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A uniquely San Francisco Nutcracker.
2014
Keith Haring, Untitled, 1982. Vinyl ink on vinyl tarpaulin. Collection of Sloan and Roger Barnett. Artwork © Keith Haring Foundation
Through his graffiti-inspired drawings, paintings, sculptures, and murals, Keith Haring created
an immediately recognizable iconography that speaks to a diverse population. Making its US
premiere at the de Young with more than 130 works of art, The Political Line lends gravitas to
the artist’s career by focusing on his political activism. Exuberant, profane, witty, and provocative,
the works in this exhibition trace Haring’s creative development and his historical significance
as an advocate for social justice.
November 8, 2014–February 16, 2015
This exhibition is organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Director’s Circle: Penny and
James George Coulter. Curator’s Circle: Sloan and Roger Barnett, Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family
Fund, Holly Johnson Harris and Parker Harris, and the Shimmon Family. Conservator’s Circle: The
Buena Vista Fund of Horizons Foundation. Supporter’s Circle: Nancy and Joachim Bechtle, Juliet
de Baubigny, and Richard and Peggy Greenfield. Community Partner: WEBCOR Builders. The
exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.
Media Sponsors
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December 2014
Volume 92, No. 1
Paul Heppner
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A uniquely San Francisco Nutcracker.
DEC 12–29, 2014
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contents
San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Board of Trustees &
Endowment Foundation Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The Story of Nutcracker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Artists of the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Members of the Orchestra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Children & Supernumerary Roles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
San Francisco Ballet Season Sponsors . . . . . . 48
Nutcracker Under the Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Paul Heppner
President
Mike Hathaway
Vice President
Erin Johnston
Communications Manager
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SF Ballet Interactive Storybook App . . . . . . . . 52
An Homage to San Francisco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
San Francisco Ballet Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Coloring Activity Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
COVER, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: WEI WANG IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER;
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER; YUAN YUAN TAN IN
TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER; SAN FRANCISCO BALLET IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER
(ALL © ERIK TOMASSON)
A uniquely San Francisco Nutcracker.
DEC 12–29, 2014
COMPOSER Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
CHOREOGRAPHY Helgi Tomasson
SCENIC DESIGN Michael Yeargan
COSTUME DESIGN Martin Pakledinaz
LIGHTING DESIGN James F . Ingalls
PROJECTION DESIGN Wendall K . Harrington
MUSIC Casse-Noisette (The Nutcracker), Op . 71
PREMIERE (New Production)
December 17, 2004
San Francisco Ballet, War Memorial Opera House; San Francisco, California
UNITED STATES PREMIERE (Full Length)
December 24, 1944
San Francisco Ballet, War Memorial Opera House; San Francisco, California
Choreography for this production by Willam Christensen
WORLD PREMIERE (Full Length)
December 17, 1892
Shchelkunchik (original Russian title)
Imperial Ballet, Maryinsky Theatre; St . Petersburg, Russia
Choreography for this production by Lev Ivanov, libretto by Marius Petipa
The 2004 premiere of Helgi Tomasson’s Nutcracker was made possible by Lead Sponsors The Herbert Family and
The Swanson Foundation, and Sponsors Yurie and Carl Pascarella, Kathleen Scutchfield, and The Smelick Family .
4 sfballet.org
ABOVE: SAN FRANCISCO BALLET IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
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san francisco ballet association
board of trustees 2014–2015
JOHN S. OSTERWEIS, Chair of the Board and Executive Committee
Chris Hellman†
Michael C. Abramson
Mary Mewha
Pamela J. Joyner†
Chair Emeritus
Jola Anderson
James E. Milligan
David A. Kaplan
Richard C. Barker†
Kristen A. Avansino
Kurt C. Mobley
Mary Jo Kovacevich
Immediate Past Chair
Rosemary B. Baker
Christine Russell
James J. Ludwig†
Margaret G. Gill
Karen S. Bergman
Randee Seiger
Nancy H. Mohr
Vice Chair
Amy Burnett
O.J. Shansby
Gerald E. Napier
James H. Herbert, II†
Chaomei Chen
Christine E. Sherry
Thomas J. Perkins
Vice Chair
David C. Cox
Charlotte Mailliard Shultz
Marie-Louise Pratt
Lucy Jewett
Susan P. Diekman
Catherine Slavonia
George R. Roberts
Vice Chair
Suzy Kellems Dominik
David Hooker Spencer
Kathleen Scutchfield
James D. Marver
Kate Duhamel
Fran A. Streets
Susan A. Van Wagner
Vice Chair
Sonia H. Evers
Arlene H. Sullivan
Dennis Wu
Carl F. Pascarella
Jason M. Fish
Judy C. Swanson
Akiko Yamazaki
Vice Chair
Julie A. Flynn
Richard J. Thalheimer
Robert M. Smelick
Shelby M. Gans
Jennifer M. Walske
Vice Chair
Dr. Richard Gibbs
Timothy C. Wu
Diane B. Wilsey
Thomas E. Horn
Janice Hansen Zakin
Vice Chair
Donald F. Houghton
Rhonda I. Zygocki
Jennifer J. McCall
James C. Katzman
Secretary
Nancy Kukacka
Trustees Emeriti
Susan S. Briggs
Yasunobu Kyogoku
Thomas W. Allen
Assistant Secretary
Kelsey Lamond
Marjorie Burnett
Christopher P. Johns
Irv H. Lichtenwald
Charles Dishman
Stewart McDowell Brady,
Treasurer
Marie O’Gara Lipman
Garrettson Dulin, Jr.†
Patrice Lovato
Karla L. Martin
Millicent Dunham
Co-Chairs, Allegro Circle
Artistic Director &
Stephanie Marver
J. Stuart Francis†
Principal Choreographer
Alison Mauzé
Sally Hambrecht
Glenn McCoy*
Marissa Mayer
Ingrid von Mangoldt Hills
Executive Director
Deborah M. Messemer
George B. James II†
Helgi Tomasson
Associate Trustees
Marie Hurabiell
President, San Francisco
Ballet Auxiliary
Patricia D. Knight
President, BRAVO
Emily Hu
President, ENCORE!
† Past Chair
* ex officio
san francisco ballet endowment foundation
board of directors 2014–2015
JAMES D. MARVER, President
John S. Osterweis
Kim Ondreck Carim‡
Richard C. Barker
President Emeritus
Chief Financial Officer
Directors Emeriti
Susan S. Briggs
Chris Hellman
Hank J. Holland
Laura Simpson‡
J. Stuart Francis
Vice President
Secretary
George B. James II
Nancy Kukacka
Thomas E. Horn
Elizabeth Lani‡
Hilary C. Pierce
Treasurer
Assistant Secretary
Larissa K. Roesch
6 sfballet.org
‡ Non-Director
‘Tis the Season for Science
Now through January 4
The reindeer are back! Meet our Arctic friends and learn
how they adapt to extreme conditions in this one-of-a-kind
interactive experience. Plus, enjoy indoor snow flurries,
music and other festivities at our annual holiday exhibit.
Get tickets at calacademy.org
THE STORY OF
IN TWO ACTS
ABOVE: SAN FRANCISCO BALLET IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
sfballet.org
9
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I L L U M I N AT E T H E A RT S
Ben Davis, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer
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Member FDIC and
Equal Housing Lender
Did you know:
San Francisco Ballet is America’s first
professional ballet company and the first
company in America to premiere
Nutcracker on December 24, 1944.
ACT I
I
n his shop on a foggy Christmas Eve,
a toy maker, Drosselmeyer, puts the
finishing touches on a magical
nutcracker. He has made it as a gift for
his relatives, the Stahlbaum family,
whose home he will visit that evening.
Customers drop by, searching for lastminute Christmas gifts.
Outside the Stahlbaum house, as people
hurry home to their Christmas revelries,
Drosselmeyer arrives with his beautifully
wrapped gift.
ABOVE : PRINCIPAL CHARACTER DANCER YURI POSSOKHOV IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
INSET: SAN FRANCISCO BALLET IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
sfballet.org
11
I
n the sitting room of the Stahlbaum
house, a tree trimming is under way.
Clara and Fritz, followed by their
friends, arrive downstairs to see the
tree lighted, for the very first time in
their lives, by electric lights!
The children dance with glee. Soon it
is time to open gifts. As the children
settle down to play with their presents,
Dr. Stahlbaum invites his guests
to dance. Clara joins the adults.
