San Francisco Ballet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Francisco Ballet |
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| General information | |
| Name | San Francisco Ballet |
| Previous names | San Francisco Opera Ballet |
| Year founded | 1933 |
| Founders | Willam Christensen, Harold Christensen, Lew Christensen |
| Principal venue | War Memorial Opera House San Francisco |
| Artistic staff | |
| Artistic Director | Tamara Rojo |
| Principal Conductor | Martin West |
| Other | |
| Official school | San Francisco Ballet School http://school.sfballet.org |
The San Francisco Ballet is the oldest ballet company in the United States. It started in 1933 as the San Francisco Opera Ballet. The company is based in the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco. Tamara Rojo became its artistic director in December 2022.
San Francisco Ballet is one of the world's top dance companies. It performs over 100 shows each year. Its shows include both classical and contemporary ballet styles. Experts say it's one of the "triumvirate of great classical companies" in America. The other two are American Ballet Theatre and the New York City Ballet.
Contents
History of the San Francisco Ballet
How the Christensen Brothers Started Ballet in the U.S.
Willam Christensen, Harold Christensen, and Lew Christensen were three brothers who helped make ballet popular in the United States. They grew up in a family that loved art and music. The brothers learned folk dance and ballet when they were young.
In the 1920s and 1930s, they toured with their act "The Christ Brothers." They performed on the famous vaudeville Orpheum Circuit. This was how many Americans first saw ballet.
As vaudeville became less popular, Harold and Lew joined George Balanchine's new company, American Ballet, in 1935. Willam started a ballet school in Portland, Oregon, in 1932. In 1937, he became a main male dancer for the San Francisco Opera Ballet. He then became the company's ballet master and choreographer in 1938.
Willam and his brother Harold bought the company from the Opera in 1942. They renamed it San Francisco Ballet. In 1951, Willam stopped being the director of SF Ballet. He moved to Utah and began teaching ballet at the University of Utah. This was the first university ballet department in the country. In 1963, he started the Utah Civic Ballet (now Ballet West) with his students. He led this company until 1978.
Lew Christensen became the first American-born danseur noble (a leading male dancer) while with American Ballet. He served in the United States Army during World War II. After the war, he joined Balanchine's Ballet Society. This company soon became the New York City Ballet. Lew was a ballet master there from 1946 to 1950. In 1951, he joined his brother Willam as co-director of San Francisco Ballet. When Willam moved to Utah, Lew became the sole director. He held this job until 1976. Then, Michael Smuin joined him as co-director. Lew Christensen remained co-director until he passed away in 1984.
After leaving vaudeville in 1935, Harold Christensen danced with several companies. These included American Ballet and San Francisco Ballet. He stopped dancing in 1946. In 1940, Willam asked him to direct the San Francisco Ballet School. In 1942, he and Willam bought the SF Ballet. Harold directed the school until he retired in 1975.
Emmy Award-winning choreographer and dancer James Starbuck was a main dancer with the San Francisco Opera Ballet from 1935 to 1938. He then became the first American man to dance with the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo.
Early Productions and Growth (1938–1950)
In 1938, the company's first big show was Coppélia. Willam Christensen choreographed it. In 1940, they performed Swan Lake. This was the first time an American company performed the entire ballet. On Christmas Eve 1944, the company put on Nutcracker. This was the first full performance of Tchaikovsky's famous ballet in the United States.
In 1942, the San Francisco Opera Ballet split into two separate companies: ballet and opera. Willam and Harold Christensen bought the ballet part. Willam became the artistic director. Harold became the director of the San Francisco Ballet School. The San Francisco Ballet Guild was also created to support the company.
Expanding Horizons (1951–1972)
The year 1951 brought big changes to San Francisco Ballet's leadership. Lew Christensen became co-director with his brother Willam. In 1952, Lew Christensen took over as the only director. Under his leadership, San Francisco Ballet began to travel. It became known as an important American ballet company.
Before 1956, San Francisco Ballet only performed on the West Coast. But Christensen took the company to the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Massachusetts. In 1957, it was the first American ballet company to tour the Far East. They performed in 11 Asian countries. On New Year's Day 1965, ABC-TV showed a one-hour version of Lew Christensen's Nutcracker. San Francisco Ballet performed in it.
