Performance scholar Rebecca Groves, formerly Dramaturg of the Ballett Frankfurt and Executive Director of the Forsythe Foundation, discusses The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude and how it takes up ballet as its subject matter — empowering dancers, developing the tradition in unexpected directions, and engaging audiences in new ways.

Soloist Dores André discusses her debut as Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis, and dancing other roles in Tomasson’s Giselle (Solo Wili, pas de cinq, flying wili). She also talks about her early training in Spain with Lola de Avila (Assistant to Mr. Tomasson for Giselle), her approach to different roles throughout the repertory season, and her interest in sewing and swimming.

Dance Educator Mary Wood interviews Corps de Ballet Member and Flying Wili Lauren Parrott.

Former SFB principal dancer Joanna Berman reminisces about interpreting the role of Giselle, including her feelings about the challenges to be found in the 2 contrasting acts. She reveals how poignant she found the experience of performing this role for her farewell performance. Principal dancer Frances Chung discusses performing the role for the first time this season, and how she drew on her previous experience of dancing other roles in the ballet as well as observing the interpretations of other principals. She describes the Romantic style and how assuming the traditional poses informs the development of the character.

Tiit discusses dancing both male principal roles in Balanchine’s Serenade; some of the differences between Serenade and another Balanchine ballet in this season’s repertory, The Four Temperaments; and how his approach to the role of Albrecht in Giselle has changed as he has matured. The conversation includes what earning a bachelor’s degree has meant to him as an artist, his recent teaching experience and what he gains from it in his own classroom work, and how he balances the demands of work and family.

Joseph Walsh, promoted from Soloist to Principal Artist within his first year with the Company, introduces himself to the San Francisco audience. He recounts his early training, and the successful beginnings of his career with the Houston Ballet. He describes with enthusiasm his response to the challenge of a faster pace at SFB, starting with the excitement of the 2014 residency at Les Été de la danse in Paris.

This season we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Val Caniparoli’s joyous audience favorite, Lambarena. Dance educator Mary Wood discusses the making of Lambarena with Caniparoli, Ballet Master Betsy Erickson, and African dance master Naomi Diouf.

Rubén Martín Cintas discusses his retirement as a dancer and reflects on highlights of his career. Ruben also talks about his new career as a ballet teacher with the San Francisco Ballet School.

Luke Willis, a member of the corps de ballet since 2007, gives a passionate description of the roles he has performed and his enthusiasm for taking part in the creative process of choreography. He offers a lively insight into being part of the ensemble in the final movement of Balanchine’s Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet, and then speaks eloquently about performing Robbins’ Glass Pieces, the last ballet he will perform at SFB. He concludes by recounting his plans for training in film production, following his departure at the end of the 2014 season.