Did you know:
SF Ballet’s Nutcracker uses 340 feet of
garland on the Christmas tree,
which end-to-end would stretch longer
than the length of a football field.
12 sfballet.org
ABOVE: SAN FRANCISCO BALLET IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
D
rosselmeyer—“Uncle Drosselmeyer”
to the Stahlbaums—arrives and
entertains the families with magic.
He delights the children with a performing
jack-in-the-box and a beautiful pink ballerina
doll. Clara is captivated by them.
INSET: MYLES THATCHER IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
sfballet.org
13
A
t last, Uncle Drosselmeyer opens
his specially wrapped gift for the
family and presents them the
magical nutcracker doll. Clara, delighted,
dances with the nutcracker.
Fritz looks on with envy, then grabs the
nutcracker, which falls and breaks. Uncle
Drosselmeyer bandages the doll and
returns it to Clara, who plays with it quietly.
Did you know:
The photos on the fireplace wall in the
Stahlbaum home are family photos of the
Christensen Brothers, founders of SF Ballet.
See if you can spot them!
As a close to the evening’s festivities,
the revered Stahlbaum grandparents
begin their annual holiday dance.
All join in.
14 sfballet.org
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
T
he hour is late, and the guests
begin their good-byes. Fritz and
Clara go upstairs to their bedrooms,
and the house quiets down. Soon, Clara
descends the steps, searching for her
nutcracker doll. As the clock strikes
midnight, she settles on the sofa and
falls asleep.
As Clara dreams, her mind whirls with the
memories of the evening. Deep within her
dream, Uncle Drosselmeyer appears and
mends the nutcracker doll. Clara wakens
into her dream, and her house begins to
change around her. The Christmas tree
grows large and wondrous.
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
sfballet.org
15
T
hen mice appear, frightening
Clara. But magically, the
Nutcracker summons toy
soldiers from the cupboard
to fend off the mice. A tremendous
battle ensues.
The fierce Mouse King arrives and
engages in a duel with the Nutcracker.
Clara bravely aids the Nutcracker,
who, though victorious, is overcome
by exhaustion from the battle.
16 sfballet.org
Did you know:
In the Act I battle scene, the tallest
present is at least eight feet tall.
The whole group of presents measure
25 feet wide, or roughly the size
of a professional soccer goal.
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
C
lara is worried, but Uncle
Drosselmeyer consoles her,
then transforms the Nutcracker
into a dashing Prince. Clara and the
Prince embark together on a magical
journey to the Land of Snow.
FORMER PRINCIPAL DANCER DAMIAN SMITH IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
sfballet.org
17
Did you know:
The Snow Queen’s tutu takes
80 hours to make, and SF Ballet
has created five, equaling 400 hours
in construction time on one
character’s tutu alone!
C
lara and the Prince arrive
and are welcomed by
the Snow King and
Snow Queen. As snow continues
to fall, snowflakes begin to dance.
Then the King and Queen send Clara
and the Prince off to their next
adventure in a beautiful sleigh.
18 sfballet.org
INSET: FRANCES CHUNG AND JAIME GARCIA CASTILLA IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
ABOVE: FORMER SF BALLET PRINCIPAL DANCER VITO MAZZEO IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER ( © ERIK TOMASSON)
sfballet.org
19
ACT I I
T
he scene opens in the
garden of the Crystal
Palace where ladybugs,
dragonflies, and butterflies dance.
The Sugar Plum Fairy welcomes
Clara and the Prince and asks
them to tell her about the adventure
that brought them to her world.
The Prince recounts his
tale of war with the Mouse
King and describes Clara’s
bravery. The Sugar Plum Fairy
commands a festival, filled with
dancing, to honor her guests.
20 sfballet.org
VANESSA ZAHORIAN IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
Did you know:
Clara’s magical journey around
the world in Act II was inspired by the
Panama Pacific Exposition,
held in San Francisco in 1915.
Learn more on page 54.
DORES ANDRÉ AND DANIEL DEIVISON-OLIVEIRA IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
T
he celebration begins with
Spanish flair. Exotic Arabians,
whirling dancers from China,
and lovely French Mirlitons perform
for the guests.
sfballet.org
21
S
haring in the festivities are
Russian entertainers and the
famous Madame Du Cirque,
who reveals many small surprises,
including a dancing bear!
In the final celebratory dance, the
Sugar Plum Fairy joins in a glorious
waltz with her court of flowers,
dazzling Clara and the Prince.
22 sfballet.org
ABOVE: SAN FRANCISCO BALLET IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
Did you know:
The giant Fabergé eggs in the
Russian dance are nine feet tall.
That’s about 50 times larger
than a real egg.
INSET: HANSUKE YAMAMOTO IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
sfballet.org
23
A
s the festivities draw to a close,
the Sugar Plum Fairy and Uncle
Drosselmeyer grant Clara her
greatest Christmas wish by transforming
her into a beautiful woman to dance in the
arms of her Prince.
24 sfballet.org
ABOVE: MARIA KOCHETKOVA AND FORMER SOLOIST ELANA ALTMAN IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
Did you know:
The “Grand Pas de Deux” couple
dance is one of the most difficult
in the ballet repertory.
(shown above)
INSET: MARIA KOCHETKOVA AND JOAN BOADA IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
sfballet.org
25
I
t is Christmas morning.
Clara awakens, the nutcracker
safe in her arms.
Did you know:
You can experience Nutcracker
in a whole new way?
Turn to page 52 to learn more
about our Nutcracker
Interactive Storybook App!
THE END
26 sfballet.org
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
Healing is an art form.
At Sutter Health, we support the arts—both in our community and
our hospitals. We use art therapy for cancer patients, Expressive
Arts for pain reduction and surgical recovery, and the Healing Harp
music program to lower anxiety. Supporting the arts in the healing
process—it’s another way we plus you.