In 1972, San Francisco's War Memorial Opera House became the official home of San Francisco Ballet.
New Leadership and National Recognition (1973–1985)
In 1973, Michael Smuin became co-artistic director with Lew Christensen. Smuin had danced with the company from 1953 to 1961. Under his direction, SF Ballet became much more famous across the country and around the world. This was thanks to successful shows like Romeo and Juliet in 1977. This show was on the PBS series Great Performances: Dance in America in 1978. It was the first time a West Coast ballet company, and a full-length ballet, was shown on this PBS series.
PBS showed three more of Smuin's SF Ballet productions. His shows The Tempest and A Song for Dead Warriors won Emmy Awards. Smuin led the company until 1985.
Modern Era and Global Recognition (1985–Present)
When Helgi Tomasson became artistic director in 1985, it started a new time for San Francisco Ballet. Under Tomasson, San Francisco Ballet became known as one of the most creative ballet companies. This is because it often asked new choreographers from around the world to create new works. The company also has a wide range of ballets, including classical ballet, neoclassical ballet, and contemporary ballet. Its dancers come from many different backgrounds. The Financial Times said in 2012 that Tomasson helped make the company one of the top ones in the U.S.
For over 25 years, Tomasson staged popular full-length classical ballets. These included Swan Lake (1988, 2009), The Sleeping Beauty (1990), and Romeo and Juliet (1994). He also staged Giselle (1999) and Don Quixote (2003). His Nutcracker (2004) is special because it's set in San Francisco during the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition. It features sets and costumes by Tony Award-winning designers. The New York Times called Tomasson's Nutcracker "striking, elegant and beautiful."
Today, San Francisco Ballet performs about 100 shows every year. The company performs works by many famous choreographers. These include Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Jirí Kylián, Jerome Robbins, and Christopher Wheeldon.
In 2010, the Ballet's opening-night gala, Silver Celebration, honored Tomasson's 25 years as artistic director.
The Gala Opening of San Francisco Ballet's 80th Season included many different ballet pieces. Some were Tarantella pas de deux, Flower Festival at Genzano pas de deux, and Don Quixote grand pas de deux.
The 2013 season included Trio, Ghost, and Borderlands. Other ballets were Suite en blanc, Nijinsky, and Cinderella.
The 2014 season featured Giselle, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Firebird. Also performed were Cinderella, Shostakovich Trilogy, and The Rite of Spring.
The 2015 season included Serenade, Giselle, Don Quixote, and Romeo & Juliet.
The 2017 season featured "Haffner Symphony," "Frankenstein," "Swan Lake," and "Cinderella."
In January 2021, Tomasson announced he would retire in 2022. Tamara Rojo became the new artistic director in 2022.
Performances and Tours
San Francisco Ballet performs from January to May at the War Memorial Opera House. They also perform in July at the Stern Grove Festival in San Francisco. The company tours nationally in the summer and fall. In December, they present Nutcracker at the War Memorial Opera House.
Touring Milestones
In 1991, San Francisco Ballet performed in New York City for the first time in 26 years. They returned many times after that. After their first tour, The New York Times praised the company. It said Helgi Tomasson had made it one of America's most successful arts stories.
In May 1995, San Francisco Ballet hosted 12 ballet companies from around the world. This was for the UNited We Dance: An International Festival. The festival celebrated the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Charter. The Charter was signed in San Francisco.
In fall 2008, the company celebrated its 75th anniversary. They toured four American cities. This included performances in Chicago, New York City, and Washington, D.C. The year ended with a New Works Festival. Ten famous choreographers created new ballets for it. Other anniversary events included a book, San Francisco Ballet at Seventy-Five. Tomasson's Nutcracker was also shown on PBS.
San Francisco Ballet has also toured overseas many times. They performed at famous places like the Opéra de Paris-Palais Garnier in Paris. They also visited London's Sadler's Wells Theatre and Royal Opera House. Other tours included Athens, Copenhagen, and the Edinburgh International Festival. In fall 2009, San Francisco Ballet visited China for the first time. They performed in Shanghai and Beijing.
