next@90
Blanc / Schreier / Possokhov Premieres
Kin
Claudia Schreier is creating on SF Ballet for the first time with Kin, set to a commissioned score by Tanner Porter. "Working with Tanner has blown open wide for me the possibility of what it means to work in collaboration with an artist," said Schreier. An abstract ballet, Kin features two female dancers among a cast of sixteen who are enveloped in a shifting power dynamic, pressured by the limiting nature of time.
Gateway to the Sun
Nicolas Blanc, former SF Ballet Principal Dancer and current choreographer at The Joffrey Ballet, returns to SF Ballet for Gateway to the Sun, his new ballet set to Anna Clyne's DANCE for cello and orchestra from 2019. "Dance is a liberation, dance is a sense of soothing, of solace for a human being," said Blanc, who models the five movements after the five lines of the 13th century poet Rumi that Clyne excerpted for her score:
Dance, when you're broken open.
Dance, if you've torn the bandage off.
Dance in the middle of the fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance, when you're perfectly free.
—Rumi
Violin Concerto
Yuri Possokhov, who became SF Ballet's Choreographer in Residence after retiring from dancing for SF Ballet in 2006, recalls Balanchine's Violin Concerto as one of his favorite ballets by the choreographer which he danced many times. Possokhov approaches Stravinsky's score with fresh eyes, however. "I needed to do this now," Possokhov said. "My memory of Balanchine comes back, of course, but this impulse gives me the chance to express myself." Violin Concerto showcases Possokhov's musicality and is set on seven couples and one lead ballerina.
next@90 festival
The future of ballet is coming Next. We’ve celebrated maker culture here in the Bay Area for decades, so to celebrate San Francisco’s 90th anniversary we’re looking forward. The next@90 festival presents 9 world premiere ballets by 9 innovative, international choreographers, centering the innovation of the dance world right here in San Francisco. next@90 festival features new works by Nicolas Blanc, Bridget Breiner, Val Caniparoli, Robert Garland, Yuka Oishi, Yuri Possokhov, Jamar Roberts, Danielle Rowe, and Claudia Schreier.
JAN 25–FEB 7
Kin
Choreographer
Claudia Schreier
Composer
Tanner Porter
Gateway to the Sun
Choreographer
Nicolas Blanc
Composer
Anna Clyne
Violin Concerto
Choreographer
Yuri Possokhov
Composer
Igor Stravinsky
This program runs approximately 2 hours 14 minutes including two 20-minute intermissions.
VIEW CASTING
KIN
Conductor: Martin West
DORES ANDRÉ, ISAAC HERNÁNDEZ
WANTING ZHAO, AARON ROBISON
Samantha Bristow, Olivia Brothers, Isabella DeVivo, Ellen Rose Hummel, Norika Matsuyama, Pemberley Ann Olson
Lucas Erni, Andris Kundzins, Steven Morse, João Percilio da Silva, Mingxuan Wang, Adrian Zeisel
GATEWAY TO THE SUN
Conductor: Matthew Rowe
Cello: Eric Sung
A poet
MAX CAUTHORN
SASHA DE SOLA, WEI WANG
JENNIFER STAHL, LUKE INGHAM
Samantha Bristow, Nicole Moyer, Leili Rackow, Jamie Adele Stephens
