On January 14, 2021, San Francisco Ballet will host its first ever Virtual Benefit – Leap Into the New Year which includes a gala to kick off the company’s 88th season – a digital one this year. The evening will be held online via Socio and hosted by San Francisco Ballet Soloist Madison Keeler.
Proceeds from Leap Into the New Year will benefit a wide range of SF Ballet artistic initiatives, including new works, accessible digital content, scholarships and financial aid programs for San Francisco Ballet School students, and community education programs for youth, families, and seniors.
The event begins at 6 pm with access to private virtual tables; a wine education session with the event’s wine sponsor, Rodney Strong Vineyards; and behind-the-scenes content from rehearsals, followed by a 7 pm performance.
Ticket holders at the Artistic Director, Principal, Producer, and Soloist levels will enjoy VIP programming, including the pas de deux from William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, rehearsed by Forsythe on Soloist Sasha Mukhamedov and Principal Dancer Aaron Robison, and the White Swan Pas De Deux from Helgi Tomasson’s Swan Lake performed by Nikisha Fogo and Julian MacKay, San Francisco Ballet’s two new principal dancers.
Under the direction of Music Director Martin West, San Francisco Ballet Orchestra recorded music for the event using approved safety protocols at Skywalker Studios, 25th Street Recording, and the SF Conservatory of Music, which was produced, engineered, and mastered by Leslie Ann Jones.
The Gala features works curated by company Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson.
Excerpt from new work
by Helgi Tomasson
JULIA ROWE, LEILI RACKOW, BIANCA TEIXERIA, NATASHA SHEEHAN
DIEGO CRUZ, LUCAS ERNI, LUCA FERRÒ, LLEYTON HO
Dedicated To…
by Yuri Possokhov
YUAN YUAN TAN
Excerpt from Wooden Dimes
by Danielle Rowe
LUKE INGHAM
DORES ANDRÉ
MAX CAUTHORN
Pas de Deux from Coppélia
by Arthur Saint-Léon
MISA KURANAGA
ANGELO GRECO
Excerpt from world premiere
by Myles Thatcher
CASTING TO BE ANNOUNCED
Short film of Mrs. Robinson
by Cathy Marston
SARAH VAN PATTEN
JOSEPH WALSH
LUKE INGHAM
Act III Pas de Deux from Don Quixote
by Alexander Gorsky and Marius Petipa
NIKISHA FOGO
JULIAN MACKAY
Pas de Deux from In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated
by William Forsythe
(VIP ONLY)
SASHA MUKHAMEDOV
AARON ROBISON
White Swan Pas De Deux from Swan Lake
by Helgi Tomasson
(VIP ONLY)
NIKISHA FOGO
JULIAN MACKAY
Tickets to the event start at $3,000 for a pair of guests, or $1,600 for a virtual table of four for ENCORE! members. Guests who wish to receive a meal, wine, and gifts delivered to their home day-of must RSVP by December 31, 2020. Reservations may be made online or by contacting Emma Lundberg, SF Ballet’s Special Events Manager, at elundberg@sfballet.org or 415.865.6629.
Source and Featured Photo for San Francisco Ballet Announces Gala – Leap Into the New Year © San Francisco Ballet
