Spellbound at San Francisco Ballet

San Francisco Ballet Gala 2020: Spellbound

Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson presented opening night for the San Francisco Ballet 2020 Repertory Season with a grand plan to leave the audience spellbound. Based on his record-breaking 35 successful seasons at the helm, Helgi can both state and reach such lofty goals. San Francisco Ballet is regarded as one of the most refined ballet companies in the world.

Principal Dancer Yuan Yuan Tan celebrates 25 years at San Francisco Ballet

Debra Bernard, SF Ballet Executive Director Kelly Tweeddale, Sunnie Evers and Tom Horn

San Francisco Ballet Gala Chair Patricia Roberts

Sarah Van Patten and Henry Sidford in Peck’s Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming // © Erik Tomasson

Nancy Pelosi and Helgi Tomasson

Carl Pascarella, Miho Nedvigin, Yurie Pascarella and Gennadi Nedvigin

Sasha De Sola and Benjamin Freemantle in Thatcher’s 05:49 // © Erik Tomasson

Tom Klein and Kate Klein

Tiit Helimets, Bob Shaw and Diedre Shaw

Spellbinding Performances

Helgi’s spellbinding opening night performance featured twelve pieces that highlighted the upcoming season. The theme was inspired by the magical, ethereal elements of the productions including A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Cinderella. The program included two world premieres choreographed by two members of the San Francisco Ballet family. Corp de Ballet member Myles Thatcher presented 05:49, and former Principal Dancer Val Caniparoli introduced Foreshadow.

The gala celebrating the beginning of San Francisco Ballet’s 87th season marked the very first opening gala for Executive Director Kelly Tweeddale. Tweeddale replaced Glenn McCoy who retired in 2019 after a 32-year career with the Company.

Scenes from Spellbound at San Francisco Ballet

Decor for Spellbound at City Hall by Riccardo Benevides

Andrew Chung and Coral Chung

Ivy Getty

Tyla Steinbach and Leili Rackow

Vanessa Jean-Baptiste

Ayesha Thapar, Julia Milner, Nicole Lacob and Shannon Getty

Elena Zorn

Christine Suppes and Denise Littlefield Sobel

Pernella Sommerville and Gioi Tran

Principal Dancer Mathilde Froustey

Debra Leylegian and Alison Mauze at the After Party

Alana Naber and Gary Williams Jr.

Beth Grossman, Nancy Kukacka and Scotty Young

Dr. Shokooh Miry and Pam Preston

George Shultz and Charlotte Shultz

Jieyin Wu, Ying Fu and Chaomei Chen

Patti Rock and John Fetzer

Douglas Wall and Mariana Wall

Volunteers Contribute to Make it Magical

Red Carpet Bay Area salutes the San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary and Encore! members who volunteered their time to make the event a success. The Auxiliary, led by Gala Chair Patricia Roberts, hosted three fundraising dinners at City Hall prior to the performance. ENCORE!, the social and networking group of young professionals supporting SF Ballet hosted a cocktail buffet at City Hall. Gary S. Williams Jr. served as the ENCORE! Gala Chair.

Photos by Drew Altizer Photography and Erik Tomasson for San Francisco Ballet