SAN FRANCISCO BALLET ON THEIR TOES FOR 76TH SEASON

The San Francisco Ballet danced its way into its 76th repertory season on January 21, 2009 with a black-tie evening of “Russian Treasures.”

America’s oldest professional ballet company, headed by Artist Director Helgi Tomasson, gave an incredible world-class performance at SF’s War Memorial Opera House on Van Ness Avenue.

Tomasson was once a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. Thus Tarantella, a piece by George Balanchine, the iconic Russian choreographer and late director of the New York City Ballet, seemed a natural starter for the program, which also featured Christopher Wheeldon’s Polyphonia, Tchaikovsky’s Pas de Deux from Swan Lake, and Tomasson’s Confidencias.

After intermission, the world premiere of Raymonda Pas de Deux, Forsythe’s Pas de Deux from Le Corsaire, and Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes completed the adventurous program.

Many of SFB’s top dancers performed, including Frances Chung, Daniel Deivison-Oliveira, Katita Waldo, Ivan Popov, Tina LeBlanc, Nicolas Blanc, Yuan Yuan Tan, Tiit Helimets, Maria Kochetkova, Joan Boada, Sofiane Sylve, Vanessa Zahorian, and Taras Domitro.

Four black-tie gala fundraising dinners preceded the performance. They began promptly at 5 pm with a cocktail hour across the street from the Opera House at City Hall, the grand Beaux-Arts historic landmark used for so many social, political and cultural occasions.

This year, the Auxiliary’s Gala Chair was Jane Mudge. Gala Dinner Chair Cheri Spolin and Décor Chair Melissa Barber arranged for Event Planner J. Riccardo Benavides of Ideas to create the ambience of a formal palace dining hall, inspired by the rich jewel tones of Fabergé eggs and using tapestry linens in mustard, raspberry, and amber.

To maximize fundraising and minimize expenses, this year the Encore!, the social and networking group for young professionals, held their themed ICONic Imperial dinner at City Hall rather than Davies Symphony Hall as usual. Taking over the Mezzanine, they had the best view, overlooking the entire scene below.

Everyone enjoyed the fact that the entire “ballet family” was able to celebrate under one dome. Encore! Event Chair was Erin Glenn, Dinner Co-chairs were Blanca Aguirre and Maggie Stack King, and Décor Co-Chairs were Paula Elmore and Rene Rodman.

McCall’s catered all four dinners and everyone raved about the filet mignon dinner followed by a luscious dessert, a dark chocolate Faberge Egg Cake with hazelnut mousse and fresh berries.

On an otherwise perfect evening, the only glitch was the weather. The day before was sunny and in the upper 60’s, but on Gala night the temperature dropped to 64 and it poured.

But San Franciscans are troupers! The ladies just simply hiked up those long gowns to cross the street to the ballet performance.

Thanks goes to Pamela Joyner and her husband Alfred Giuffrida, who hosted both the Grand Benefactor’s and Benefactors’ parties, while Mr. and Mrs. John Shuhda hosted the Patrons’ event.

By the way, Ms. Joyner was also Co-Chair, together with Effie and Robert Fribourg, and Chelsea Clinton as one of the young patron chairs, for the Winter Ball of the School of American Ballet in Manhattan that took place just this past week.

In these difficult times, it’s especially important to thank the generous sponsors.

In this case, the Lead Sponsor was The US Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management; the Patron Dinner Sponsor was KPMG; the Encore! Sponsor was LECG Corporation; the Media Sponsors were Nob Hill Gazette, Town and Country, and RedCarpetSF.com, and Sotheby’s International Realty underwrote the invitations and programs.

After the performances, the energetic members of the crowded headed back to City hall where Pride and Joy, Discotheque with Pure Energy, and the Luna Nova Quartet entertained at the Post Party until 1 a.m.

Guests had their choice of three venues set up just for the evening – the “Pavlova Lounge,” the “Bolshoi Supper Club” or the “Kiev Lounge,” all so upbeat it was difficult to choose among them.

McCall’s caterers offered sweets and zakuski (Russian hors d’oeuvres) that fueled the dancing crowds. Sponsored by JPMorgan, the post-party with its open bars and free-flowing libations seemed a bargain at $125 a pop, and it was open to the public—an oh-so-clever way to entice a young crowd of prospective ballet supporters.

So support your local ballet company. It showed us there is still fun to be had in these recessionary times.

 

Photographs by Drew Altizer and Erik Tomasson.