Davide Occhipinti, Jacob Seltzer, Alexis Valdes, Adrian Zeisel
VIOLIN CONCERTo
Conductor: Matthew Rowe
Violin: Cordula Merks
Muse
SASHA MUKHAMEDOV
Principal Couples
WONA PARK, JOSEPH WALSH
JULIA ROWE, ESTEBAN HERNÁNDEZ
CARMELA MAYO, CAVAN CONLEY
Ensemble Couples
Juliana Bellissimo, Joshua Jack Price
Gabriela Gonzalez, John-Paul Simoens
Elizabeth Mateer, Mingxuan Wang
Angela Watson, Nathaniel Remez
KIN
Conductor: Martin West
DORES ANDRÉ, ISAAC HERNÁNDEZ
WANTING ZHAO, AARON ROBISON
Samantha Bristow, Olivia Brothers, Isabella DeVivo, Ellen Rose Hummel, Norika Matsuyama, Pemberley Ann Olson
Lucas Erni, Andris Kundzins, Steven Morse, João Percilio da Silva, Mingxuan Wang, Adrian Zeisel
GATEWAY TO THE SUN
Conductor: Matthew Rowe
Cello: Eric Sung
A poet
MAX CAUTHORN
SASHA DE SOLA, WEI WANG
JENNIFER STAHL, LUKE INGHAM
Samantha Bristow, Nicole Moyer, Leili Rackow, Jamie Adele Stephens
Davide Occhipinti, Jacob Seltzer, Alexis Valdes, Adrian Zeisel
VIOLIN CONCERTo
Conductor: Matthew Rowe
Violin: Cordula Merks
Muse
SASHA MUKHAMEDOV
Principal Couples
WONA PARK, JOSEPH WALSH
JULIA ROWE, ESTEBAN HERNÁNDEZ
CARMELA MAYO, CAVAN CONLEY
Ensemble Couples
Juliana Bellissimo, Joshua Jack Price
Gabriela Gonzalez, John-Paul Simoens
Elizabeth Mateer, Mingxuan Wang
Angela Watson, Nathaniel Remez
KIN
Conductor: Martin West
DORES ANDRÉ, ISAAC HERNÁNDEZ
WANTING ZHAO, AARON ROBISON
Samantha Bristow, Olivia Brothers, Isabella DeVivo, Ellen Rose Hummel, Norika Matsuyama, Pemberley Ann Olson
Rubén Cítores Nieto, Lucas Erni, Andris Kundzins, Steven Morse, João Percilio da Silva, Mingxuan Wang
GATEWAY TO THE SUN
Conductor: Matthew Rowe
Cello: Eric Sung
A poet
MAX CAUTHORN
SASHA DE SOLA, WEI WANG
JENNIFER STAHL, LUKE INGHAM
Samantha Bristow, Nicole Moyer, Leili Rackow, Jamie Adele Stephens
Davide Occhipinti, Jacob Seltzer, Alexis Valdes, Adrian Zeisel
VIOLIN CONCERTo
Conductor: Matthew Rowe
Violin: Cordula Merks
Muse
SASHA MUKHAMEDOV
Principal Couples
WONA PARK, JOSEPH WALSH
JULIA ROWE, ESTEBAN HERNÁNDEZ
CARMELA MAYO, CAVAN CONLEY
Ensemble Couples
Juliana Bellissimo, Joshua Jack Price
Gabriela Gonzalez, John-Paul Simoens
Elizabeth Mateer, Mingxuan Wang
Angela Watson, Nathaniel Remez
KIN
Conductor: Martin West
DORES ANDRÉ, ISAAC HERNÁNDEZ
WANTING ZHAO, AARON ROBISON
Samantha Bristow, Olivia Brothers, Isabella DeVivo, Ellen Rose Hummel, Norika Matsuyama, Pemberley Ann Olson
Rubén Cítores Nieto, Lucas Erni, Andris Kundzins, Steven Morse, João Percilio da Silva, Mingxuan Wang
GATEWAY TO THE SUN
Conductor: Matthew Rowe
Cello: Eric Sung
A poet
MYLES THATCHER
ELIZABETH POWELL, LONNIE WEEKS
THAMIRES CHUVAS, HENRY SIDFORD
Kamryn Baldwin, Jihyun Choi, Swane Messaoudi, Maggie Weirich
Rubén Cítores Nieto, Parker Garrison, João Percilio da Silva, Jasper True Stanford
VIOLIN CONCERTo
Conductor: Matthew Rowe
Violin: Cordula Merks
Muse
SASHA MUKHAMEDOV
Principal Couples
WONA PARK, JOSEPH WALSH
JULIA ROWE, ESTEBAN HERNÁNDEZ
CARMELA MAYO, CAVAN CONLEY
Ensemble Couples
Juliana Bellissimo, Joshua Jack Price
Tyla Steinbach, John-Paul Simoens
Elizabeth Mateer, Mingxuan Wang
