Musings on ballet, classical music, the violin, and life
Musings of a former ballet dancer who’s returned, years later, to the studio as a student.
It’s February 2020, and you know what that means? The Classical Girl has turned seven! The Classical Girl, as longtime readers might know, was a concept I’d created on the eve of 2013. A New Year’s resolution of sorts. My ballet novels were long completed, out being shopped (or already killed on the editorial-board table), … Read more
At last the San Francisco Ballet has returned to the stage at the War Memorial Opera House, commencing with their 75th anniversary performance of Nutcracker, North America’s first full-length production, a fact we SFB patrons are mighty proud of. The Nutcracker run has finished, alas, and as we burst into the New Year, my eye is now … Read more
All right, a show of hands: who’s seen the 1832 ballet, La Sylphide? {{Looks around}} Yup. I’m not surprised. And for the record, I didn’t raise my hand either. But its importance came to mind last week, as I was researching for a Top 10 Classical Ballets list and found myself indecisive about the … Read more
Smuin Contemporary Ballet has returned to the San Francisco stage, launching its 26th season with Dance Series 01. Artistic director Celia Fushille continues to honor the principles of late founder Michael Smuin with classical-based contemporary that pulses with energy, drama and a generous dollop of the eclectic. Case in point: cowboy boots and not pointe shoes … Read more
It’s back-to-school season for the kids, and no better time for San Francisco choreographer Alyssa Mitchel to present the question, “How do we learn?” in her one-hour dance work, The Classroom, which premieres September 7th and 8th in San Francisco at ODC’s Studio B. Each of the work’s sections, with irresistible titles like “Frustration,” “Defining Intelligence” and … Read more