To Find a Doctor or Specialist Visit
TheDoctorForYou.org
California Pacific Medical Center
Novato Community Hospital
Sutter Lakeside Hospital
Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
artists of the company
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR &
SOLOISTS
Skyla Schreter
PRINCIPAL CHOREOGRAPHER
Dores André
Grace Shibley
Helgi Tomasson
Clara Blanco†
Henry Sidford†
Daniel Deivison-Oliveira†
Miranda Silveira†
Sasha De Sola
Benjamin Stewart†
Carlo Di Lanno
Myles Thatcher†
Dana Genshaft
James Sofranko
© DAVID ALLEN
Anthony Spaulding†
Jennifer Stahl†
Joseph Walsh
Hansuke Yamamoto
Raymond Tilton†
Mingxuan Wang†
Wei Wang†
Lonnie Weeks
WanTing Zhao†
APPRENTICES
Samantha Bristow†
PRINCIPAL DANCERS
CORPS DE BALLET
Joan Boada
Gaetano Amico III†
Frances Chung
Sean Bennett†
Taras Domitro
Thomas Bieszka
Lorena Feijoo
Kimberly Braylock†
Mathilde Froustey
Max Cauthorn†
Jaime Garcia Castilla
Diego Cruz†
Tiit Helimets
Isabella DeVivo†
BALLET MASTER & ASSISTANT
TO THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Luke Ingham
Megan Amanda Ehrlich
Ricardo Bustamante†
Davit Karapetyan
Lacey Escabar†
Christopher Stowell
John and Barbara Osterweis
Jordan Hammond†
Principal Dancer
Jillian Harvey
Maria Kochetkova
Herbert Family Principal Dancer
Vitor Luiz
Pascal Molat
Gennadi Nedvigin
Carlos Quenedit
Sofiane Sylve
Yuan Yuan Tan
Richard C. Barker Principal Dancer
Sarah Van Patten
Diana Dollar Knowles Principal Dancer
Vanessa Zahorian
Diane B. Wilsey Principal Dancer
Esteban Hernandez
Ellen Rose Hummel†
Koto Ishihara†
Emily Kadow
Thamires Chuvas†
Benjamin Freemantle†
John-Paul Simoens†
Maggie Weirich†
Ami Yuki†
BALLET MASTERS
Felipe Diaz†
Betsy Erickson†
Anita Paciotti†
Katita Waldo†
Kristina Lind†
COMPANY TEACHERS
Carolyn Lippert
Helgi Tomasson
Norika Matsuyama†
Lola de Avila*
Lee Alex Meyer-Lorey†
Patrick Armand*
Steven Morse†
Ricardo Bustamante†
Francisco Mungamba†
Felipe Diaz†
Sean Orza†
Christopher Stowell
Lauren Parrott†
Elizabeth Powell†
PRINCIPAL CHARACTER
Alexander Reneff-Olson†
DANCERS
Aaron Renteria†
Ricardo Bustamante†
Rebecca Rhodes†
Val Caniparoli†
Julia Rowe†
Rubén Martín Cintas
Emma Rubinowitz†
Anita Paciotti†
Shannon Marie Rugani†
CHOREOGRAPHER
IN RESIDENCE
Yuri Possokhov
MUSIC DIRECTOR &
PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR
Martin West
† Received training at the San Francisco Ballet School
*Guest Teacher
sfballet.org
29
principal dancers
JOAN BOADA
TIIT HELIMETS
Born in Havana, Cuba
Born in Viljandi, Estonia
Joined as a Principal Dancer in 1999
Joined as a Principal Dancer in 2005
FRANCES CHUNG
LUKE INGHAM
Born in Vancouver, Canada
Born in Mount Gambier, South Australia
Joined in 2001
Joined as Soloist in 2012
Promoted to Soloist in 2005
Promoted to Principal Dancer in 2014
Promoted to Principal Dancer in 2009
TARAS DOMITRO
DAVIT KARAPETYAN
Born in Havana, Cuba
Born in Yerevan, Armenia
Joined as a Principal Dancer in 2008
Joined as a Principal Dancer in 2005
Appointed John and Barbara Osterweis
Principal Dancer in 2014
LORENA FEIJOO
MARIA KOCHETKOVA
Born in Havana, Cuba
Born in Moscow, Russia
Joined as a Principal Dancer in 1999
Joined as a Principal Dancer in 2007
Appointed Herbert Family
DANCER HEADSHOTS © CHRIS HARDY AND © DAVID ALLEN
Principal Dancer in 2013
MATHILDE FROUSTEY
VITOR LUIZ
Born in Bordeaux, France
Born in Juiz de Fora, Brazil
Joined as a Principal Dancer in 2013
Joined as a Principal Dancer in 2009
JAIME GARCIA CASTILLA
PASCAL MOLAT
Born in Madrid, Spain
Born in Paris, France
Named Apprentice in 2001
Joined as a Soloist in 2002
Joined in 2002
Promoted to Principal Dancer in 2003
Promoted to Soloist in 2006
Promoted to Principal Dancer in 2008
† Received training at the San Francisco Ballet School
sfballet.org
31
Partnering with neighbors to
improve our community’s future.
The Tenderloin Health Improvement Partnership (Tenderloin HIP) is a unique multi-sector
collective impact initiative led by Saint Francis Foundation and Saint Francis Memorial Hospital.
The mission of Tenderloin HIP is to improve community health, safety and well-being for the
more than 30,000 individuals and families who live in the Tenderloin, one of San Francisco’s
most densely populated and neediest neighborhoods. Working collaboratively and in alignment,
Tenderloin HIP seeks to address both the social determinants impacting the overall health of
the people who live and work here and the underlying health disparities and inequities that
perpetuate the status quo.
To learn more, please visit www.saintfrancisfoundation.org.
principal dancers
GENNADI NEDVIGIN
YUAN YUAN TAN
Born in Rostov, Russia
Born in Shanghai, China
Joined as a Soloist in 1997
Joined as a Soloist in 1995
Promoted to Principal Dancer in 2000
Promoted to Principal Dancer in 1997
Appointed Richard C. Barker
Principal Dancer 2013
CARLOS QUENEDIT
SARAH VAN PATTEN
Born in Havana, Cuba
Born in Boston, Massachusetts
Joined as Soloist in 2012
Joined as a Soloist in 2002
Promoted to Principal Dancer in 2014
Promoted to Principal Dancer in 2007
Appointed Diana Dollar Knowles
Principal Dancer in 2014
SOFIANE SYLVE
VANESSA ZAHORIAN
Born in Nice, France
Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Joined as a Principal Dancer in 2008
Joined in 1997
Promoted to Soloist in 1999
Promoted to Principal Dancer in 2002
Appointed Diane B. Wilsey
Principal Dancer in 2014
DANCER HEADSHOTS © CHRIS HARDY AND © DAVID ALLEN
principal character dancers
RICARDO BUSTAMANTE†
RUBÉN MARTÍN CINTAS
Born in Medellin, Colombia
Born in Reus, Spain
Joined in 1980
Joined in 2000
Named Principal Character Dancer in 2007
Named Principal Character Dancer in 2014
VAL CANIPAROLI†
ANITA PACIOTTI†
Born in Renton, Washington
Born in Oakland, California
Joined in 1973
Joined in 1968
Named Principal Character Dancer in 1987
Named Principal Character Dancer in 1987
† Received training at the San Francisco Ballet School
sfballet.org
33
YUAN YUAN TAN AND DORES ANDRÉ IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
soloists
DORES ANDRÉ
JAMES SOFRANKO
Born in Vigo, Spain
Born in Marion, Indiana
Joined in 2004
Joined in 2000
Promoted to Soloist in 2012
Promoted to Soloist in 2007
CLARA BLANCO†
ANTHONY SPAULDING†
Born in Valladolid, Spain
Born in Phoenix, Arizona
Joined in 2001
Named Apprentice in 2004
Returned in 2007
Joined in 2006
Promoted to Soloist in 2012
Promoted to Soloist in 2008
DANIEL DEIVISON-OLIVEIRA†
JENNIFER STAHL†
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Born in Dana Point, California
Joined in 2005
Named Apprentice in 2005
Promoted to Soloist in 2011
Joined in 2006
Promoted to Soloist in 2013
SASHA DE SOLA
JOSEPH WALSH
Born in Winter Park, Florida
Born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Named Apprentice in 2006
Joined as a soloist in 2014
Joined in 2007
DANCER HEADSHOTS © CHRIS HARDY AND © DAVID ALLEN
Promoted to Soloist in 2012
CARLO DI LANNO
HANSUKE YAMAMOTO
Born in Napoli, Italy
Born in Chiba, Japan
Joined as a soloist in 2014
Joined in 2001
Promoted to Soloist in 2005
DANA GENSHAFT
Born in Moscow, Russia
Named Apprentice in 2000
Joined in 2001
Promoted to Soloist in 2008
† Received training at the San Francisco Ballet School
sfballet.org
35
Lisa Everson, M.D., Medical Director of the Women’s Center at CPMC’s St. Luke’s Campus
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nurses and everyone on staff are truly committed to our patients and each other. You feel that immediately
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Your generous gift will help deliver exceptional care in a personalized way to the many women
who give birth every year at CPMC. Please visit: cpmc.org/giving
corps de ballet
GAETANO AMICO III†
ISABELLA DEVIVO†
Born in Salem, Oregon
Born in Great Neck, New York
Named Apprentice in 2006
Joined in 2013
Joined in 2007
SEAN BENNETT†
MEGAN AMANDA EHRLICH
Born in San Francisco, California
Born in Charleston, South Carolina
Named Apprentice in 2011
Named Apprentice in 2011
Joined in 2012
Joined in 2012
THOMAS BIESZKA
LACEY ESCABAR†
Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Born in Fairfax, California
Joined in 2013
Named Apprentice in 2012
Joined in 2013
KIMBERLY BRAYLOCK†
JORDAN HAMMOND†
Born in New York, New York
Born in Irvine, California
Named Apprentice in 2009
Joined in 2012
DANCER HEADSHOTS © CHRIS HARDY AND © DAVID ALLEN
Joined in 2010
MAX CAUTHORN†
JILLIAN HARVEY
Born in Tucson, Arizona
Born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Named Apprentice in 2013
Named Apprentice in 2011
Joined in 2014
Joined in 2012
DIEGO CRUZ†
ESTEBAN HERNANDEZ
Born in Zaragoza, Spain
Born in Guadalajara, Mexico
Joined in 2006
Joined in 2013
† Received training at the San Francisco Ballet School
sfballet.org
37
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corps de ballet
ELLEN ROSE HUMMEL†
LEE ALEX MEYER-LOREY†
Born in Greenville, South Carolina
Born in Zurich, Switzerland
Named Apprentice in 2011
Named Apprentice in 2003
Joined in 2012
Joined in 2004
Returned in 2013
KOTO ISHIHARA†
STEVEN MORSE†
Born in Nagoya, Japan
Born in Harbor City, California
Joined in 2010
Joined in 2009
EMILY KADOW
FRANCISCO MUNGAMBA†
Born in Winter Park, Florida
Born in Madrid, Spain
Joined in 2012
Joined in 2011
KRISTINA LIND†
SEAN ORZA†
Born in San Jose, California
Born in San Francisco, California
Joined in 2009
Named Apprentice in 2007
DANCER HEADSHOTS © CHRIS HARDY AND © DAVID ALLEN
Joined in 2008
CAROLYN LIPPERT
LAUREN PARROTT†
Born in Boston, Massachusetts
Born in Palm Harbor, Florida
Joined in 2014
Named Apprentice in 2012
Joined in 2013
NORIKA MATSUYAMA†
ELIZABETH POWELL†
Born in Chiba, Japan
Born in Boston, Massachusetts
Joined in 2014
Named Apprentice in 2011
Joined in 2012
† Received training at the San Francisco Ballet School
sfballet.org
39
A Charlie Brown Christmas Courtesy of Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez Productions
© 2014 Peanuts Worldwide LLC. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
A FA M I LY CO N C E R T W I T H T H E S F S YM P H O N Y
Join us for the West Coast premiere of
A Charlie Brown Christmas—Live! with
accompaniment by the Symphony,
Chorus, dancers, and narrators. This
unique variety show also features
holiday favorites and sing-alongs with
special guest vocalist li sa v rom a n.
