Press Releases

San Francisco, CA—Thursday, May 10, 2007—San Francisco Ballet, America’s oldest professional ballet company, has announced plans for its upcoming 75th anniversary in 2008.  Acclaimed as one of the most innovative and artistically creative classical ballet companies in the world, the Company will present a festival of 10 world premieres by some of the world’s top choreographers, a program of performances by three international ballet companies, an additional world premiere by San Francisco Ballet Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson, and the Company premiere of Jerome Robbins’ West Side Story Suite. Other major initiatives include a television broadcast, a commemorative book, a four-city American Tour, and a refreshed brand identity that positions San Francisco Ballet as offering “a new way of seeing ballet.” The San Francisco Ballet School will also celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2008.

“For the 75th anniversary of America’s oldest professional ballet company, we celebrate this important milestone by looking forward,” commented Tomasson. “As artistic director of the Company for 22 years, I have enormous pride in San Francisco Ballet. While we acknowledge the Company and its rich legacy, we are also excited to celebrate the future of dance.”
 
2008 Repertory Season Highlights
San Francisco Ballet’s 75th Anniversary Season, from January 29 to May 6, 2008, will consist of six programs performed in alternating repertory, as well as a New Works Festival of 10 world premieres. The anniversary season will also include the revival of former San Francisco Ballet Director Lew Christensen’s Filling Station, one of the oldest American folk ballets; an all-Robbins Program, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the master choreographer’s death and including the San Francisco Ballet premiere of West Side Story Suite; a tribute to San Francisco Ballet from three international companies; a world premiere by Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson; and the return of Tomasson’s full-length production of the classic Giselle. Prior to the repertory season, Tomasson’s Nutcracker runs from December 13 through 30, 2007, for a total of 30 performances.
 
2008 Celebration Events
The season kicks off with “San Francisco Ballet at 75: The Diamond Gala Celebration,” on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, which includes a dinner, special one-night-only program, and a post-performance party. “The New Works Festival Opening Night Celebration” on Tuesday, April 22, 2008, will be a special fundraising dinner in honor of the festival’s opening night. Proceeds from both events benefit a wide range of artistic and education programs, as well as dancer training at San Francisco Ballet. Learn more about these events.

2008 Repertory Season Overview
Program 1: Opens Tuesday, January 29, and features the revival of Lew Christensen’s Filling Station as well as Helgi Tomasson’s 7 for Eight and George Balanchine’s “Diamonds.”
Program 2: Opens Thursday, January 31, with encore presentations of Balanchine’s Divertimento No. 15 and Yuri Possokhov’s Firebird, plus the revival of Mark Morris’ Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes.
Program 3: Opens Saturday, February 16, with the revival of Helgi Tomasson’s staging of the full-length classic Giselle.
Program 4 (A Tribute to Jerome Robbins): Opens Thursday, March 6, and features an encore presentation of Fancy Free and the revival of In the Night, as well as the San Francisco Ballet premiere of West Side Story Suite.
Program 5: Opens Friday, March 7, and includes encore presentations of the pas de deux from Christopher Wheeldon’s After the Rain© and Wheeldon’s Carousel (A Dance)©; a world premiere by Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson; and the encore presentation of Wayne McGregor’s Eden/Eden.
Program 6 (An International Salute to San Francisco Ballet): Opens Tuesday, April 1, and features The National Ballet of Canada in the San Francisco premiere of Matjash Mrozewski’s A Delicate Battle, New York City Ballet in George Balanchine’s Duo Concertant, and Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo in the American premiere of Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Altro Canto.
New Works Festival: Comprised of 10 world premieres by 10 renowned choreographers, the festival will feature three programs opening on three successive evenings. Program A opens Tuesday, April 22; Program B opens Wednesday, April 23; and Program C opens Thursday, April 24.

New Works Festival
San Francisco Ballet’s 2008 Repertory Season will culminate with a New Works Festival of 10 world premieres by 10 renowned choreographers, on three separate programs running in alternating repertory, from April 22 through May 6, 2008.  Two festival programs will include three new works and one festival program will include four (specific programming to be announced at a later date, upon completion of the new works in early 2008). Participating choreographers are Julia Adam, Val Caniparoli, Jorma Elo, Margaret Jenkins (commissioned music by Paul Dresher), James Kudelka (commissioned music by Rodney Sharman), Mark Morris (commissioned music by John Adams), Yuri Possokhov, Paul Taylor, Stanton Welch, and Christopher Wheeldon.