Angela Watson, Nathaniel Remez
KIN
Conductor: Martin West
DORES ANDRÉ, ISAAC HERNÁNDEZ
WANTING ZHAO, AARON ROBISON
Samantha Bristow, Olivia Brothers, Isabella DeVivo, Ellen Rose Hummel, Norika Matsuyama, Pemberley Ann Olson
Rubén Cítores Nieto, Lucas Erni, Andris Kundzins, Steven Morse, João Percilio da Silva, Mingxuan Wang
GATEWAY TO THE SUN
Conductor: Matthew Rowe
Cello: Eric Sung
A poet
MYLES THATCHER
ELIZABETH POWELL, LONNIE WEEKS
THAMIRES CHUVAS, HENRY SIDFORD
Kamryn Baldwin, Jihyun Choi, Swane Messaoudi, Maggie Weirich
Rubén Cítores Nieto, Parker Garrison, João Percilio da Silva, Jasper True Stanford
VIOLIN CONCERTo
Conductor: Matthew Rowe
Violin: Cordula Merks
Muse
JULIANA BELLISSIMO
Principal Couples
ELIZABETH MATEER, JOSHUA JACK PRICE
JULIA ROWE, ESTEBAN HERNÁNDEZ
CARMELA MAYO, CAVAN CONLEY
Ensemble Couples
Blake Johnston, Alexander Reneff-Olson
Pemberley Ann Olson, Luca Ferrò
Tyla Steinbach, Benjamin Davidoff
Seojeong Yun, Lleyton Ho
KIN
Conductor: Martin West
DORES ANDRÉ, ISAAC HERNÁNDEZ
WANTING ZHAO, AARON ROBISON
Samantha Bristow, Olivia Brothers, Isabella DeVivo, Ellen Rose Hummel, Norika Matsuyama, Pemberley Ann Olson
Rubén Cítores Nieto, Lucas Erni, Andris Kundzins, Steven Morse, João Percilio da Silva, Mingxuan Wang
GATEWAY TO THE SUN
Conductor: Matthew Rowe
Cello: Eric Sung
A poet
MAX CAUTHORN
SASHA DE SOLA, WEI WANG
JENNIFER STAHL, LUKE INGHAM
Samantha Bristow, Nicole Moyer, Leili Rackow, Jamie Adele Stephens
Davide Occhipinti, Jacob Seltzer, Alexis Valdes, Adrian Zeisel
VIOLIN CONCERTo
Conductor: Matthew Rowe
Violin: Cordula Merks
Muse
JULIANA BELLISSIMO
Principal Couples
WONA PARK, JOSEPH WALSH
JULIA ROWE, ESTEBAN HERNÁNDEZ
CARMELA MAYO, CAVAN CONLEY
Ensemble Couples
Blake Johnston, Alexander Reneff-Olson
Pemberley Ann Olson, Luca Ferrò
Tyla Steinbach, Benjamin Davidoff
Seojeong Yun, Lleyton Ho
KIN
Conductor: Martin West
DORES ANDRÉ, ISAAC HERNÁNDEZ
WANTING ZHAO, AARON ROBISON
Samantha Bristow, Olivia Brothers, Jihyun Choi, Isabella DeVivo, Ellen Rose Hummel, Pemberley Ann Olson
Rubén Cítores Nieto, Lucas Erni, Andris Kundzins, Steven Morse, João Percilio da Silva, Mingxuan Wang
GATEWAY TO THE SUN
Conductor: Matthew Rowe
Cello: Eric Sung
A poet
MAX CAUTHORN
SASHA DE SOLA, WEI WANG
JENNIFER STAHL, LUKE INGHAM
Samantha Bristow, Nicole Moyer, Leili Rackow, Jamie Adele Stephens
Davide Occhipinti, Jacob Seltzer, Alexis Valdes, Adrian Zeisel
VIOLIN CONCERTo
Conductor: Matthew Rowe
Violin: Cordula Merks
Muse
JULIANA BELLISSIMO
Principal Couples
WONA PARK, JOSHUA JACK PRICE
JULIA ROWE, ESTEBAN HERNÁNDEZ
CARMELA MAYO, CAVAN CONLEY
Ensemble Couples
Blake Johnston, Alexander Reneff-Olson
Pemberley Ann Olson, Luca Ferrò
Tyla Steinbach, Benjamin Davidoff
Seojeong Yun, Lleyton Ho
Meet the artist interviews
Join us for informative talks featuring artists and choreographers in conversation with a moderator before Friday evening and Sunday matinee performances. A performance ticket for that date is required to enter the Opera House to attend Meet the Artist Interviews.