D EC
19
4 PM
D EC
20–24
2 PM
D EC
21–23
Come early and enjoy special, familyfriendly activities.
vroman
O N STAG E
Randall Craig Fleischer conductor
Lisa Vroman vocalist
San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Symphony Chorus
The cast of A Charlie Brown Christmas—Live!
FE AT U RI N G
Music by Vince Guaraldi, arranged and orchestrated by Tedd Firth
Liza Gennaro, Director and Choreographer
Dan Scully, Video Designer
7: 3 0 PM
FO R T H E CO M P L E T E H O L I DAY L I N E U P, V I S I T:
SFSYMPHONY.ORG/HOLIDAY (415) 864-6000
H O L I DAY M E D I A PA R T N E R S
Concerts at Davies Symphony Hall. Programs, artists, and prices subject to change.
Box Office Hours Mon–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat noon–6pm, Sun 2 hours prior to concerts
Walk Up Grove St between Van Ness and Franklin
corps de ballet
ALEXANDER RENEFF-OLS0N†
SKYLA SCHRETER
Born in San Francisco, California
Born in Chappaqua, New York
Named Apprentice in 2012
Joined in 2014
Joined in 2013
AARON RENTERIA†
GRACE SHIBLEY
Born in Pasadena, California
Born in Portland, Oregon
Named Apprentice in 2013
Joined in 2013
Joined in 2014
REBECCA RHODES†
HENRY SIDFORD†
Born in Chicago, Illinois
Born in Marblehead, Massachusetts
Named Apprentice in 2008
Named Apprentice in 2011
Joined in 2009
Joined in 2012
JULIA ROWE†
MIRANDA SILVEIRA†
Born in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Born in Sao Goncalo, Brazil
Joined in 2013
Named Apprentice in 2013
DANCER HEADSHOTS © CHRIS HARDY AND © DAVID ALLEN
Joined in 2014
EMMA RUBINOWITZ†
BENJAMIN STEWART†
Born in San Francisco, California
Born in Austin, Texas
Named Apprentice in 2012
Joined in 2006
Joined in 2013
SHANNON MARIE RUGANI†
MYLES THATCHER†
Born in Lake Tahoe, California
Born in Atlanta, Georgia
Named Apprentice in 2004
Named Apprentice in 2009
Joined in 2005
Joined in 2010
† Received training at the San Francisco Ballet School
sfballet.org
41
corps de ballet
RAYMOND TILTON†
LONNIE WEEKS
Born in San Diego, California
Born in Chicago, Ilinois
Named Apprentice in 2010
Joined in 2010
DANCER HEADSHOTS © CHRIS HARDY AND © DAVID ALLEN
Joined in 2011
MINGXUAN WANG†
WANTING ZHAO†
Born in Shandong, China
Born in Anshan-Liaoning, China
Named Apprentice in 2013
Joined in 2011
Joined in 2014
WEI WANG†
Born in Anshan-Liaoning, China
Named Apprentice in 2012
Joined in 2013
† Received training at the San Francisco Ballet School
sfballet.org
43
SF Ballet’s Repertory Season
Opens Soon!
JAN 27- MAY 10, 2015
Highlights include:
• Tomasson’s lavish productions of
Giselle, Don Quixote, Romeo & Juliet
• Contemporary classics by George
Balanchine and Jerome Robbins
• Two world premieres and much more!
A SPECIAL OFFER JUST FOR YOU!
As a token of our appreciation for
being part of our Nutcracker audience,
we’d like to offer you tickets* to any
Repertory Season performance at a
special savings of 25% off
the single ticket price.
Use promo code CUAGAIN
at login when purchasing.
ONLINE: sfballet.org
PHONE: 415.865.2000
Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm
*Limit four tickets per customer
Offer expires Friday, January 30, 2015
2015 SEASON MEDIA SPONSORS
MARIA KOCHETKOVA AND JOAN BOADA IN TOMASSON’S ROMEO & JULIET (© ERIK TOMASSON)
san francisco ballet orchestra
MUSIC DIRECTOR AND
CELLO
TUBA
PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR
Eric Sung, Principal
Peter Wahrhaftig, Principal
Martin West
Jonah Kim, Associate Principal
Victor Fierro, Assistant Principal
TIMPANI
Thalia Moore
James Gott, Principal
Nora Pirquet
Ruth Lane*
CONTRABASS
© DAVID ALLEN
Steve D’Amico, Principal
Shinji Eshima, Associate Principal
Jonathan Lancelle, Assistant Principal
Mark Drury
GUEST CONDUCTORS
Ming Luke
Nathan Fifield
VIOLIN I
Roy Malan, Concertmaster
Janice McIntosh, Associate Concertmaster
Beni Shinohara, Assistant Concertmaster
FLUTE
Barbara Chaffe, Principal
Patricia Farrell, 2nd & Piccolo *
Julie McKenzie, 3rd & Piccolo
OBOE
Laura Griffiths, Principal
James Moore*
Marilyn Coyne, English Horn
Heidi Wilcox
Mia Kim
CLARINET
Robin Hansen
Natalie Parker, Principal
Brian Lee
Steve Sanchez*
Mariya Borozina
Anthony Striplen, Bass Clarinet**
Lev Rankov*
Carla Picchi*
BASSOON
VIOLIN II
Shawn Jones**
Marianne Wagner, Principal
Craig Reiss, Associate Principal
Jeanelle Meyer, Assistant Principal
Patricia Van Winkle
Clifton Foster
Elbert Tsai
Wenyi Shih *
Katherine Button*
VIOLA
Anna Kruger, Acting Principal
Joy Fellows, Acting Associate Principal
Caroline Lee, Acting Assistant Principal
Paul Ehrlich
PERCUSSION
David Rosenthal, Principal
Todd Manley *
CELESTE/SYNTHESIZER
Natal’ya Feygina *
Brenda Vahur *
Mungunchimeg Buriad
HARP
Annabelle Taubl, Principal
Sarah Voynow *
ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL
MANAGER AND MUSIC
ADMINISTRATOR
Tracy Davis
MUSIC LIBRARIAN
Matthew Naughtin
** Season Substitute
* Extra player
Rufus Olivier, Principal
HORN
Kevin Rivard, Principal
Keith Green
Brian McCarty, Associate Principal
William Klingelhoffer
TRUMPET
Adam Luftman, Principal
Ralph Wagner
TROMBONE
Jeffrey Budin, Principal
Hall Goff
Elizabeth Prior**
BASS TROMBONE
Katherine Johnk*
Scott Thornton, Principal
sfballet.org
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children and supernumerary roles
ACT I / PROLOGUE
ACT I /SCENE I
ACT I/SCENE II
Drosselmeyer’s Shop
Young Ladies
Officers
Mice
and Passersby
and Gentlemen
Emma Bradley
Gavin Abercrombie
Portia Adams
Audrey Armacost
Julia Jones
Roscoe Bernard
Susan Anderson-Norby
Olivia Callander
Ava Schneider
Angelin Carrant
Alex Austin
Emily Chen
Adley Sole
Devin Chan
Kamryn Baldwin
Raisa Antonia Gagas
Daniel Bales
Foot Soldiers
Beau Chesivoir
Courtney Gunsteens
Carolyn Balsley
Anna Faith Javier
Max Berenshtyen
Amanda Jue
Claire Boren
Alma Moon
Jim Bowes
Kayla Li
Camille Capelle
Carolina Pavlik
Anne Chaitin
Chloe Saephan
Jimmy Coleman
Mia Snape
Renee DeJarnatt
Emily Ternynck
Melissa del Sol
Casy Vanden Berghe
Gillian George
Neve Wilcox
Marisa Hanson
Dasha Yurkevich
Christina Hecht
Angela Asprer
Camille Capelle
Francesca Diaz
Ashley DuBord
Jax Franks
Megan Howard
Jamie Lau
Esmé Lee-Gardner
Ines Lovato
Isabella Marca
Mirabella Marchiorlatti
Estelle McGuinness
Irenie Melin-Gompper
Ethan Chudnow
Daniella Cluver
Jimmy Coleman
Evan Connolly
Hadriel Diniz Getulio
Daniel Domenech