 
Program A                         
Tuesday, April 22, 8pm   
Friday, April 25, 8pm        
Sunday, April 27, 2pm    
Thursday, May 1, 8pm    

Program B 
Wednesday, April 23, 7:30pm   
Saturday, April 26, 2pm      
Tuesday, April 29, 8pm      
Friday, May 2, 8pm         
Saturday, May 3, 8pm         
Sunday, May 4, 2pm

Program C
Thursday, April 24, 8pm
Saturday, April 26, 8pm
Wednesday, April 30, 7:30pm
Saturday, May 3, 2pm
Tuesday, May 6, 8pm

For the New Works Festival, James F. Ingalls will design lighting for all 10 works. The festival design teams to date include Christine Darch (costumes for Adam), Sandra Woodall (scenery and costumes for Caniparoli), Alexander Nichols (scenery for Jenkins), Beaver Bauer (costumes for Jenkins), Jim Searle (costumes for Kudelka), Isaac Mizrahi (costumes for Morris), Santo Loquasto (costumes for Taylor), Thomas Boyd (scenery for Welch), and Holly Hynes (costumes for Welch).

An International Salute to San Francisco Ballet
On one program (Program 6) of the 2008 Repertory Season, three international companies—Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, The National Ballet of Canada, and New York City Ballet—will pay tribute to San Francisco Ballet’s imprint on the world of dance. The National Ballet of Canada will perform the San Francisco premiere of Matjash Mrozewski’s A Delicate Battle, New York City Ballet will perform George Balanchine’s Duo Concertant, and Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, making its San Francisco debut, will perform the American premiere of Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Altro Canto.

With more than 60 dancers and its own orchestra, The National Ballet of Canada ranks as one of the world’s top international dance companies. Established as a classical company, it is the only Canadian company to present a full range of traditional full-length classics. In addition to its classical repertoire, The National Ballet of Canada also embraces contemporary works and encourages the creation of new ballets and the development of Canadian choreographers. In its 56-year history, the company has performed for more than 10 million people.

San Francisco Ballet has enjoyed a long history with New York City Ballet, dating back to Lew Christensen’s early relationship with George Balanchine, first as a dancer and later as a ballet master, faculty member, and company director at New York City Ballet. In addition, San Francisco Ballet Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson garnered critical acclaim as one of New York City Ballet’s most respected principal dancers. New York City Ballet is the largest dance organization in America, with approximately 90 dancers, and has two permanent homes, the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York. It has an active repertory of over 150 works, principally choreographed by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Peter Martins. 

In 1985, H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover recreated a new company in Monaco, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, a project initiated by her mother, H.S.H. Princess Grace de Monaco. H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover became president of the company and Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo became the first official company of the Principality, performing throughout the year at the Opera de Monte-Carlo, as well as in the most famous theaters and venues abroad. Determined to keep the company at the highest professional level and to enrich the repertory with creations and contemporary works, the president of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo offered the directorship to Jean-Christophe Maillot in 1993. The programs performed by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo in Monaco and on tour include Maillot’s works as well as a large repertory of works by major choreographers such as Karole Armitage, George Balanchine, Lucinda Childs, Nacho Duato, William Forsythe, Jiri Kylian, John Neumeier, and Twyla Tharp.

San Francisco Ballet School
As part of the program in January for “San Francisco Ballet at 75: The Diamond Gala Celebration,” the San Francisco Ballet School, which is also celebrating its 75th anniversary, will perform the American premiere of John Neumeier’s Yondering. Created in 1996, the work is set to music by Stephen C. Foster and features more than 20 dancers. “Yondering” was an American frontier term, referring to travel and exploration beyond the established and known. The work will also be performed by the School at the 2008 Student Showcase.