January 27 at 7 pm with next@90 choreographer Nicolas Blanc, rehearsal director and principal coach for The Joffrey Balle
February 5 at 1 pm with Soloist Sasha Mukhamedov

next@90 pop-ups
Join us in the Grand Tier lobby (south side) to learn about pointe shoes, tutus, music, and more. Pop-ups will be open on Wednesdays and Thursdays before the performance and during the first intermission.
NICOLAS BLANC CHOREOGRAPHER PROFILE
Listen to Nicolas Blanc talk about Gateway to the Sun, the work he created for next@90 festival.
CLAUDIA SCHREIER CHOREOGRAPHER PROFILE
Listen to Claudia Schreier talk about Kin, the work she created for next@90 festival.
YURI POSSOKHOV CHOREOGRAPHER PROFILE
Listen to Yuri Possokhov talk about Violin Concerto, the work he created for next@90 festival.














PRODUCTION CREDITS
Kin
Scenic Design: Alexander V. Nichols
Costume Design: Abigail Dupree-Polston
Lighting Design: Jim French
World Premiere: January 25, 2023—San Francisco Ballet, War Memorial Opera House; San Francisco, California
Music: Original composition commissioned by San Francisco Ballet. Costumes constructed by Colin Davis Jones Studios, New York, NY. Scenic construction and painting by San Francisco Ballet Carpentry and Scenic Departments.
Gateway to the Sun
Scenic and Costume Design: Katrin Schnabl
Lighting Design: Jim French
World Premiere: January 25, 2023—San Francisco Ballet, War Memorial Opera House; San Francisco, California
Music: Dance by Anna Clyne, used by arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., publisher and copyright owner. Costumes constructed by Lineamente, Inc., Chicago, IL. Scenic construction and painting by San Francisco Ballet Carpentry and Scenic Departments.
Violin Concerto
Scenic Design: Alexander V. Nichols
Costume Design: Sandra Woodall
Lighting Design: Jim French
Assistant to the Choreographer: Tiit Helimets
World Premiere: January 25, 2023—San Francisco Ballet, War Memorial Opera House; San Francisco, California
Music: Concerto in D for Violin and Orchestra, used by arrangement with European American Music Distributers Company, sole U.S. and Canadian agent for Schott Music, Mainz, Germany, publisher and copyright owner. Costumes constructed by Parsons-Meares Ltd., New York, NY. Hand painting and prototypes by Margaret Peot, Virginia Clow, and Mary Macy. Fabric painting by Dyenamix. Scenic construction and painting by San Francisco Ballet Carpentry and Scenic Departments. Photographs provided by World History Archive/Alamy Stock Photo, Gravure Francaise/Alamy Stock Photo, Heritage Image Partnership Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo.