SAN FRANCISCO, CA (March 13, 2020) – San Francisco Ballet and San Francisco Ballet School confirmed the cancellation of all performances March 24 – April 5, 2020 at the War Memorial Opera House, temporary closure of the San Francisco Ballet School, and the cancellation of all public education and special events that were previously scheduled for March and part of April. This decision was made by the SF Ballet Board of Trustees in the interest of putting the health of the public, its artists, guests, school community, and staff as top priority, in compliance with the City of San Francisco’s order to close the War Memorial Opera House, and with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s latest policy calling for the postponement and cancellation of all public events consisting of more than 250 people.
SF Ballet Executive Director Kelly Tweeddale said: “We all believe that art matters, and perhaps most in times of challenge and isolation. We are looking at what we can do to show that we care.”
In an unprecedented measure, due to the cancellation of nine performances of George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream March 7–15, SF Ballet received permission to present a limited online stream of SF Ballet in this full-length production, which will be made available early next week via electronic streaming on a limited basis. Because this limited stream required an emergency waiver from SF Ballet’s union groups, the streamed performance is available only to ticket holders of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Detailed instructions on how to access the Midsummer stream along with use restrictions will be sent to ticketholders via email next week. SF Ballet also announced (in advance of its full 2021 Season announcement) that George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be included as part of the 2021 Repertory Season.
SF Ballet has also cancelled all performances of Programs 05 and 06 of the 2020 Season, originally scheduled for March 24 – April 5. This was to include Program 05 (March 24 – April 4) featuring 7 For Eight by Helgi Tomasson, the world premiere of Mrs. Robinson by Cathy Marston, and Anima Animus by David Dawson; and Program 06 (March 26 – April 5) featuring Classical Symphony by Yuri Possokhov, Appassionata by Benjamin Millepied, and the SF Ballet premiere of The Seasons by Alexei Ratmansky. All associated public audience and education events are also cancelled.
Patrons are advised to check the SF Ballet website for the most current communications regarding cancellations and their ticket options.
SF Ballet School Cancellations and Closures
The San Francisco Ballet School has alerted students and their families of an extended break, effective through Monday, April 13, and SF Ballet School staff are assisting students with travel planning and moving out of the SF Ballet School residences. In addition, all adult classes are suspended until the week of April 13 at the earliest.
Due to the district-wide closure of all SFUSD schools from March 16 through April 3, SF Ballet’s Dance in Schools and Communities programs are cancelled until April 6 when SFUSD schools reopen after Spring Break.
SF Ballet Special Events Postponed
The March 18 San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary Fashion Show at Saint Joseph’s Arts Society has also been postponed. The event will be rescheduled for late spring or early fall of this year. A dinner celebrating the 25th anniversary season of Principal Dancer Yuan Yuan Tan at The Palace Hotel on April 19 is also being rescheduled for late in August. For more information please check the SF Ballet website.
ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO BALLET
San Francisco Ballet, long recognized for pushing boundaries in dance, 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 20th-century American Coppélia. SF Ballet is one of the three largest ballet companies in the United States and currently presents more than 100 performances annually, both locally and internationally. The mission of SF Ballet is to share its joy of dance with the widest possible audience—in its community and worldwide—and to provide the highest caliber of dance training in its School. Under the direction of Helgi Tomasson, the Company has achieved an international reputation as one of the preeminent ballet companies in the world.
For press inquiries, please contact:
Kate McKinney
PR & Communications Manager
kmckinney@sfballet.org
You You Xia
Director of Communications
yxia@sfballet.org