Being called the best assumes lightning will strike twice, on schedule, and then strike again. I think that’s life at the San Francisco Ballet.
I heard about many bests recently at its 93rd opening gala. Everywhere I looked, people chattered in polite gossip, and a new room waited for me to find reasons to linger, from macarons to photo stations; or I was catching up with my favorite performer while waiting in line for cocktails.
Yes, I do think this is the best party I’ll experience all year — something chair Alison Mauzé told us during opening remarks before the night’s performances. It’s honestly hard to pinpoint how SF Ballet does this so often, but they’ve ranked in the city’s top soirées every time I’ve gone. It is, in some ways, a self-fulfilling vibe; you’re enchanted by the drama of the lights and good music, and just then, an equally gobsmacked gaggle of ladies needs to be your new BFF.
We are still in the early years with Creative Director Tamara Rojo at the helm, and along with her, a spate of contemporary dances to consider. Blame Rojo for casting my favorite dancers in the pieces I loved most on Wednesday; I want to feature new names in these reviews! But here we are —
My first award goes to a haunting dance that’s part of “Glass Pieces” by Jerome Robbins, which included another stand-out performance by Harrison James alongside Jasmine Jimison. It served straight-up Logan’s Run, from monochrome leotards to a massive futuristic graph paper backdrop; All we needed was some Farah Fawcett hair and LEDs on the dancers’ palms…