Ballet in San Francisco is currently in season and in the last week of February the San Francisco Ballet showed off their technical skills by putting on a series of ballets choreographed by the world famous George Balanchine. In three vibrant pieces, the performances showcased the precision required for the masterful choreographic work and for the Balanchine technique. The three pieces, Diamonds, Serenade, and Stars and Stripes, were shown in just under two and a half hours. While all three pieces stand out on their own, the real question is, which piece was the best?
The first ballet performed was Diamonds, inspired by the stone itself: elegant, curated, and pristine. Taken from the longer ballet Jewels, which highlights two other popular stones, rubies and emeralds, Diamonds proves that on their own, diamonds can shine twice as bright. Between the corps de ballet and the pas de deux, the dancing was extraordinary; however, the absence of a storyline can make it difficult for audience members to follow, especially if they aren’t as familiar with ballet.
Serenade is famous for being remarkably moving. The music evokes the type of emotion that, despite hearing it for the first time, sounds oddly familiar. Inspiration for the piece was taken from the rehearsal process itself. Between a dancer falling, to another arriving late, the piece feels like a real studio experience. This piece can connect with any audience member, whether they watch ballet regularly or this is their first time in the opera house, Serenade has a way of resonating with people. Despite Serenade’s ability to be quite moving, it can be difficult to tell what the story is exactly.
And of course, saving the best for last, there was Stars and Stripes. With its stunning lightheartedness, this choreographic masterpiece fills the room with energy. The piece features a patriotic mix of baton twirling and marching to the backdrop of a giant American flag, which is very fitting as Balanchine is seen as the father of American Ballet. As an audience member, it felt breathtaking to not only watch it, but experience it. Stars and Stripes was by far the best out of the three and I would go back and watch it again and again if I could.
In summary, all three pieces were spectacular. On their own, they each have something for everyone. But if you put them together, a little bit of sparkle, a little bit of sadness, and a little bit patriotism does the trick for almost two hours of non-stop entertainment. While I feel that Stars and Stripes was the most entertaining due to the overall quality and excitement, they are all worth seeing and obsessing over.
