with different family members and met up with [SF Ballet Principal Dancer and fellow Frenchman] Pierre-Francois Vilanoba for a night, which was fun. In Monaco I saw the Grand Prix and a final soccer game between Monaco and Porto. On this trip, it was very important for me to take photos of the places and people I'm close to so I took over 200 with my digital camera. I get bored with conventional shots, so I experimented with different angles and styles. Now that I'm back in San Francisco, I can choose the best photos to put on my apartment and dressing room walls. I had a wonderful time, but I'm glad to be back in my own apartment again!
— Pascal Molat, principal dancer