Elias Frantziskonis
Maxfield Haynes
Blake Kessler
Halle Lewis
Matteo Manzoni
Daniel McCormick
Julio Morel
Blake Johnston
Ethan Arrington
Suzanne Knott
James Beckman-Maldonado
Andrea Kohlruss
Maxwell Behrman-Rosenberg
Terence Leung
Noah Berggren
Priscilla Lore
Asher Chudnow
Dosia Matthews
Anteneh Crosbie
Raja Ndaki
Sawan Garde
Artillery
Scott Pearson
Tai Lum
Katie Choi
Nathaniel Remez
Kei Pleinnikul
Marcello Marca
Asnakech Crosbie
Mattia Santini
JQ Powers
Quincy Paul
Amanda Earl
Francisco Sebastião
Nathaniel Remez
Michael Shagalov
Natasha Earl
Audrey Sides
Veronika Selivanova
Nicholas Yurkevich
Sarah Golden
Kate Snyder
Jack Simensen
Adrian Ziesel
Sally Meeks
Luca Sportelli
Don Stoddard
Annie Stegall
Dao Wang
Esmé Tsirkas
Katharine Wu
Noah Wang
Karen Wiel
Vivian Zerkle
Joseph Warton
Steve Wiel
Cavalry Guards
Ella Grace Waytena
Meredith Page
Katherine Shagalov
Isabella Soo-Hoo
Esmé Tsirkas
Mila Wesley
Max Berenshtyen
Parker Daley
Iva Dixson
Mya Heard
Terence Leung
Raja Ndaki
Kei Pleinnikul
Johanna Sigurdardottir
Victor Volskiy
46 sfballet.org
Haruo Niyama
Davide Occhipinti
Alonso Olvera-González
Jessica Ousterhout
JQ Powers
David Preciado
Victor Prigent
ACT I/SCENE III
ACT II
Horsemen
Ladybugs, Butterflies,
Pages
Mother Ginger’s Buffoons
Gavin Abercrombie
and Dragonflies
Gavin Abercrombie
Sophia Aldrich
Angelin Carrant
Audrey Armacost
Angelin Carrant
Emma Gravel
Beau Chesivoir
Erica Bell
Devin Chan
Scarlett Hollenbeck
Ethan Chudnow
Alexandra Berenshtyen
Beau Chesivoir
Chloe Hu
Jimmy Coleman
Maria Bogdanova
Ethan Chudnow
Isabella Infosino
Eric da Silva
Megan Caber
Eric da Silva
Alexandra Karr
Hadriel Diniz Getulio
Isabella Castillo
Hadriel Diniz Getulio
Chloe Mussche
Maxfield Haynes
Sophia Cichanowicz
Maxfield Haynes
Lily Peta
JQ Powers
Annette Darren
Blake Kessler
Malia Peterson
Nathaniel Remez
Francesca Diaz
Daniel McCormick
Amelia Rakhlin-D’Almeida
Mattia Santini
Vitesse Disney
Haruo Niyama
Natalie Roy
Joseph Warton
Violetta Dossetter
Davide Occhipinti
Sofia Scalisi
Ashley DuBord
Alonso Olvera-González
Rowan Smark
Courtney Gunsteens
David Preciado
Chloe Treaner
Sofia Harper
Victor Prigent
Tatiana Von Bothmer
Annabelle Hustace
Nathaniel Remez
Karissa Yan
Gracie James-Hickey
Mattia Santini
Jasmine Jimison
Luca Sportelli
Amanda Jue
Joseph Warton
Celeste Lau
Jamie Lau
Isabella Marca
Carmela Mayo
Irenie Melin-Gompper
Zuzu Metzler
Flavia Morante
Charlotte Ogden Moore
Pemberley Olson
Madison Price
Sadie Rosenthal
Audrey Sides
Isabella Soo-Hoo
Amaliya Sypult
Diana Vakarchuk
Casy Vanden Berghe
Alexandra Veronese-Milin
Sophia Veronese-Milin
Emily Wagner
Anna Kate Walker
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
sfballet.org
47
san francisco ballet season sponsors
2014 NUTCRACKER
Lead Sponsors
The Herbert Family
The Swanson Foundation
Sponsors
Yurie and Carl Pascarella
Kathleen Scutchfield
The Smelick Family
2015 REPERTORY SEASON
PROGR AM 1
Serenade
Sponsor
BRAVO
RAkU
Sponsors
Chaomei Chen and Yu Wu
Mr. and Mrs. Alan Tai
Lambarena
Sponsor
Irv H. Lichtenwald and Stephen R. Ripple
ENCORE!
PROGR AM 2
Giselle
Lead Sponsor
Diane B. Wilsey
PROGR AM 3
The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude
Lead Sponsors
Jennifer Caldwell and John H. N. Fisher
Sponsors
Kathleen Grant, M.D. and Thomas Jackson, M.D.
Kacie and Michael Renc
San Francisco Ballet Allegro Circle
Variations for Two Couples
Sponsors
Kacie and Michael Renc
San Francisco Ballet Allegro Circle
Myles Thatcher World Premiere
Lead Sponsors
Alison and Michael Mauzé
Shelby and Frederick Gans
The Seiger Family Foundation
The Kingdom of the Shades from
La Bayadère, Act II
Sponsor
Mr. and Mrs. Alexander R. Mehran
PROGR AM 4
Dances at a Gathering
Major Sponsor
Donald F. Houghton
Hummingbird
Major Sponsors
Mrs. Suzy Kellems Dominik
Beth and Brian Grossman
48 sfballet.org
PROGR AM 5
Don Quixote
Lead Sponsor
Mr. and Mrs. James N. Sullivan
Sponsor
Delanie and Peter Read
2014-2015 TOURING
PROGR AM 6
Shostakovich Trilogy
Lead Sponsor
Rickard C. Barker
Major Sponsors
Teri and Andy Goodman
Joyce L. Stupski
Sponsor
Karen S. Bergman
Piano Concerto #1
Sponsor
Joan E. Roebuck
Bob Ross Foundation
PROGR AM 7
Yuri Possokhov World Premiere
Lead Sponsors
Kate and Bill Duhamel
Yurie and Carl Pascarella
Miles Archer Woodlief
The Four Temperaments
Sponsor
Larissa Roesch and Jason Crethar
PROGR AM 8
Romeo & Juliet
Lead Sponsors
Cecilia and Jim Herbert
San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary
SATURDAY NIGHT SUBSCRIPTION SERIES
Lucy and Fritz Jewett
Saturday Night Series
2015 OPENING NIGHT GALA
Les Etés de la Danse at the Châtelet Theater,
Paris, France—July 2014
Major Sponsors
Donald F. Houghton
Lucy Jewett
The Seiger Family Foundation
Miles Archer Woodlief
Sponsors
Elizabeth Pang Fullerton and
Richard Fullerton
Teri and Andy Goodman
Mr. and Mrs. James N. Sullivan
The following funds of the San Francisco
Ballet Endowment Foundation provide
permanent support for touring by
San Francisco Ballet:
Lead Underwriters
Osher Touring Fund
G. William Jewell Touring Fund
The Hellman Family Touring Fund
Major Underwriters
Frannie and Mort Fleishhacker Touring Fund
Stephen and Margaret Gill Family
Foundation Touring Fund
Teri and Andy Goodman Touring Fund
Pamela J. Joyner and Alfred J. Giuffrida
Touring Fund
Bob Ross Foundation Touring Fund
Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang Touring Fund
Underwriters
Davidson Bidwell-Waite and Edwin A. Waite
Touring Fund
Presenting Sponsor
Osterweis Capital Management
Glenn McCoy Touring Fund
Benefactor Dinner Sponsor
KPMG
Anne and Michelle Shonk Touring Fund
Patron Dinner Sponsor
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
After Party Sponsor
HSBC Private Bank
Cocktail Reception Sponsor
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Performance Sponsor
Donald F. Houghton
Prosecco Promenade Sponsor
Burberry
Invitation Sponsor
Pacific Union - Christie’s International
Real Estate
Phyllis W. Nelson Touring Fund
San Francisco Ballet’s performances are made possible in part by grants from Grants for the Arts, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation,
The James Irvine Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
William Hill Estate Winery ® and La Marca Prosecco® are the featured wine and sparkling wine of San Francisco Ballet.
