San Francisco Ballet

The Sleeping Beauty is the pinnacle of the classical ballet canon. Choreographed by Helgi Tomasson after Marius Petipa and set to Tchaikovsky’s radiant score, this production honors the grandeur of the 19th-century classic while bringing a fresh vitality, showcasing regal pageantry, virtuosic technique, and enduring romance. It is a fairy tale that is both enchanting and captivating for audiences of all ages—elegant, timeless, and a celebration of classical ballet at its finest.

The Sleeping Beauty

War Memorial Opera House

Returning to critical and audience acclaim, this is the epitome of Sir Kenneth MacMillan. Choreographed in 1974 while he was the director of The Royal Ballet, Manon is an adaptation of Abbé Prévost’s novel L’Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut. A full-length ballet in three acts, Manon is considered one of MacMillan’s most notable works, showcasing his expertise of narrative choreography and acute insight into human psychology. MacMillan is at his best here: finding full expression in the impassioned duets of the central couple, visceral and desperate in their desire.

Manon

TRIO
Helgi Tomasson's elegant Trio is a visual feast of billowing gowns and velvet jackets against sumptuous sets as lush as the choreography and the music of Tchaikovsky.

MRS. ROBINSON—WORLD PREMIERE
Step into Cathy Marston's seductive retelling of The Graduate (the iconic American novella and film) from the perspective of the notorious seductress Mrs. Robinson. This will be an alluring ride through the forbidden passion of this tantalizing dance drama.

SYMPHONY IN C
Balanchine's masterpiece Symphony in C is ballet at its most glorious and unbridled with over fifty San Francisco Ballet dancers onstage. An irresistible thrill!

PROGRAM 1