In honor of Helgi Tomasson, San Francisco Ballet’s Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer who, after 37 years, will retire following the Company’s 2022 Season, SF Ballet will host a one-night-only celebratory event on Sunday, April 24, 5:30 pm.
Chaired by Yurie Pascarella with Co-Chairs Sunnie Evers, Christopher Wheeldon, and Akiko Yamazaki, and Honorary Chair Diane B. Wilsey, Helgi Tomasson: A Celebration will showcase a handpicked selection from the more than 50 ballets choreographed by Tomasson throughout his career with the Company. The program will include:
Chaconne for Piano and Two Dancers (1999, Handel/Tomasson)
Excerpts from Blue Rose (2006, Kats-Chernin/Tomasson)
Concerto Grosso (2003, Geminiani after Corelli/Tomasson)
Pas de Deux from The Fifth Season (2006, Jenkins/Tomasson)
Two Bits (1998, Kernis/Tomasson)
Harmony (2022, Rameau/Tomasson)
This will be followed by a dinner and cocktail reception for select ticketholders; more information about ticketing and event benefits is available online. This celebration will be complemented by a forthcoming celebratory event in New York City this May.
Attendees will include former and current dancers from San Francisco Ballet, as well as other ballet luminaries including:
Patrick Armand, Director of SF Ballet School
Lola de Avila, former Associate Director of SF Ballet School
Bonita Borne, former NYC Ballet dancer and former Ballet Master for SF Ballet
Margaret Jenkins, choreographer and founder of Margaret Jenkins Dance Company
Edwaard Liang, choreographer and Artistic Director of BalletMet
Kay Mazzo, former NYC Ballet dancer
Kevin McKenzie, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre
Gennadi Nedvigin*, Artistic Director of Atlanta Ballet
John Neumeier, Director and Chief Choreographer of Hamburg Ballet
Mikko Nissinen*, Artistic Director of Boston Ballet
Yuri Possokhov*, SF Ballet Choreographer-in-Residence
Danielle Rowe, choreographer
Dwight Rhoden, Founding Artistic Director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Bruce Sansom, former Ballet Master for SF Ballet
Stanton Welch, Artistic Director of Houston Ballet
Martin West, Music Director and Principal Conductor of SF Ballet
Ashley Wheater*, Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet and former Ballet Master for SF Ballet