Here I am modeling a costume from Western Symphony!
Hello! My name is Fifi, and I live with San Francisco Ballet School Associate Director Lola de Avila. The best part of my life in San Francisco is getting to watch the very talented students at San Francisco Ballet School.
All I can say is bow-wow Wow WOW! The San Francisco Ballet School Student Showcase performances were awesome!
I attended all of the performances last week at the Novellus Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The atmosphere was alive with excitement as the students prepared to take the stage. I love the youngest students in Level 2 in light blue (note my rhyming ability) who opened the performance, and I watched with eager anticipation as the different classes strutted their stuff on stage. They were so proud, and I was proud of them, too. I’ve known some of those kids for a very long time—for about 30 years! (That’s 4 years in human terms). It’s magical to see them grow and mature as young dancers and artists.
The advanced levels of San Francisco Ballet School really shined. La Sylphide, which I’ve seen in many of the finest house in Europe, was just spectacular—sophisticated, alluring, exquisite, delicate, and charming. One of the guys I’ve known for a while is Myles Thatcher, who is in the corps de ballet at San Francisco Ballet. I’ve known him for a while…since he was in the School as a Trainee. BOW-WOW—he’s a talented choreographer. The piece he made on the Trainees was absolutely electrifying! I am going to ask Lola to get me a purple leo like theirs. I think it will be striking against my black fur. And, Francisco Mungamba’s Dunas on Friday night was alluring. I just loved the Carmen-like red dresses on the girls—very striking and powerful! Francisco is from my native Spain, and he was in the School before he went into the Company as a corps dancer.
After intermission, we were treated to a performance of Balanchine’s Western Symphony. It was energetic, fun and fanciful. Those girls and boys have such quick footwork—very precise and rhythmic. (I know about these things.)
When Lola wasn’t looking, I put on one of the hats, and I got my Trainee friend Alex to take a few shots. (He’s as talented with a camera as he is on the stage.) I think I would like to dance the 2nd movement of Western one day…perhaps with one of the Trainees…
All three Showcase performances were just awesome, and the tribute to Lola on Thursday night was quite touching. It was also a bit sad for me: At the end of summer I will return to Spain to live with Lola, and I won’t get to see the talented students at San Francisco Ballet School for quite a while.
Congratulations to all of my friends at San Francisco Ballet School for a successful performance and a job well done!
Love,
Fifi
One Comment
Dear Fifi !
You look great in the Western Symphony hat and I’m more than sure that you’ll dance it beautifully!!
Think you are a Yorkie-Poo – the great little smart perritos.
Before you go on your summer vacation to Spain hope you’ll get in touch with — my little Yorkie-Poo left me for doggie heaven 6 weeks ago – he was also very smart – he liked arhitecture and wrote about it.
Wish could send you a photo.
Lots of hugs and belly rubs,
Milena
PS besides my love for perritos I’m also a balletomane!