Yamaha Pianos are the performance and rehearsal pianos of San Francisco Ballet and the School, and are provided by Piedmont Piano Company.
Nutcracker Media Sponsor
Co-Lead Sponsors of the San Francisco Ballet Center for Dance Education.
Major support for the Center for Dance Education is provided by the Flora Family Foundation and the Wells Fargo Foundation.
Generous support is provided by the Gap Foundation and the Zellerbach Family Foundation.
Major Support for Dance in Schools and Communities is provided by the Charles Henry Leach II Foundation.
A uniquely San Francisco Nutcracker.
Production Credits: “Nutcracker” by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Additional Children’s Rehearsal Assistants: Jeff Lyons, Damara Bennett and Kristi DeCaminada.
Assistant to the Lighting Designer: Lisa J. Pinkam. Costumes constructed by Barbara Matera, Ltd., New York, New York; Parsons-Meares Ltd., New York, New York;
Tricorne, Inc., New York, New York; Ann Beck Dance and Specialty Costumes, San Francisco, California; Seams Unlimited, Racine, Wisconsin and Paul Chang’s
Custom Tailor, Chicago, Illinois; Studio Rouge, New York, New York. Religious Sisters’ Habits constructed by Brother Anthony Mary Fidelis, OSF, and the Franciscans
of Divine Providence, Little Rock, Arkansas. Fabric dyeing by Gene Mignola, Inc., New York, New York and printing by Dye-Namix, Inc., New York, New York. Fabric
painting by Mary Macy, Margaret Peot, Charlotte Stahlbush-Haule, for Parsons- Meares, Ltd. Madame Le Cirque structure constructed by Jon Gellman Effects,
Jersey City, New Jersey. Dragon constructed by Marian Hose, New York, New York. Special thanks to the San Francisco Police Department. Masks, Millinery and
Head Dressing by Rodney Gordon, Inc., New York, New York; Lynne Mackey Studio, New York, New York and Arnold S. Levine, Inc., Theatrical Millinery and Crafts,
New York, New York. Wigs by Robin Church, Morgan Hills, California. Footwear by J.C. Theatrical, New York, New York; Capezio, New York, New York; Pluma,
Portland, Oregon and Celebrity Dance Shoes, Sun Valley, California. Assistants to Martin Pakledinaz: Janine McCabe, Courtney Logan, Matthew Pachtman, Shura
Pollatsek, Sydney Shannon, and Brian Bustos. Magic consultation by Marshall Magoon Magic, Menlo Park, California. Projection Programmer, Paul Vershbow. Scenic
construction and painting by San Francisco Ballet Carpentry and Scenic Departments, at the San Francisco Opera Scenic Studios. Susan Tuohy, San Francisco
Ballet Scenic Artist in Charge. Mannequin costumes constructed by Nina Parker, San Francisco, California. Nutcracker Doll constructed by Izquierdo Studio,
New York, New York. Hobby Horses constructed by Costume Armour, New York, New York. Fabergé Eggs constructed by R.A. Reed Productions, Portland, Oregon.
Arabian Lamp constructed by Kreysler & Associates, American Canyon, California.
sfballet.org
49
nutcracker under the dome
Westfield San Francisco Centre
Visitors Experience SF Ballet in 3-D
T
his holiday season, Nutcracker Under
the Dome—a 3-D multimedia experience
inspired by SF Ballet’s Nutcracker—
returns to Westfield San Francisco
Centre. Nutcracker Under the Dome will play
nightly starting at 5pm until mall closing through
December 31, under the iconic glass dome on
Level 4 of Westfield San Francisco Centre.
Conceived and produced by Obscura
Digital—a creative technology studio that
creates immersive, multi-sensory experiences
for public venues—Nutcracker Under the
Dome brings to life favorite sections of SF
Ballet’s holiday classic in a six-minute 3-D film,
projected onto the grand neoclassical Dome at
Westfield San Francisco Centre.
The SF Ballet Center for Dance Education
and the SF Ballet School will also participate in
a multitude of special events in conjunction with
the project, including the return of the popular
Sugar Plum Fairy Breakfast on December 20,
featuring a movement workshop for children
under 12, breakfast by La Boulange du Dome,
and a visit with Santa. Tickets for the Sugar
Plum Fairy Breakfast are $25.
See facing page for details.
WHO IS OBSCURA DIGITAL?
Obscura Digital previously created two works
for Westfield San Francisco Centre: the summer
illumination show Corazón Under the Dome
and the holiday show Illuminique Under the Dome.
Obscura has created groundbreaking multi-media
presentations at the Sydney Opera House
(at right), the Guggenheim Museum in New York,
and Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
50 sfballet.org
ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: SAN FRANCISCO BALLET SCHOOL STUDENT AT NUTCRACKER UNDER
THE DOME; SAN FRANCISCO BALLET NUTCRACKER UNDER THE DOME AT WESTFIELD SAN FRANCISCO
CENTRE (COURTESY OF OBSCURA DIGITAL); SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE (COURTESY OF OBSCURA DIGITAL).
For more info:
For more information about
Nutcracker Under the Dome, including special
appearances and photo opportunities with dancers,
Nutcracker story time, movement workshops,
and tickets to the Sugar Plum Fairy Breakfast
visit sfballet.org/domeshow.
ABOVE: SAN FRANCISCO BALLET NUTCRACKER UNDER THE DOME (© ERIK TOMASSON)
sfballet.org
51
interactive storybook app
Interactive Storybook brings the magic of
Nutcracker to fans around the world
T
he Nutcracker Interactive Storybook
is a living picture book that allows
children and their families to enjoy
a hands-on interactive Nutcracker
experience. Ballet fans of all ages can explore
many aspects of the holiday classic in a whole
new medium, while capturing the essence of
San Francisco Ballet’s unique production.
The Storybook, which debuted in 2013 on the
iPad, will be available for Android users this
holiday season.
Children’s media illustrator Kate
Garchinsky, who studied every aspect of the
ballet down to the details, found the process
“magical.” She drew inspiration from the
Victorian era, the time period in which SF
Ballet’s Nutcracker is set. “I looked at photos
from the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition,
posters, and advertisements, and I searched
for Victorian Christmas card images. I’ve
always been fascinated with turn-of-thecentury art and history, so the research was
especially rewarding.”
52 sfballet.org
Designed for children ages 6-10 and their
families, the Interactive Storybook features
Tchaikovsky’s famous Nutcracker score,
whimsical animations and pop-up information
pages featuring behind-the-scenes videos,
fun facts about ballet, Nutcracker, and
our uniquely San Francisco experience.
Garchinsky notes that interactive books are a
fairly new medium, and considers SF Ballet’s
app to be a “pioneer on the journey... The illustrations needed to be built in complete layers
for any possible animation, for this release and
for future updates, so the process was pretty
intense.” In all, the illustration process took
over six months.
Garchinsky then interfaced with internal
staff at SF Ballet as well as artists and
designers at Night Kitchen Interactive, a
multimedia design agency based in Philadelphia, to bring the project to life.
