Your Story
As a 75-year-old cultural institution, San Francisco Ballet and its dancers have garnered a sizable devoted following. The Ballet invited its subscribers to share how they became interested in ballet and how it has influenced their lives. The response was overwhelming, and rich with touching stories that showed both the depth of many subscribers' knowledge of the Ballet's history and the excitement newer audience members experience as they become familiar with the Company.
Mary Anne Winnig
"Our family history with SF Ballet is a three-generation one. In the 1980s, my daughter, mother-in-law, and I started attending regular performances. In the late '70s and throughout the '80s, Nutcracker was a favored outing. Since the mid-'80s, my family and assorted friends have been regulars at the Sunday matinees. Now we're introducing the newest members of the family to our wonderful SF Ballet company. We feel we've established a wonderful tradition. Keep dancing and innovating. Seventy-five years is a wonderful milestone!
Karryll Nason
Subscriber for 30 years"I've seen the company through two different artistic directors and the changes they made. I've watched waves of performers begin their careers, advance to soloist or principal, and finally retire. The one common thread through all the changes and all the years has been the very obvious delight with which the company performs. These are people who relish their jobs, who tackle every challenge and exult in every triumph. It would be impossible not to enjoy them."
Claire Meyler
Subscriber since 2007"My father once said, 'The secret to a good performer is to do something that's really difficult, and make it look effortless.' I think the SF Ballet dancers excel at this task."
Betsy McGuigan
Subscriber for 27 years"I bought my first subscription seats in 1979, and we have been continuous subscribers since then. It has been a dance lover's dream to have seen San Francisco Ballet grow to world-class status, and to have been a part of it all."
Jane H. Siegel
Subscriber for as long as she can remember"I am a native San Franciscan, now ninety-four years old. I danced as a child and a teen * My greatest claim to fame is that I saw [Anna] Pavlova dance The Dying Swan. I was 10 or 12 years old. I pretended to be a reporter for my school paper and was allowed backstage! Met Pavlova face to face and just stared at her. She was tiny. So you see-I've been 'dancing' all my life."