Rachel Howard, a prominent dance critic and Bay Area freelance writer, told readers of the San Francisco Chronicle that “history came to life at San Francisco Ballet on Tuesday, March 15, for Program Four — and that included the history in the making of our moment.”
She notes that the the end of “The Seasons,” a co-commission with American Ballet Theatre long delayed in its premiere here due to the pandemic, choreographer Alexei Ratmansky took a bow:
“Born in Russia but naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 2016, Ratmansky lived in Kyiv, Ukraine, as a young boy and began his dance career at the Ukrainian National Ballet; his family is still in Ukraine. He was in Moscow creating a new ballet for the Bolshoi when Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, and he immediately left. All last week he was in San Francisco working with the Ballet, returning to a supportive artistic home. Bounding onstage Tuesday, Ratmansky seemed exultant as he applauded the dancers. Then he drew from his blazer a large blue and yellow Ukrainian flag, beaming in defiant energy. The audience roared in support.”