Since the Storybook’s release, dance
fans from such widespread locations as
Germany, Greece, the Czech Republic,
Download the SF Ballet Nutcracker Storybook App! To learn more and see a video preview, visit sfballet.org/nutcrackerstorybook
“ The BEST Nutcracker app! ★★★★★
Hands down. Beautiful,
elegant, captivating. The kids
request it every night.”
—Chevelin, iPad user
Kazakhstan, Norway, Japan, Guatemala,
Denmark, and Singapore—many of whom
will never have the opportunity to see our
production in person—have downloaded the app
and experienced our uniquely San Francisco
Nutcracker from the comfort of their homes.
Likewise, the app allows our local audiences to
better understand the plot of Nutcracker, and to
go behind the scenes to meet the dancers and
artists of SF Ballet.
Garchinsky says she is “grateful and proud to be
the author and illustrator of San Francisco
Ballet’s Nutcracker Interactive Storybook
app. Special thanks to everyone at the ballet
who chose me to represent your stunning,
unique performance in a living picture book
for children. The process was magical, like
bringing a mysterious toy to life.”
Available today
on the App Store!
NUTCRACKER INTERACTIVE BY THE HOUR
Between May and October 2013, artist Kate
Garchinsky spent approximately 1,980 hours
planning, sketching, and executing finished
art for SF Ballet’s Nutcracker Interactive
Storybook. She also enlisted three artist
peers to support her illustration process, who
executed another 200 hours amongst them.
LEFT, TOP AND INSETS: (©JAMES HOSKING); KATE GARCHINSKY (©CHRISTINA KIFFNEY); NUTCRACKER INTERACTIVE
STORYBOOK FOR IPAD ILLUSTRATIONS AND STORY BY KATE GARCHINSKY; APPLE, THE APPLE LOGO, AND IPAD ARE
TRADEMARKS OF APPLE, INC., REGISTERED IN THE U.S. AND OTHER COUNTRIES. APP STORE IS A SERVICE MARK OF APPLE, INC.
sfballet.org
53
an homage to san francisco
Helgi Tomasson’s Nutcracker is a tribute to the
history and culture of our “City by the Bay”
W
hen SF Ballet Artistic Director &
Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson
created this production of Nutcracker,
which debuted ten years ago, he knew
he wanted a production with which San Francisco
audiences could identify. “Placing the production in
Germany no longer worked for me,” Tomasson says.
“For San Franciscans, there was no identification with
mid-nineteenth century Germany.” He decided that the
best place to set his production was in early twentieth-century San Francisco. “The first American production of Nutcracker was staged by SF Ballet in 1944,”
says Tomasson, “so it seemed fitting to place it here.”
For Act I, Scenic Designer Michael Yeargan
recreated a bustling Victorian-era street approaching
the Stahlbaum’s house, with steps leading up to the
front door. Even the drawing room, with its Victorian
staircase and bay window, was based on photographs
and books published on the time period.
Tomasson’s source of inspiration for Clara’s magical
journey in Act II was the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition—a nine-month celebration that took
place in the area now known as the Marina district.
Today, the Palace of Fine Arts is a magnificent reminder
of what the 625-acre exposition looked like. Tomasson
says, “Why not use the concept of one of those
beautiful pavilions at the Pan-Pacific Exposition—in
a very loose way—to suggest the time period?”
Tomasson says that while the Exposition began
as the inspiration, “it went so far from reality that the
audience may not recognize it as such.” But the idea
54 sfballet.org
of a glass pavilion backdrop was the design impetus.
“The backdrop is much more a blank canvas,” he
says. For each divertissement, Yeargan created
scenery that reflects the international flavor of the
choreography. The result is a greater integration of
story, scenery, and choreography.
—Adapted from original text by Daryl Carr
TOP TO BOTTOM: 1915 PANAMA PACIFIC EXPOSITION (COURTESY SAN FRANCISCO HISTORY CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO
PUBLIC LIBRARY); PALACE OF FINE ARTS (COURTESY SAN FRANCISCO HISTORY CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY);
THE CONSERVATORY OF FLOWERS WELCOMED VISITORS TO THE 1915 PANAMA PACIFIC EXPOSITION
San Francisco Ballet
2015 Community
Matinees
Community Matinees are a fun and fascinating
program that allows students and teachers to learn
about the process of becoming a professional dancer
as well as the intricate details of putting a performance
on the War Memorial Opera House stage.
THU, FEB 5, 2015 11:30am – 12:45pm
Lambarena, plus other works
WED, MAR 25, 2015 11:30am – 12:45pm
Excerpts from Don Quixote
ABOVE: CMAT PERFORMANCE AT THE WAR MEMORIAL OPERA HOUSE;
TOP: VANESSA ZAHORIAN IN TOMASSON/POSSOKHOV’S DON QUIXOTE
(BOTH © ERIK TOMASSON)
ALL TICKETS ONLY $10!*
*A minimum order of 10 tickets is required to qualify
for the Community Matinee price.
To learn more and to order tickets,
visit sfballet.org/CMAT
Lead Sponsor of the 2015 Community Matinees
Co-Lead Sponsors of the San Francisco Ballet Center for Dance Education
Major support for the Center for Dance Education is provided by the Flora Family Foundation
and the Wells Fargo Foundation. Generous support is provided by the Gap Foundation and the
Zellerbach Family Foundation.
The Community Matinee Series is supported by the Gaia Fund of the
San Francisco Ballet Endowment Foundation.
san francisco ballet staff
HELGI TOMASSON, Artistic Director & Principal Choreographer
GLENN MCCOY, Executive Director
ARTISTIC
DEVELOPMENT
TICKET SERVICES
Ricardo Bustamante, Christopher Stowell,
Thomas W. Flynn, Director of Development
Jennifer Peterian, Box Office
Ballet Masters and Assistants
to the Artistic Director
Felipe Diaz, Betsy Erickson, Anita Paciotti,
Katita Waldo, Ballet Masters
Yuri Possokhov, Choreographer
in Residence
Jennifer Mewha, Associate Director
of Development
Fermin Nasol, Principal Gifts Officer
Sarah Malashock, Christensen Society
and Membership Manager
Julia Nottebohm, Special Events Manager
Caroline Giese, Artistic Administrator
Elizabeth Lani, Planned Giving Manager
Alan Takata-Villareal, Logistics Manager
Jim Sohm, Research Manager
Abby Masters, Assistant to
Pamela Sullivan, Major Gifts Officer
the Artistic Staff
OPERATIONS
Debra Bernard, General Manager
Lauren Chadwick, Company Manager
Juliette LeBlanc, Production Analyst
PRODUCTION
Christopher Dennis, Production Director
Chad Owens, Technical Coordinator
Jane Green, Stage Manager
Jessica Barker, Assistant Stage Manager
Nixon Bracisco, Master Carpenter
Kelly Corter Kelly, Master Electrician
Kenneth M. Ryan, Master of Properties
Kevin Kirby, Audio Engineer
John O'Donnell, Flyman
George Elvin, Wardrobe Manager
Emily Markoe, Membership Manager
Jill Lounibos, Grants Officer
Amy Crowson, Corporate Giving Officer
Jasmine Yep, Christensen Society Officer
Ruben Fonseca, Research and
Stewardship Associate
Ingrid Roman, Special Events Associate
Jonathan Levin, Development
Database Coordinator
Nicole Lugtu, Major Gifts Assistant
Sarah Horowitz, Individual Gifts Assistant
Lynn Noonan, Principal Gifts Consultant
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Mary Beth Smith, Director of Marketing
and Communications
Philip Mayard, Associate Director,
Advertising and Publications
Andrea Pelous, Head of Women's
Wardrobe
Betsy Lindsey, Associate Director,
Richard Battle, Make-Up and Wig
Supervisor
Kyra Jablonsky, Associate Director,
Melanie Birch, Wig and Hair Stylist
Sherri LeBlanc, Company Shoe
Administrator
MUSIC
Martin West, Music Director and
Principal Conductor
Mungunchimeg Buriad, Nina Pinzarrone,
Natal'ya Feygina, Company Pianists
