Reflecting on my first season with SFB…
When I was 14 years old I attended my very first summer program with San Francisco Ballet School, and ever since then I knew that one day I would dance with this beautiful company. At 16, I came to the San Francisco Ballet School for the year-round program and had many wonderful experiences. It was the first time I stepped onto the opera house stage with the company in both Nutcracker and Giselle. I performed the leading role for the school in John Neumeier’s “Yondering” for the 75th anniversary gala, and I received wonderful training throughout the year that helped shape me during my final days in school.
At the end of my year with the San Francisco Ballet School I chose to join John Neumeier’s Hamburg Ballet in Germany. I spent one year there and am forever grateful for everything they gave me. John, his ballets, his staff, and his dancers have forever shaped who I am as an artist.
Now here I am, writing to you before the start of my second season with San Francisco Ballet! I officially joined in July 2009 and had an incredible first season with the company.
I flew to San Francisco the day after Hamburg ballet had its final performance. I allowed myself to rest for one day in order to recover from the jet lag, and I had my first day as a company member with SFB the next morning. It was a very easy transition because for my first two weeks with SFB it felt as though I had never left Hamburg - John Neumier, Kevin Haigen, Leslie McBeth, Niurka Moredo, and Lloyd Riggins were all in San Francisco to set “The Little Mermaid”. It was terrific because it felt as though everyone from Hamburg came with me! I had also done many performances of “The Little Mermaid” with Hamburg Ballet so I felt very comfortable with the ballet as well. I really couldn’t have asked for a better transition.
While I would love to go into detail about all of my experiences during my first year with SFB I’m sure you all do not want to read a novel so I will do my best to sum things up.
My first year was filled with some marvelous moments and I am so grateful for all of them. From the “off season” rehearsals, to the tour in China, as well as the entire season– even up until the very last day! There are countless moments that I will never forget. I’m getting extremely excited for my second season to start on July 5th and I plan to write much more this following year so keep an eye out for more blog entries!
My First Nutcracker with San Francisco Ballet
I survived – I made it through my first Nutcracker with the San Francisco Ballet! While I have been participating in productions of “The Nutcracker” since I was seven years old, this was my first full run as a company member in an American Company. San Francisco Ballet puts on 31 shows of this holiday tradition and I got the chance to perform in almost all of them. While I did some roles more than others, I was very happy with the variety of parts and opportunities I received. My roles this year included party parent, maid, ballerina doll, snow, flowers, and Spanish.
Nutcracker is a tradition that is filled with opportunities. There are opportunities for the dancers, for the school, as well as for the audience. I have heard countless stories of little girls and boys seeing “The Nutcracker” as their first ballet and having dreams planted in their heads after that special show. Little boys go home wanting to be the prince, or maybe the rat king, and little girls dream of becoming the next sugar plum fairy. Knowing that I had the opportunity to influence a young child was one of the most important things that kept my spirits high during all 31 shows. As a performing artist, I have the opportunity to influence many people, young and old, and that is something that I try to never forget.
San Francisco Ballet is jumping into the world of new media
I’m very excited to share a new section of San Francisco Ballet’s website that is dedicated strictly to new media!
http://www.sfballet.org/interact/index.asp
I believe that new media is a wonderful way for the ballet world to connect and I’m very happy to be part of a company that is exploring everything new media has to offer. Within this new section you can find videos, pictures, blogs, podcasts, and more. I would definitely suggest you check it out!
San Francisco Open Your Golden Gate
During my most recent move I felt it was necessary to step back from things for a little while, which is why you haven’t heard from me in a very long time. I’ve always enjoyed writing, not only to connect to the audience and other dancers but also for myself; I’m finally ready to start that again.
Life has brought me back to San Francisco and I am currently corps de ballet with the San Francisco Ballet. My year in Hamburg was an incredible adventure and I learned more about ballet, life, and myself than I ever could have imagined. John Neumeier gave me a gift and I will never be able to thank him enough for that. I have many reasons for coming back to San Francisco and I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to continue my career with San Francisco Ballet. Hamburg Ballet is one of the most beautiful companies I have ever seen, and I feel so blessed for the year I had with them. I hope to work with John again soon.
Le Sacre du Printemps (Post 1 of 2)
For the past few weeks Hamburg Ballet has been working diligently on Nijinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps, or The Rite of Spring as it is usually referred to in English. It is an extraordinary, groundbreaking ballet that was created in 1913 by Vaslav Nijinsky and reconstructed by Millicent Hodson and Kenneth Archer in 1987.
The dance, music, and history that goes along with Sacre was so groundbreaking, especially for 1913, and I would love to write more about it. Unfortunately, at this very moment I don’t have enough time but I plan on writing a follow up post with more information very soon.
