San Francisco Ballet London reviews

Reviews of SFB's programs this week at Sadler's Wells:

Ismene Brown, artsdesk.com:
"San Francisco’s dancers, whatever their rank, perform like stars, with fastidious, pretty feet and hands and American blast. I loved them, even when I didn’t love their rep. I loved the way Frances Chung reined in her bold athleticism with lacy finishes, I loved the insistence on perfect fifth-position couronne of Sofiane Sylve’s arms and the ardour of Hansuke Yamamoto's response, I loved the voluptuous, almost privately indulgent plunge to the ground of Yuan Yuan Tan's face every time she had the chance to do a deep arabesque penchée, I loved the flaxen-haired boyishness of Tiit Helimets, I loved the charisma of the corps de ballet."

Judith Mackrell, The Guardian: 

"SFB is rich in talent, from corps member Koto Ishihara, who dances Divertimento with a Mozartian sweetness of detail, upwards to the lyrically awesome Yuan Yuan Tan. With two programmes to go, there's a luxurious sense of many surprises to come from this clever company." 

San Francisco Ballet, Sadler's Wells, London

Financial Times -‎

A season could not begin more gloriously than did San Francisco Ballet's on Friday night, with Balanchine's Divertimento No. 15. Here is the ideal plotless ballet, the dance a conjoined twin with its other self – the music. Balanchine shows us Mozart, and we ...

San Francisco Ballet Programme 2 – review

The Guardian - ‎

San Francisco Ballet Programme 2 – review. Sadler's Wells, London. 4 out of 5 4. Share · Tweet this · Email · Judith Mackrell · guardian.co.uk, Monday 17 September 2012 18.47 BST. Jump to comments (…) San Francisco ballet. Romantic terrain ... a scene ...

San Francisco Ballet, Programme A, Sadler's Wells, review

Telegraph.co.uk - ‎

The dancers of San Francisco Ballet are very hard to resist. They have dazzling smiles, sharp feet, graceful arms and hands: above all, they seem to dance because they love it, filling everything they do with an impassioned sense of rightness, of commitment ...

San Francisco Ballet, Sadler's Wells - review

Evening Standard‎

Of the 10 pieces San Francisco Ballet are performing in London over the next week, nine were made in the last five years. We salute this celebration of ballet as a contemporary art, and not a heritage relic, so it's curious to open this first programme with a lone ...

San Francisco Ballet Programme 1 – review

The Guardian - ‎Sep 16, 2012‎

San Francisco Ballet are one of the world's most generous and resourceful promoters of new work. But by opening their (long overdue) UK season with a classic by Balanchine they also acknowledge the creative source and touchstone of their repertory.

San Francisco Ballet, Balanchine/ Liang/ Wheeldon, Sadler's Wells Theatre

The Arts Desk - ‎Sep 15, 2012‎

Divertimento no 15: world ballet depends on Balanchine as the earth's ecology depends on oxygen. It's been eight years since San Francisco Ballet were last here, charming us with their finesse and their smiles - welcome back. They offer a boost of spirit to ...

Mixed bill programme A - Divertimento no. 15, Symphonic Dances, Number Nine

Stage 

Sadler's Wells kicks off its autumn 2012 season with a two-week, three-programme visit from San Francisco Ballet. Not seen in London since 2004, the company is one of America's premier troupes, and on the evidence of the first mixed bill it is in fine shape.

Review - San Francisco Ballet, Programmes A & B, London:

Zoe Anderson, The Independent (http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/san-francisco-ballet-sadlers-wells-london-8144059.html)

Review - San Francisco Ballet, Balanchine/Liang/Wheeldon (Prog. A):

Lise Smith, Londondance (http://londondance.com/articles/reviews/san-francisco-ballet-programme-a/)
Lindsey Winship, Evening Standard (http://www.standard.co.uk/arts/theatre/san-francisco-ballet-sadlers-wells--review-8144192.html)

Review - San Francisco Ballet, Tomasson/Wheeldon/Page (Prog B):

Sarah Frater, The Stage (http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/37362/mixed-bill-programme-b-trio-ghosts-guide)

Jann Parry, dancetabs.com (Program A) : http://www.dancetabs.com/2012/09/san-francisco-ballet-programme-a-balanchine-liang-wheeldon-london/ 
(Program . B):  (http://www.dancetabs.com/2012/09/san-francisco-ballet-programme-b-tomasson-wheeldon-page-london/)

Review - San Francisco Ballet, Programmes B & C, London: Mark Monahan, The Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/dance/9556153/San-Francisco-Ballet-Programmes-BandC-Sadlers-Wells-review.html)

Review - San Francisco Ballet, Morris/Possokhov/Wheeldon, (Prog. C):
Judith Mackrell, The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2012/sep/20/san-francisco-ballet-3-review)
Sarah Frater, The Stage (http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/37395/three-mixed-bills-programme-c-beaux-)

Program C  : Lynette Halewood, Dance Tabs:

"The evening certainly demonstrated the admirable qualities of the SFB dancers: their hard-working, good-humoured, go-for-it approach and the range of different talents in the company. The goodwill they generate in the audience is remarkable. Here’s hoping they come back for a return visit soon."

 http://www.dancetabs.com/2012/09/san-francisco-ballet-programme-c-morris-possokhov-wheeldon-london/

Barbara Newman, San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/performance/article/San-Francisco-Ballet-lights-up-London-3883973.php

All London Programmes: Gerald Dowler, Classical Source (http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_features.php?id=10464)
 

Luke Jennings, Observer

Jenny Gilbert, Independent

Neil Norman, Express

Programme C: Clement Crisp, Financial Times (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/59111afa-03df-11e2-9322-00144feabdc0.html#axzz27KnWV500)


Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/26/arts/dance/san-francisco-ballet-finishes-its-london-season.html?_r=0)

theballetbag.com:
http://toursenlair.blogspot.ca/2012/09/ballets-wusses-or-adventures-with-my.html

Picture gallery here (performance):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dancetabs/sets/72157631548780080/ 

and here (rehearsal):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dancetabs/sets/72157631570452351/ 

More reviews will be posted as they appear.

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