San Francisco Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet School were both established in 1933 as a single institution by Gaetano Merola, the first general director of San Francisco Opera. Today, the School boasts over 350 students and an international faculty, led by San Francisco Ballet School Director Helgi Tomasson and Associate Director Lola de Avila. The School is committed to providing students with a strong foundation in classical technique in preparation for a professional career in dance.

Nutcracker Television Project
KQED Public Television in San Francisco and San Francisco Ballet are partnering to present Helgi Tomasson’s acclaimed 2004 production of the classic Nutcracker, with production funding provided by First Republic Bank and the Herbert Family. KQED’s live, High Definition recording of Tomasson’s Nutcracker at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House will be made in December 2007 and will be available for broadcast and other forms of distribution in late 2008. KQED brings a seasoned and award-winning team to the project, including Michael Isip (executive producer), Judy Flannery (producer), and Matthew Diamond (director). Both Flannery and Diamond worked with San Francisco Ballet on the Company’s PBS broadcast performance of Lar Lubovitch’s Othello, which aired in 2003. San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker will be offered nationwide throughout the PBS network as a timeless holiday program for years to come. 

The American Tour
In fall 2008, in honor of its history as America’s oldest professional ballet company, San Francisco Ballet will embark on a four-city national tour with 32 performances total. The American Tour will include prestigious engagements at: Harris Theater in Chicago (September 16–21, 2008), New York City Center (October 10-18, 2008), Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, California (November 11–16, 2008), and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (November 25–30, 2008). Additional details will be announced at a future date.

Special Exhibitions
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) will salute San Francisco Ballet’s anniversary with an exhibition inside the airport’s International Terminal, November 2007 through May 2008. The exhibition, curated by San Francisco Airport Museum, will commemorate San Francisco Ballet’s history of artistic “firsts,” including the first American productions of Swan Lake (1940) and Nutcracker (1944). The exhibition includes lavish costumes, historical photos, and artifacts, showcasing the rich diversity of San Francisco Ballet’s repertory, including Val Caniparoli’s Lambarena, Lew Christensen’s Filling Station and Beauty and the Beast, William Forsythe’s New Sleep, Helgi Tomasson’s Swan Lake and Nutcracker, and Mark Morris’ Sylvia. An additional photography exhibition, featuring current images of the Company by photographer Erik Tomasson, will be installed in Terminal 3  from March through May 2008.

San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum (SFPALM)
San Francisco Ballet will partner with San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum (SFPALM) on a number of exciting exhibitions to commemorate “San Francisco Ballet at 75.” The projects will include an exhibition on the history of dance in California that will travel to various Bay Area education and arts institutions, as well as a two-part exhibition in the War Memorial Opera House lobby, tied to the 2008 Repertory Season.

The exhibition in the Opera House will also feature a touring component that will travel on the American Tour. In addition, SFPALM will mount an exhibit celebrating SF Ballet’s rich history of innovation in costume and set design, which will inaugurate the redesigned galleries space at SFPALM in spring 2008. Additional details will be announced at a future date.

Online: www.sfballet.org/at75
San Francisco Ballet will launch a two-phase update to its current website, designed by MetaDesign©. The first phase (launching May 9, 2007) will integrate the refreshed San Francisco Ballet branding into a special section dedicated to “San Francisco Ballet at 75.” This featured section will allow subscribers and patrons to access information on news, upcoming events, and other interactive components related specifically to San Francisco Ballet’s anniversary.

In a second phase (to launch November 1, 2007), San Francisco Ballet will introduce a completely updated website that includes new architecture, an enhanced “select-a-seat” feature for online ticket buyers, and a San Francisco Ballet timeline. With a goal to create more interactive content for its patrons and subscribers, San Francisco Ballet will continue to introduce a wide variety of multimedia interviews and features on Company artists, guest artists, and other San Francisco Ballet luminaries.

Commemorative Book: San Francisco Ballet at Seventy-Five
In celebration of San Francisco Ballet’s anniversary, Chronicle Books will publish San Francisco Ballet at Seventy-Five, a portrait of San Francisco Ballet today. Dance scholar and historian Janice Ross explores San Francisco Ballet’s ascent from its humble beginnings in 1933 to its current status as an internationally acclaimed cultural institution. The illustrated volume, with over 100 photographs, also includes a DVD that provides insight into the Company’s illustrious history, featuring interviews with key insiders and exclusive footage of rehearsals and performances. The book will go on sale to the general public in October 2007. It will be distributed by Chronicle Books, sold online at www.sfballet.org, and available for purchase in San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House Ballet Shop.

