Jennifer and Christopher discuss the role of the production director in the day-to-day as well as in the process of remounting a large-scale ballet such as Swan Lake. They discuss how changes may be made to a production for artistic reasons or due to advances in technology.

Jennifer and Christopher discuss the role of the production director in the day-to-day as well as in the process of remounting a large-scale ballet such as Swan Lake. They discuss how changes may be made to a production for artistic reasons or due to advances in technology.

Principal Dancer Luke Ingham discusses his professional path from his native Australia to the San Francisco Ballet stage; making his debut as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake; the personal rewards of dancing full-length classical ballets; how he got started in ballet; and his early training and the particulars of partnering.

Principal Dancer Luke Ingham discusses his professional path from his native Australia to the San Francisco Ballet stage; making his debut as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake; the personal rewards of dancing full-length classical ballets; how he got started in ballet; and his early training and the particulars of partnering.

Rubén Martin Cintas, former Principal Dancer now Principal Character Dancer and SF Ballet School faculty member, joined by Soloist Sasha De Sola, each speak about the importance of a classical foundation which prepares a dancer’s body to perform all styles. They elaborate on how performing the classic ballets, such as Swan Lake, both trains and maintains the dancers’ technique and strength. During a slide review of first the early history and then the current production, Rubén and Sasha comment on the fairy tale elements of the story, classical mime as a means of story-telling, and the importances of the inclusion of the national dances.

Rubén Martin Cintas, former Principal Dancer now Principal Character Dancer and SF Ballet School faculty member, joined by Soloist Sasha De Sola, each speak about the importance of a classical foundation which prepares a dancer’s body to perform all styles. They elaborate on how performing the classic ballets, such as Swan Lake, both trains and maintains the dancers’ technique and strength. During a slide review of first the early history and then the current production, Rubén and Sasha comment on the fairy tale elements of the story, classical mime as a means of story-telling, and the importances of the inclusion of the national dances.

German violinist Cordula Merks is the new concertmaster of the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, and she started her tenure with the orchestra with the December 2015 Nutcracker performances. Andi and Cordula discussed her path to the SFB Orchestra and her role as concertmaster. We explored the music of the 2016 repertory season, focusing on Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.

German violinist Cordula Merks is the new concertmaster of the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, and she started her tenure with the orchestra with the December 2015 Nutcracker performances. Andi and Cordula discussed her path to the SFB Orchestra and her role as concertmaster. We explored the music of the 2016 repertory season, focusing on Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.

Visiting Scholar, Debra H. Sowell, PhD, offers a lively description of America’s first full-length Swan Lake, produced by the San Francisco Ballet in 1940, and choreographed by Artistic Director, Willam Christensen. She begins by describing the role of a dance historian, and references the interviews she conducted in preparing her book, The Christensen Brothers, An American Dance Epic, the definitive biography of the three brothers, Willam, Harold, and Lew.

Visiting Scholar, Debra H. Sowell, PhD, offers a lively description of America’s first full-length Swan Lake, produced by the San Francisco Ballet in 1940, and choreographed by Artistic Director, Willam Christensen. She begins by describing the role of a dance historian, and references the interviews she conducted in preparing her book, The Christensen Brothers, An American Dance Epic, the definitive biography of the three brothers, Willam, Harold, and Lew.