A highly popular pre-performance discussion program, Meet the Artist Interviews (MTAs) spotlight the specific San Francisco Ballet repertory program to be performed that afternoon/evening.

These informative talks feature Company dancers, guest artists, choreographers, and conductors in conversation with a moderator. Meet the Artist Interviews last 30 minutes and take place on the Orchestra Level of the War Memorial Opera House one hour before performance time on selected evenings and Sunday matinees. MTAs are open to ticket holders of that afternoon/evening's performance.

2013 Meet the Artist Interviews:

Program 1

Tuesday, Jan 29, 7pm
Dance Educator Mary Wood interviews Borderlands Choreographer Wayne McGregor, Scenic Designer Lucy Carter and Composers Joel Cadbury and Paul Stoney

Friday, Feb 1, 7pm
Writer for San Francisco Ballet and Dance Studio Life Editor in Chief Cheryl Ossola interviews distinguished artistic advisor and répétiteur of Suite en Blanc  Maina Gielgud, A.O.

Sunday, Feb 3, 1pm
Founder of St. Mary’s College of California Leap Program Claire Sheridan interviews Ballet Master Anita Paciotti

Program 2

Friday, Feb 15, 7pm
Dance Educator Mary Wood interviews General Manager Debra Bernard

Saturday, Feb 16, 7pm
Dance Educator Mary Wood interviews Corps de Ballet Dancer Madison Keesler

Sunday, Feb 17, 1pm
Founder of St. Mary's College of California LEAP Program Claire Sheridan interviews Master of Properties Kenneth M. Ryan

Program 3

Tuesday, Feb 26, 7pm
Dance Educator Mary Wood interviews Soloist James Sofranko

Friday, March 8, 7pm
Assistant to the Senior Executive Staff Caroline Giese interviews Principal Dancer Sarah Van Patten
 

Sunday, March 10, 1pm
Writer for San Francisco Ballet and Dance Studio Life Editor in Chief Cheryl Ossola interviews Soloist Jennifer Stahl

Program 4

Friday, Mar 1, 7pm
Director of Education Charles McNeal interviews Ballet Master Katita Waldo

Sunday, Mar 3, 1pm
Christensen Society Officer Jasmine Yep interviews Soloist Sasha De Sola

Program 5

Thursday, Mar 21, 7pm
Dance Educator Mary Wood interviews Choreologist and Repetiteur of Cranko Ballets Jane Bourne

Friday, Mar 22, 7pm
Director of Education Charles McNeal interviews Ballet Master and Assistant to the Artistic Director Ricardo Bustamante and Choreologist and Repetiteur of Cranko Ballets Jane Bourne

Sunday, Mar 24, 1pm
Writer for San Francisco Ballet and Dance Studo Life Editor in Chief Cheryl Ossola interviews SF Ballet's 2013 Visiting Scholar Professor Tim Scholl

Program 6

Tuesday, Apr 9, 7pm
Dance Educator Mary Wood interviews Guest Repetiteur Bruce Sansom  

Friday, Apr 12, 7pm
Director of Education Charles McNeal interviews Soloist Clara Blanco
 

Sunday, Apr 14, 1pm
Music Director and Principal Conductor Martin West introduces "Meet the Music and Musicians" - an exploration of Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra

Saturday, Apr 20, 1pm
Writer for San Francisco Ballet and Dance Studio Life Editor in Chief Cheryl Ossola interviews Principal Dancer Tiit Helimets

Program 7

Thursday, Apr 11, 7pm
Writer for San Francisco Ballet and Dance Studio Life Editor in Chief Cheryl Ossola interviews Principal Dancer Frances Chung

Friday, Apr 19, 7pm
Dance Educator Mary Wood interviews Soloist Shane Wuerthner

Sunday, Apr 21, 1pm
Writer for San Francisco Ballet and Dance Studio Life Editor in Chief Cheryl Ossola interviews Principal Dancer Pierre-Francois Vilanoba

Program 8

Friday, May 3, 7pm
Director of Education Charles McNeal interviews Principal Dancer Ruben Martin Cintas

Sunday, May 5, 1pm
Board Relations Manager Jennifer French Kovacevich interviews Cinderella choreographer Christopher Wheeldon

Friday, May 10, 7pm
Assistant to the Senior Executive Staff Caroline Giese interviews Principal Dancer Damian Smith

Saturday, May 11, 1pm
Dance Educator Mary Wood interviews Costume Supervisor Patti Fitzpatrick and Frank Morales Acting Costume Production Coordinator

Sunday, May 12, 1pm
Writer for San Francisco Ballet and Dance Studio Life Editor in Chief Cheryl Ossola interviews Artistic Director & Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson
 

Note:  MTAs normally occur on opening nights, Fridays, Sunday matinees and select Saturday performances.  February 21, Wednesday is an opening night for program 2.  On that evening there will be a Pointes of View Lecture and no MTA.

Updates on hosts and guests are posted as information becomes available.  All programs are subject to change.  The information, views, and opinions expressed at Meet the Artist Interviews are strictly those of the participants and do not necessarily represent or imply any official position of San Francisco Ballet Association.

Select Meet the Artist Interviews are available in podcast form. Learn more.

For more information, please contact Cecelia Beam, adult education coordinator, at cbeam@sfballet.org.