This past Sunday, June 28th, we had a wonderful premiere and I wanted to share a few pictures with you. Tonight we will have another show and then a final one for this season on July 11th. For more information on the performances check out www.hamburgballett.de
For now, here are just are a couple of pictures taken before the premiere last Sunday.
AIDS Walk - San Francisco
Please click the link at the bottom of this e-mail and sponsor me for AIDS Walk San Francisco!
For 22 years, AIDS Walk San Francisco has evoked a powerful outpouring of public support. This year, please join me in making a meaningful difference in the lives of people struggling with HIV and AIDS.
In this year when clients need so much and resources are tighter, I am asking you to reach deeply into your heart and consider making a gift to help cover for those who are unable to give this year. I am set on surpassing my goal this year—Please sponsor me today by clicking the link below to visit my AIDS Walk fundraising Web page! The website is secure and all donations are 100% tax deductible.
If you prefer to write a check donation, please make it out to “AIDS Walk San Francisco” and mail it the address below—including my name along with the check. Be sure to let me know that you have made the donation so I can properly thank you for your support! Mailing address: AIDS Walk San Francisco, P.O. Box 193920, San Francisco, CA 94119-3920
The fight against AIDS is not over! Did you know…
• Every 9 ½ minutes, someone in the U.S. is infected with HIV?
• Nationally, 1 out of every 5 people infected with HIV don’t know it?
• There are over 25,000 people currently living with HIV in San Francisco?
The San Francisco AIDS Foundation has set new, bold and aggressive goals to improve HIV prevention in the Bay Area and help the rest of the country—and the world—learn from their example. The Foundation’s comprehensive array of services, advocacy and outreach ensure that individuals get tested, know how to prevent infection, and that HIV-positive people receive the treatment they need.
The AIDS Walk is our community’s single most powerful and enduring response to the AIDS epidemic. Thank you in advance for being as generous as you can and for joining me in this important cause!
Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support AIDS Walk San Francisco
The Dance Community Needs Your Help
Help save this beautiful company before it is too late!
As we all know money and businesses from every sector have been experiencing difficult times recently. Unfortunately the ballet world is no exception to this fact. I want to bring to your attention an issue that is very important to me personally; Oregon Ballet Theatre needs your help. If we all don’t pull together and help this company it will have to close it’s doors. Not only do I have close friends in this company, but it is also a company that the ballet world cannot afford to loose. I urge you to take action on this issue. If you can donate any amount please do! ( Click here for information on how to donate to OBT)
As you see from the poster above they will also be holding a benefit performance.
Here are a few links with more information on the company as well as the current issue:
http://www.obt.org/news_links/features/5-27-09_Oregonian_onthebrink.html
Taking Advantage of the Web
These days the Internet is making the world more connected than ever before. Throughout my life I have lived in many different places so the Internet has always been an important way for me to keep in touch with close friends. Recently though, I decided to push my use of the Internet a little bit farther. Now I have a facebook page, a twitter (both private and public), and my own blog site. Don’t worry, the winger will still be the first place I put my blogs! If you are interested in following me in more places than just thewinger I have posted the information and websites below.
I send a big thanks to the World Wide Web for making the world a little bit more connected.
I hope one day soon I will find a way to use the connections I make through the internet for even more, one step at a time.
San Francisco Ballet School’s 2009 Student Showcase
Tonight San Francisco Ballet School with perform the first of three shows for the 2009 Student Showcase. If you are anywhere near the bay area I urge you go! All performances will be at the Novellus Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
Please visit the San Francisco Ballet Website for more information.
SF Ballet School Students in Minkus Suite at the 2008 Student Showcase (© Erik Tomasson)
Playing For Change - Can art really change the world?
I’ve just stumbled upon an absolutely wonderful website for a movement called “Playing for Change”. The idea of the movement is simple, yet powerful.
“Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race. And with this truth firmly fixed in our minds, we set out to share it with the world.”
As I watched their videos it reminded me how powerful the arts can be. One of the musicians speaks about how music can be a time for meditation and peace, I think it is exactly the same with dance. In today’s world it is easy to become lost in frivolous and unnecessary things, but it truly is time for change. I have been doing some studying of the teachings by Eckhart Tolle, of Buddhism, and at the moment I’m reading a book by the current Dalai Lama. I have finally felt that peace has entered my life and every moment is truly a gift. Dance is my form of meditation and through it I have found my own peace. The world around us seems to be filled with things that are falling apart, everything from our economy to the planet we live on. These outer problems are only a reflection of the inner conflicts so many of us feel day to day, but there is a way to find enlightenment and peace. During these times we must not forget how extremely powerful the arts can be to the human race. Dance, music, and many other art forms can bring a stillness and peace where we would least expect it. We can’t underestimate the importance and power of the arts at anytime, but especially not during the hard times. The way this movement is using music is a reminder that through art we all have the power to unite and spread peace.
http://www.playingforchange.com/
