- Title: UK: THE SAN FRANCISCO BALLET COMPANY MAKES LONDON DEBUT APPEARANCE
- Date: 31st October 1999
- Summary: SOUNDBITE (English) HELGI TOMASSON SAYING "Well first of all it's part of repertory, we do both the traditional and contemporary and some of the modern pieces, and I think there is an audience out there for traditional pieces. In most cases they are very very beautiful, and if they are danced exceptionally well, people of all ages seem to take to them." QUESTION- WHICH DO
- Embargoed: 15th November 1999 12:00
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- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA4AVUFN15N5QXKCVUHBPZ6U1GT
- Story Text: One of America's most popular and successful ballet companies, the San Francisco Ballet has made its debut appearance in London - delighting audiences with a gala performance that displayed the company's wealth of talent.
San Francisco's most famous feature, the Golden Gate Bridge, was still being built in 1933, when the San Francisco Ballet was founded.Originally the company was just a subsection of the city's world renowned opera.Over the years America's longest running ballet company has moved from a small but respected regional repertory troupe, to ranking alongside New York's and Miami's companies.
Artistic director, Helgi Tomasson - who was born in Iceland - has been at the helm for the past fourteen years and is well-known for being a strict technician.Himself a celebrated dancer, his uncompromising classicism has brought the company to ever greater heights.
The Gala performance at London's Saddler's Wells Theatre on Monday night (October 25) consisted of a dazzling mix of classical and contemporary solos and pas de deux.For the rest of the week, the company will be presenting a mixed bill consisting of Balanchine's Theme and Variations, Jerome Robbins' The Cage, Mark Morris' Sandpaper Ballet, to be followed by Tomasson renowned production of the eternal crowd-pleaser, Swan Lake. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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