In 2012, San Francisco Ballet went on its longest tour ever. They performed in London and Washington, D.C. They also visited Hamburg, Germany; Moscow; and Sun Valley, Idaho, for the first time.
Ballet on Screen and Recordings
In 1978, San Francisco Ballet's Romeo and Juliet was shown on PBS. It was the first time a West Coast ballet company, and a full-length ballet, was aired on the Great Performances: Dance in America series. In 1981, the ballet's The Tempest was the first ballet broadcast live from the War Memorial Opera House on PBS. In 1984, the PBS broadcast of A Song for Dead Warriors won an Emmy for Michael Smuin.
PBS still shows the Ballet's Nutcracker, choreographed by Helgi Tomasson. In 2007, Nutcracker was shown in movie theaters in Canada, Australia, and the U.S. In 2011, it had more screenings.
In December 2011, John Neumeier's The Little Mermaid was shown on PBS. DVDs of Nutcracker and The Little Mermaid were released. The orchestra has also released CD recordings of ballet music.
Awards and Recognition
San Francisco Ballet has won many awards. In 2005, it won its first Laurence Olivier Award. This was for Outstanding Achievement in Dance. London's The Sunday Times said Helgi Tomasson had made it one of the world's top ballet companies. In 2006, Dance Europe magazine readers voted San Francisco Ballet "Company of the Year." It was the first non-European company to win this. In 2008, San Francisco Ballet received the Jerome Robbins Award for excellence in dance.
In 2012, Helgi Tomasson received the Dance/USA Honor. This award recognizes people who help dance in America. In 2014, San Francisco Ballet was nominated for Outstanding Company by the National Dance Awards in the U.K.
The Company's Talented Team
Artistic Director
- Tamara Rojo
Ballet Masters & Assistants to the Artistic Director
- Ricardo Bustamante
- Felipe Diaz
Ballet Masters
- Tina LeBlanc
- Anita Paciotti
- Katita Waldo
Choreographer In Residence
- Yuri Possokhov
Company Teachers
- Helgi Tomasson
- Patrick Armand
- Ricardo Bustamante
- Felipe Diaz
Principal Dancers
| Name | Nationality | Training | Joined SFB | Promoted to Principal | Other Companies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dores André |  Spain |
Antonio Almenara
Estudio de Danza de Maria Avila |
2004 | 2015, Returned as Principal in 2024 | Ballett Zürich |
| Max Cauthorn |  United States |
San Francisco Ballet School | 2013 | 2020, Returned as Principal in 2024 | Ballett Zürich |
| Frances Chung |  Canada |
Goh Ballet Academy | 2001 | 2009 | |
| Sasha De Sola | United States |
Kirov Academy of Ballet | 2007 | 2017 | |
| Nikisha Fogo |  Sweden |
Royal Swedish Ballet School The Royal Ballet School |
2020 | N/A, Joined as Principal | Vienna State Ballet |
| Esteban Hernandez |  Mexico |
The Rock School for Dance Education
The Royal Ballet School |
2013 | 2018 | |
| Harrison James |  New Zealand |
New Zealand School of Dance
San Francisco Ballet School Trainee Program |
2024 | N/A, Joined as Principal | National Ballet of Canada
Royal Winnipeg Ballet Béjart Ballet |
| Jasmine Jimison | United States |
Bay Area Dance School Menlo Park Academy of Dance San Francisco Ballet School |
2018 | 2024 | |
| Misa Kuranaga |  Japan |
Jinushi Kaoru Ballet School School of American Ballet |
2001 | 2019 | Boston Ballet |
| Wona Park |  South Korea |
Sunhwa Arts School San Francisco Ballet School |
2017 | 2020 | |
| Aaron Robison |  United Kingdom |
Institut del Teatre The Royal Ballet School |
2016, 2018 | N/A, Joined as Principal | English National Ballet Birmingham Royal Ballet Corella Ballet Houston Ballet |
| Jennifer Stahl | United States |
Maria Lazar's Classical Ballet Academy San Francisco Ballet School |
2006 | 2017 | |
| Joseph Walsh | United States |
Walnut Hill School of the Arts Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy |
2014 | 2014 | Houston Ballet |
| Wei Wang |  China |
Beijing Dance Academy, San Francisco Ballet School | 2013 | 2018 | |
| WanTing Zhao | China |
Beijing Dance Academy The Rock School for Dance Education San Francisco Ballet School |
2011 | 2019 |
Principal Character Dancers
- Ricardo Bustamante
- Val Caniparoli
- Anita Paciotti
Soloists
The company also has many talented soloists who perform important roles.
