Last dance for 3 SF Ballet principals
Last dance for 3 SF Ballet principals
Ballet dancers retire at the end of every season, just like professional athletes, which is essentially what they are, minus the eight-figure pay.
[...] to have three principal dancers of similar style and stature retire at once is highly unusual at the San Francisco Ballet.
To belabor the sports analogy, it will be like losing your outfield when Joan Boada, Pascal Molat and Gennadi Nedvigin take their final bows after 15 to 20 seasons each.
In size and demeanor, they are like brothers.
Both Boada and Molat weigh 150 pounds, with Nedvigin slightly lighter.
Both Molat and Nedvigin are 5 feet 7 inches tall, with Boada slightly taller.
Among them they speak 10 languages, and you can hear them in the stage-side dressing room that they share at War Memorial Opera House.
On Sunday, April 17, the three principals will be honored at a special, one-night-only performance.
Before they go, we asked them to sit down for a group chat at the Chris Hellman Center for Dance, across Franklin Street from the Opera House.
Why now, and all at once?
Boada: I am 40, but I have been dancing since 18.
[...] who decided to retire first?
Were the reasons all the same, just worn out?
JB:
Not really.
For Gennadi to start as artistic director, he’s going to have to put up with a lot of dancers.
Where did you three meet?
Gennadi and Joan worked together in Le Jeune Ballet de France like 20-plus years ago.
Were you surprised you all ended up in San Francisco?
JB:
JB:
[...] he bought me my first mattress.
The company has a great reputation in Europe, and Joan could choose any company in the world, and he chose San Francisco.
[...] who picked me up at the airport?
Surprised at this tribute to you on April 17?
JB:
What do you have planned for it?
What will you miss the most?
JB:
The food (laughs).
What will you miss the least?
JB:
The rehearsals (laughs).
Sewing ballet shoes.
Any role you wish you had danced?
There is one ballet that I would have loved to dance, and I asked Helgi a few years ago.
JB:
Any war stories?
JB:
In a fraction of a second, I put the tights on and I had to go on the stage to finish the ballet.
Do ballerinas get all of the glory?
How soon will we see an American company in Cuba?
JB:
American Ballet Theatre went to Cuba a few years ago.
Helgi has had in his mind for many years to go to Cuba and perform with the San Francisco Ballet.
What are you looking forward to eating after your last dance?
JB:
[...] they decided to stay another year.
JB:
[...] this year we have to bring our own Champagne for our dressing room.
Is there a retirement home for principal dancers?
If there were one, where would it be?
What do you want to tell the audience on your way out?
Do you leave as San Franciscans?
Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
Farewell Performance: A one-night tribute to principal dancers Joan Boada, Pascal Molat and Gennadi Nedvigin. 7 p.m. Sunday, April 17.
War Memorial Opera House. $22 and up.
The dancers discuss retirement in individual slideshows.