San Francisco Ballet - To The Pointe

Get a quick overview of George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream: hear about the ballet’s creation in 1960s New York, revisit the story to figure out which dancer is Hermia and which one is Helena, and find out what to look for in this magical and mystical ballet!

All You Need to Know About Swan Lake Before You Go!

Swan Lake may be the most iconic ballet in history. But despite its success today, the creation of Swan Lake in 19th-century Russia was far from smooth sailing. For one, Tchaikovsky bristled at the idea of being labeled a “ballet specialist” like Ludwig Minkus, who would compose bars of music to spec: 8 bars of “happy” music for an entrance, or 16 bars of “dramatic” music for a finale, depending on the choreographer’s needs. Plus, the ballet’s premiere in Moscow was deemed a critical failure. Among all the challenges associated with its debut, how did this ballet find its wings and soar to success?

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Header Photo: San Francisco Ballet backstage during a performance of Tomasson’s Swan Lake // © Erik Tomasson

All You Need To Know About Program 6 Before You Go!

Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella is part of SF Ballet’s 2023 Repertory Season. It will be performed in Program 6, from Mar 31–Apr 8, 2023.

Join Jennie Scholick, PhD for a quick overview of Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella©. Hear about the ballet’s creation, both in Soviet Russia and in San Francisco, revisit the story, and find out what to look for in this delightfully charming ballet!

Header Image: Frances Chung and Joseph Walsh in Wheeldon’s Cinderella // © Erik Tomasson

All You Need to Know About Romeo & Juliet Before You Go

Ah, yes: star-crossed lovers, show-stopping swordsmanship, and a tragic ending for the ages. On the surface, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet seems like an easy fit for the balletic stage. But the conception of this now-classic ballet came with a host of challenges for its composer, Sergei Prokofiev. In this episode of To The Pointe, learn about the USSR’s influence on the original ballet and how it’s morphed over time, including in 1994, when Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson put his own spin on this iconic love story.

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Header Photo: Misa Kuranaga and Angelo Greco in Tomasson’s Romeo & Juliet // © Erik Tomasson

All You Need to Know About Nutcracker Before You Go!

Join Jennie Scholick, PhD for a deep dive into Nutcracker. Learn about this iconic ballet’s history, story, and what to look for.

Like what you heard? Subscribe to our Meet the Artist podcast on Apple Podcasts to access archived episodes and have new ones delivered straight to your devices!

Header Image: San Francisco Ballet in Tomasson’s Nutcracker // © Erik Tomasson

All You Need to Know About Program 05 Before You Watch

Program 05 includes three ballets made expressly for San Francisco Ballet dancers: Helgi Tomasson’s 7 for Eight, Cathy Marston’s Snowblind, and David Dawson’s Anima Animus. In this episode of To The Pointe, learn about the job of a principal choreographer, hear from Cathy Marston and Principal Dancer Sarah Van Patten in their own words about creating Zeena in Snowblind, and discover more about the gender role play on display in Dawson’s Anima Animus.

Like what you heard? Subscribe to our Meet the Artist podcast on Apple Podcasts to access archived episodes and have new ones delivered straight to your devices!

Header Photo: San Francisco Ballet in Marston’s Snowblind // © Erik Tomasson

All You Need to Know About Jewels Before You Watch

George Balanchine’s Jewels comprises three ballets—Rubies, Emeralds, and Diamonds—that evoke the styles and moods of the United States, France, and Russia, respectively. Get to know a bit about Jewels, its creation in 1967, and what to look for in each ballet before this dazzling classic hits the screen during SF Ballet’s 2021 Digital Season.

Like what you heard? Subscribe to our Meet the Artist podcast on Apple Podcasts to access archived episodes and have new ones delivered straight to your devices!

Header Photo: Sasha Mukhamedov and Aaron Robison in Balanchine’s Emeralds // Choreography by George Balanchine © The Balanchine Trust; Photo © Erik Tomasson

All You Need to Know About Program 03 Before You Watch

Get a quick overview of the three ballets that make up Program 03: Ratmansky’s Symphony #9, an abstract portrait of Shostakovich; Danielle Rowe’s Wooden Dimes, a world premiere created during the COVID-19 pandemic set in the roaring ’20s; and Yuri Possokhov’s Swimmer, which turns John Cheever’s short story into a psychedelic tour of American cultural life.

Alexei Ratmansky’s Symphony #9, Danielle Rowe’s Wooden Dimes world premiere, and Yuri Possokhov’s Swimmer were part of Program 03, streamed March 04–24, on SF Ballet’s 2021 Digital Season.

Header Photo: Sarah Van Patten in Rowe’s Wooden Dimes // © San Francisco Ballet

All You Need to Know About the 2021 Digital Season Before You Watch!

If To The Pointe is like a mini audio program note, this episode is like a mini-mini program note. Get a quick overview of the entire 2021 Season, and hear from choreographer Danielle Rowe and Artistic Director & Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson in their own words about their works. Tune in to later episodes for deeper dives into each program!

Check out the 2021 season

Header Image: Sarah Van Patten in Rowe’s Wooden Dimes // © Lindsay Gauthier