| Name | Nationality | Training | Joined SFB | Promoted to Soloist | Other Companies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamryn Baldwin | United States |
Hawaii State Ballet Metropolitan Ballet Academy San Francisco Ballet School |
2015 | 2024 | |
| Katherine Barkman | United States |
Private Training with Nadia Pavlenko | 2022 | N/A, Joined as Soloist | Manila Ballet The Washington Ballet |
| Fernando Carratalá Coloma | Spain |
Escuela Arantxa Arana
Escuela Sofia Sancho |
2024 | N/A, Joined as Soloist | Victor Ullate Ballet
English National Ballet |
| Cavan Conley | United States |
The Harid Conservatory Nutmeg Conservatory |
2018 | 2019 | Tulsa Ballet Tulsa Ballet II |
| Diego Cruz | Spain |
Emilia Bailo Dance School Escuela Municipal de Danza Estudio de Danza de Maria de Avila San Francisco Ballet School |
2006 | 2020 | |
| Daniel Deivison-Oliveira |  Brazil |
Cia Brasileira de Ballet Ballet da Cidade de Niteroi Escola de Danças Maria Olenewa Petite Danse School San Francisco Ballet School |
2005 | 2011 | Cia Brasileira de Ballet Ballet de Cidade de Niteroi |
| Isabella DeVivo | United States |
School of American Ballet San Francisco Ballet School |
2013 | 2017 | |
| Ellen Rose Hummel | United States |
North Carolina Dance Theatre San Francisco Ballet School |
2012 | 2020 | |
| Norika Matsuyama | Japan |
Yuki Miho Ballet Palos Verdes Ballet Lauridsen Ballet Centre San Francisco Ballet School |
2014 | 2021 | |
| Steven Morse | United States |
Maple Conservatory of Dance Laurisden Dance Centre Long Beach Ballet Arts Center San Francisco Ballet School |
2009 | 2017 | |
| Sasha Mukhamedov | United Kingdom |
Elmhurst School for Dance The Royal Ballet School Arts Educational School |
2019 | N/A, Joined as Soloist | Dutch National Ballet |
| Elizabeth Powell | United States |
Boston Ballet School San Francisco Ballet School |
2012 | 2018 | |
| Joshua Jack Price |  Australia |
Amanda Bollinger Dance Academy
The Dance Centre San Francisco Ballet School Trainee Program |
2018 | 2024 | |
| Victor Prigent |  France |
Paris Opera Ballet School
Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris Joffrey Academy Ballet Trainee Program San Francisco Ballet School |
2024 | N/A, Joined as Soloist | English National Ballet |
| Julia Rowe | United States |
Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet San Francisco Ballet School |
2013 | 2016 | Oregon Ballet Theatre |
| Myles Thatcher | United States |
Margo Clifford Ging The Harid Conservatory Edward Ellison Professional Training Program San Francisco Ballet School |
2010 | 2020 | |
| Lonnie Weeks | United States |
Faubourg School of Ballet Ruth Page Center for the Arts Texas Ballet Theater School |
2010 | 2018 | Texas Ballet Theater |
Corps de Ballet and Apprentices
The San Francisco Ballet also has a large group of talented dancers in its Corps de Ballet and Apprentice programs. These dancers perform in many ballets and are the future stars of the company.
San Francisco Ballet School
San Francisco Ballet School is the official school of the San Francisco Ballet. It is the oldest ballet school in America. The school teaches different types of dance, like ballet technique, pointe work, and contemporary dance. Students learn in different groups based on their age and skill. More than half of the current San Francisco Ballet dancers trained at this school.