 
Alumni Activities
The weekend of March 14 through 16, 2008, will be devoted to various San Francisco Ballet Alumni activities. Company alumni can sign up online to receive news and updates from San Francisco Ballet. Additional details will be announced.

San Francisco Ballet’s $35 Million Endowment Campaign–Performing at the Pinnacle
In January 2005, San Francisco Ballet publicly announced the Performing at the Pinnacle Campaign, a $35 million fundraising drive for San Francisco Ballet’s endowment. The funds will support a wide range of artistic priorities as well as benefit the San Francisco Ballet School and the San Francisco Ballet Center for Dance Education. San Francisco Ballet has raised $31 million through March 31, 2007. The Pinnacle Campaign will conclude on June 30, 2008.

Last fall, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation awarded San Francisco Ballet a $5 million challenge grant to help complete the Pinnacle Campaign. The Hewlett challenge will match all new and increased gifts to the Pinnacle Campaign through June 30, 2008. To date, San Francisco Ballet has matched $1.4 million of this gift.

San Francisco Ballet Orchestra’s All-new Nutcracker Recording
The San Francisco Ballet Orchestra accompanies the Ballet for the entire run of the annual Nutcracker production and throughout each repertory season. In 2005 the Orchestra celebrated the 30th anniversary of its founding. In February 2007, the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, along with Music Director and Principal Conductor Martin West, recorded the full score of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker at Skywalker Ranch in San Rafael, California (a state-of-the art recording facility). The San Francisco Boys Chorus was also present for part of the session, providing vocals for the Snow scene in Act I. The CD, self-produced by San Francisco Ballet, will go on sale in December 2007.

About San Francisco Ballet
As America’s oldest professional ballet company, San Francisco Ballet has enjoyed a long and rich tradition of artistic “firsts” since its founding in 1933, including performing the first American productions of Swan Lake and Nutcracker, as well as the first production of Coppélia choreographed by an American choreographer. San Francisco Ballet is one of the three largest ballet companies in the United States. Guided in its early years by American dance pioneers and brothers Lew, Willam, and Harold Christensen, San Francisco Ballet currently presents more than 100 performances annually, both locally and internationally. Under the direction of Helgi Tomasson for more than two decades, the Company has achieved an international reputation as one of the preeminent ballet companies in the world. In 2005, San Francisco Ballet won the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award, its first, in the category of “Outstanding Achievement in Dance,” for its 2004 London tour. In 2006, San Francisco Ballet was the first non-European company elected “Company of the Year” in Dance Europe magazine’s annual readers’ poll.

 
75th Anniversary Sponsors
San Francisco Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet School gratefully acknowledge the leadership and support of several of their longtime supporters and special sponsors of the 75th Anniversary Celebrations.

Major Sponsors:
 
Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund
Hellman Family Foundation
Yurie and Carl Pascarella
 

Sponsors:
 
Stuart Francis and Diana Stark
Stephen and Margaret Gill Family Foundation
Cecilia and Jim Herbert
George Frederick Jewett Foundation,
Lucille Jewett, Trustee
Barbara Ravizza and John Osterweis
Kathleen Scutchfield
The Smelick Family
The Swanson Foundation
Ms. Susan A. Van Wagner
The E.L. Wiegand Foundation, Reno, Nevada
Diane B. Wilsey
Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang
 

For more information
For more information about San Francisco Ballet’s upcoming 75th Anniversary Season, please explore the website. For ticket information, call 415.865.2000.

NBC11 is proud to be the lead media sponsor of San Francisco Ballet’s 75th Anniversary Season (www.nbc11.com/sfballet).

Media please note: For photography and b-roll needs, please contact San Francisco Ballet PR Manager Meredith Nonnenberg at 415.865.4783 or mnonnenberg@sfballet.org. For more information on San Francisco Ballet, please explore the website.