San Francisco Ballet Dos Mujeres War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco April 12th, 2024 It’s hard to believe that in less than a month, San Francisco Ballet’s home season will be over. The final two programs, currently running in tandem, close in the next few days. And after weeklong encores of Mere Mortals and Swan Lake, the company exits the War Memorial Opera House to embark on their summer engagements. It has been a stunning season filled with upending surprises and comforting classics. And upon entering the lobby and theater on Friday night, it was clear that something equally special w ..read more

Alberto Velazquez and Victoria Jaiani in Possokhov's Anna Karenina Photo Cheryl Mann Cal Performances presents The Joffrey Ballet Anna Karenina Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley March 15, 2024 If you look on my bookshelf, you will indeed find a copy of Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy, procured at the beginning of the pandemic. It was going to be a homebound season, so what better time to tackle such an epic and mammoth novel. Well, four years later and it’s not yet finished. Someday. Thankfully, there are plenty of online resources to fill in the blanks – characters, plot points, overall them ..read more

San Francisco Ballet in Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream Choreography by George Balanchine © The Balanchine Trust Photo © Lindsay Thomas San Francisco Ballet A Midsummer Night’s Dream War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco March 12, 2024 I think a number of Bay Area dance goers have déjà vu right now. I certainly do. In the first week of March four years ago, I was scheduled to take in two shows – The Joffrey Ballet at Cal Performances and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at San Francisco Ballet. I was super excited for both performances. Midsummer, in particular, for two reasons. In ..read more

San Francisco Ballet British Icons War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco February 10th, 2024 (matinee) If there is one word that can describe San Francisco Ballet’s current British Icons program, it is most definitely ‘cinematic.’ Onstage at the War Memorial Opera House until February 15th, the double bill brings the work of two legendary British choreographers in two SFB premieres, Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Song of the Earth and Sir Frederick Ashton’s Marguerite and Armand. There was much to take in throughout the afternoon, and based on the reception each ballet received, SFB patrons were de ..read more

My SF/Bay Area Round-up is live on CriticalDance - three lovely holiday performances! https://criticaldance.org/sf-bay-area-round-up-holiday-edition-2023/  ..read more

Smuin Contemporary Ballet Dance Series 1 Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek September 15, 2023 A stylistic collage, an arresting drama, a brilliant union of music and dance – what an opening performance for Smuin Contemporary Ballet! For thirty years, this special company has been a force in the Bay Area dance scene and Friday evening’s mixed rep, triple bill tapped into the group’s essence and power. Their commitment to technical excellence and artistic fervor. To simultaneously pushing boundaries and honoring history. To challenging audiences while providing moments of joy and escape ..read more

Smuin Contemporary Ballet Dance Series 2 Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA, San Francisco May 5th, 2023 Last Friday, Smuin Contemporary Ballet landed at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts for the San Francisco stop on their current regional tour. Led by Artistic Director Celia Fushille, the company brought a sensational quadruple bill for this last program of 2022-2023. Though what transpired on stage was anything but final. Yes, Dance Series 2 closes the company’s 29th season, but if you were in the audience on Friday night, you can attest to the feast of beginnings. A world premiere fro ..read more

San Francisco Ballet Romeo & Juliet War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco April 21st, 2023 Whether the ballet, the stage play or the original text, when you spend time in the world of Romeo & Juliet, a complex narrative unfolds. It’s a tragic love story. It’s a cautionary tale about hate. It unpacks how human beings value each other. It shows the consequences of rash actions. It’s about trajectory; about timing. On Friday night, as San Francisco Ballet opened the final program of 2023, all these themes percolated throughout the War Memorial Opera House. This is another ballet that S ..read more

Cal Performances presents Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley April 15th, 2023 (matinee) Pictured: Jacquelin Harris Photo Dario Calmese Spring in the Bay Area has much to offer. Generally, the weather is pretty good. Flowers are blooming. The farmer’s markets are flush with new, exciting produce and longer days equal more time outside. It is also one of the best times of the year for the performing arts, especially dance. San Francisco Ballet is usually in the final programs of its season, Smuin Ballet is into its second dance series and there’s a plethora of ..read more

San Francisco Ballet Cinderella War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco San Francisco Ballet in Wheeldon's Cinderella Photo Lindsay Thomas April 1st, 2023 (matinee) When a ballet has been part of a company’s repertoire for quite some time, there is an upside of familiarity. Audiences know the story, the visuals, the choreography. The downside is that the work can start to feel stale after a while. But one full-length narrative that will never fall victim to time is Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella. A co-production of SFB and Dutch National Ballet, this Cinderella has vibrancy to spa ..read more