School History and Directors
The school started in 1933. It was part of the San Francisco Operatic and Ballet School. Gaetano Merola, who started the San Francisco Opera, saw that dancers needed training for opera shows. Adolph Bolm directed the school from 1933 to 1938. Then, Willam Christensen directed it from 1938 to 1940. His brother Harold Christensen took over from 1942 until 1975.
Richard L. Cammack directed the school from 1975 to 1985. He helped move the school to its current modern building in 1983. In 1985, Helgi Tomasson, the new SF Ballet artistic director, chose Nancy Johnson to lead the school. Lola de Avila was associate director from 1993 to 1999. Gloria Govrin followed her in 1999. De Avila returned as associate director from 2006 to 2012. Patrick Armand then took on that role.
School Programs
Students must audition to get into the school. They can apply for financial help and scholarships. Advanced students might be invited to join the SFBS Trainee Program. This program, started in 2004, prepares students for professional dance careers.
Up to 150 students are chosen each year to dance in the SF Ballet's Nutcracker production. The most advanced students also get to dance with the main SF Ballet company during its regular season.
The school also has a pre-ballet program for young children aged 4–7. After this program, students who want to continue must audition to stay at the school.
School Faculty
The San Francisco Ballet School has many excellent teachers from different backgrounds. As of January 2017, Helgi Tómasson was the Artistic Director and Patrick Armand was the Director. The faculty includes many skilled teachers for different dance styles and conditioning.
San Francisco Ballet Orchestra
The San Francisco Ballet Orchestra (SFBO) started in 1975. It is the official orchestra for the San Francisco Ballet. It is one of only three major orchestras in San Francisco. The orchestra first performed with Nutcracker in late 1975. Since then, it has been praised by audiences and critics. By the 1990s, it was known as one of the best ballet orchestras in the world.
The SFBO toured with the SF Ballet from 1978 to 1984. It has also played for many famous international ballet companies. These include The Royal Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, and the Bolshoi Ballet. In 1995, the orchestra played for 13 different international dance companies in one week. This was for the UNited We Dance Festival.
The 49-member orchestra plays for SF Ballet during its winter and spring seasons. It also performs concerts on its own. Its first solo concert was in 1979.
Orchestra Staff and Musicians
The SFBO has 49 members. Martin West is the music director and conductor. Roy Malan was the first Concertmaster and solo violinist for 40 years, retiring in December 2014. Cordula Merks became Concertmaster in 2016. The orchestra includes many talented musicians who play various instruments.
San Francisco Ballet Orchestra Music Directors
Denis de Coteau led the orchestra from 1975 until 1998. Emil de Cou then became music director until 2001. Jean-Louis LeRoux took over temporarily. Then Andrew Mogrelia led the orchestra until 2005. That same year, Martin West became the music director. In 2018, Ming Luke was named Principal Guest Conductor.
San Francisco Ballet Orchestra Recordings
The orchestra has recorded hundreds of musical works. Many of these have received great reviews. They include music by Beethoven, Bizet, and Delibes. Four of the orchestra's recordings have been shown on PBS's Great Performances: Dance in America.
Some of their recordings include:
- Othello—Suite from the Ballet by Eliot Goldenthal
- Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker
- RAkU
- The Tempest—complete ballet by Paul Chihara
- Delibes— Coppélia/Sylvia Extended Suites from the Ballets
- Bizet—Symphony in C major
Volunteer Groups
San Francisco Ballet has many volunteers. They help the company and the San Francisco Ballet School succeed.
Over 200 volunteers from the Ballet Resource and Volunteer Organization (BRAVO) help out every year. They assist with office work, retail, and the Center for Dance Education. They also help with special events like fundraisers.
The San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary is a group of 100 women. They raise over $1 million each year for the Ballet and its school. They organize three yearly events: the Opening Night Gala, a Fashion Show, and the Student Showcase.
San Francisco Ballet's Allegro Circle is for young professionals. They love dance and help the company grow. They also help bring in new audience members.
The ENCORE! group offers young professionals social and educational events. These events give them a behind-the-scenes look at the ballet. Its over 200 members have many chances to volunteer.
Repertory
See also
In Spanish: Ballet de San Francisco para niños
- List of productions of Swan Lake derived from its 1895 revival