Roy Malan, Concertmaster
Tracy Davis, Orchestra Personnel
Manager and Music Administrator
Ticket and Patron Services
Communications
Valerie Megas, Senior Manager,
Retail Operations
Mary Goto, Senior Manager,
Marketing and Sales
Thomas Weitz, Senior Manager,
Digital Marketing
April Johnston, Marketing and
Promotions Manager
Andrew Delaney, Web and Digital
Platforms Manager
Robert Hold, Graphic Designer
Matthew Naughtin, Music Librarian
Nannette Mickle, Group Sales
ADMINISTRATION
Lauren White, Communications Associate
Cecelia Beam, Human Resources Manager
James Hosking, Video Producer/Editor
Laura Simpson, Board Relations Manager
Erik Almlie, Media Asset Administrator
Maja Valusek, Human Resources and
Olivia Ramsay, Digital Engagement
Benefits Coordinator
Bonnie Fisk, Assistant to Senior
Executive Staff
56 sfballet.org
Representative
Associate
Deidre Kirk, Marketing and
Communications Coordinator
Manager/Treasurer
Mark Holleman, Sales and Service
Supervisor
Elena Ratto, Patron Services Specialist
David Clark, Box Office Supervisor
Michelle Hughes, Jericho Lindsey,
Jason Narin, Nick Valasco, Patricia Pearson,
Ticket Services Associates
FINANCE
Kim Ondreck Carim, Chief Financial
Officer
Natalie Quan, Controller
Valerie Ruban, Senior Accountant
Julianne Perry, Senior Accountant
Victoria Wilkins, Payroll Coordinator
Stephanie Golden, Staff Accountant
Casey Trujillo, Staff Accountant
FACILITIES
Nathan Brito, Acting Facilities Manager
Adrian Rodriguez, Facilities Coordinator
Ralph Baysac, LaeCharles T. Lawrence Jr.,
Todd Martin, Stanley Wong,
Facilities Assistants
Katharine Chambers, Nicole Drysdale,
Tamara de la Cruz, Receptionists
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Murray Bognovitz, Director of
Information Technology
Esther del Rosario, IT Operations and
Project Manager
Karen Irvin, Application Administrator
and Help Desk Coordinator
Josh Marshall, Web Administrator
Jiapeng Jiang, IT Specialist
SF Ballet School
SCHOOL PHYSICAL THERAPISTS
The artists employed by San Francisco Ballet
Chris Fitzsimons, School Physical Therapist
are members of the American Guild of Musical
Patrick Armand, Associate Director
Leslie Donohue, School Physical Therapist
Artists, AFL-CIO, the Union of professional
FACULTY
Center For Dance Education
Patrick Armand
Andrea Yannone, Interim Director of Education
Damara Bennett
Dina D. Toy, Education Office Manager
Kristi DeCaminada
Cecelia Beam, Adult Education Coordinator
Yuko Katsumi
Cynthia Pepper, Interim Dance in Schools and
Tina LeBlanc
Communities Supervisor
Helgi Tomasson, Director
Jeffrey Lyons
Rubén Martín Cintas, Lee R. Crews
Endowed Faculty Member
Parrish Maynard
Pollyana Ribeiro
Sofiane Sylve, Principal Guest Faculty
Joanna Berman, Guest Faculty
Pascal Molat, Guest Faculty
Brian Fisher, Contemporary Dance
Leonid Shagalov, Character Dance
Henry Berg, Conditioning
Jamie Narushchen, Music
Daniel Sullivan, Music
2014-15 VISITING GUEST INSTRUCTORS
Jacqueline Barrett, Yannick Boquin,
Monique Loudieres
PIANISTS
Ella Belilovskaya
Ritsuko Micky Kubo
Jamie Narushchen
Daniel Sullivan
Galina Umanskaya
Billy Wolfe
and, Emily Adams, Olga Blednova,
Julia Ganina, Lucy Hudson,
Eleanora Shevkhod, Sky Tan
Jamie Narushchen, School Pianist
Supervisor, Lee R. Crews Endowed Pianist
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
DANCE IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES
TEACHING ARTISTS
Alisa Clayton
Melanie Mitchell
Phoenicia Pettyjohn
Joti Singh
Maura Whelehan
DANCE IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES
ACCOMPANISTS
David Frazier
dancers, singers and staging personnel in the
United States.
The San Francisco Ballet Association is a
member of Dance/USA; American Arts Alliance;
the Greater San Francisco Chamber of
Commerce; and the San Francisco Convention
and Visitors Bureau.
Legal Services provided by Bingham McCutchen
LLP; Fallon, Bixby, Cheng & Lee; Fettmann,
Tolchin & Majors, PC; Epstein Becker & Green,
PC; Jackson & Hertogs; Farella Braun + Martel
LLP; and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.
Auditing services provided by Deloitte. Insurance
brokerage services provided by DeWitt Stern
of California Insurance Services.
The Centers for Sports and Dance Medicine at
Saint Francis Memorial Hospital are the official
Zeke Nealy
health care providers for San Francisco Ballet
Wade Peterson
School. Special thanks to Dr. James G. Garrick,
Bongo Sidibe
COMPANY PHYSICIANS
Richard Gibbs, M.D., Medical Supervisor
Dr. Susan Lewis, Dr. Jane Denton, Dr. Selina
Shah, Dr. Rémy Ardizzone, and Chris Corpus
for generously providing their services.
Rowan Paul, M.D, Primary Care Sports Medicine
Peter Callander, M.D., Keith Donatto, M.D.,
Supervising Orthopedists
Frederic Bost, M.D., Jon Dickinson, M.D.,
John Belzer, M.D., Orthopedic Advisors
to the Company
Michael Leslie, Company Physical Therapist
Karl Schmetz, Consulting Physical Therapist
Active Care
Lisa Giannone, Director, Physical Therapists
Leonard Stein, D.C., Chiropractic Care
Henry Berg, Rehabilitation Class Instructor
Michelle Zimmerman, Wellness Program
Manager
Andrea Yannone, Administrative Manager
Christina Gray Rutter, Student Services
Coordinator and Registrar
Katelyn Harris, Administrative Coordinator
Wendy Van Dyck, Trainee Program Coordinator
Elizabeth Roddy, Administrative Assistant
Tai Vogel, Temporary Social Media Librarian
Rob Chaitin, Residence Manager
Erin Kelly, Resident Assistant
Lauren Hamilton, Residence Desk Staff
sfballet.org
57
Get all of your holiday shopping done in one stop!
Visit the Ballet Shop, where you’ll find a spectacular assortment of nutcrackers;
ballet-themed ornaments, toys, and books; and beautiful jewelry and gift items for all ages .
Plus SF Ballet fans will love our branded tote bags, wallets, apparel, and more!
Located in the Opera House on the South Mezzanine level,
the Ballet Shop is open one hour before and after
performances and during intermission .
LEARN. GROW. DANCE.
San Francisco Ballet School
Under the leadership of Associate
Director Patrick Armand, San Francisco
Ballet School is the nation’s oldest
ballet school and the official school
of SF Ballet. The diverse curriculum,
grounded in classical technique, also
includes classes in contemporary
dance, corps de ballet, music, conditioning/floor barre, and character dance.
The School’s studios are located in the same building
as SF Ballet, giving students daily opportunities to
observe Company classes and rehearsals. The School
plays a vital role in SF Ballet’s story ballet productions,
providing students the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
to perform in such productions as Nutcracker, Giselle,
and Romeo & Juliet.
pre-ballet
AGES 5 - 7 ( for 2015-16 school year)
ALL PHOTOS SAN FRANCISCO BALLET SCHOOL (© ERIK TOMASSON)
• Registration begins in April 1, 2015
• No audition required
• Admissions are accepted on a first
come, first served basis
• Register online for a FREE trial class
on March 29.
auditions for children
AGES 8 - 11 ( for 2015-16 school year)
• Sat, May 30, 2015
san francisco auditions
for summer session
AGES 12 - 18
• Sun, Jan 25, 2015
• Mon, Feb 16, 2015
ALL PHOTOS SAN FRANCISCO BALLET SCHOOL (© ERIK TOMASSON)
For complete audition information and
to register visit: school.sfballet.org
San Francisco Ballet School is the official school of San Francisco Ballet. For more
information call +1.415.865.6700 or email school@sfballet.org. Freed of London is
the Official Sponsor of San Francisco Ballet School’s 2015 Audition Tour.
Metamorphosis, an Hermès story
« Zebra Pegasus »
silk twill scarf
San Francisco
125 Grant Avenue
(415) 391-7200
Hermes.com