Spring Festival to be held at War Memorial Opera House
for the first time in 2025
Principal Dancer Esteban Hernández and Corps de Ballet member Davide Occhipinti selected to choreograph new commissions for students
Former SF Ballet Soloist Hansuke Yamamoto appointed to School faculty
SF Ballet School Trainees to perform at Ballet Sun Valley and Legion of Honor Centennial Weekend Celebration this fall
(SAN FRANCISCO, CA) October 3, 2024—Today, San Francisco Ballet School (SF Ballet School) shares new institutional and programming details in advance of the 24/25 Season, under the leadership of School Director Grace Holmes.
First, the School is proud to announce that for the first time, its highly anticipated Spring Festival will be held at the historic War Memorial Opera House on May 9–10, 2025. This event marks a significant milestone for SF Ballet School, offering its talented students the opportunity to perform on the same stage that has been home to the world-renowned SF Ballet Company for decades. Adding to the excitement, the Grammy Award-winning SF Ballet Orchestra will perform at the Spring Festival alongside the students for the first time, ensuring that this year’s event will be an unforgettable experience.
“Watching our dedicated students take the stage at the Opera House will be such a rewarding moment for all of us,” said Holmes. “It’s an extraordinary honor for them to showcase their talent in such a prestigious setting. I’m especially excited for the parents and families—seeing their incredible young artists perform on this iconic stage will be such an emotional and thrilling experience, a moment of immense pride that they will cherish for years to come.”
Following the gala-style performance on Saturday, May 10, a fundraising dinner will be hosted in the Opera House lobby. More details to be announced.
Additionally, SF Ballet School’s pre-professional Trainees are set to perform at Ballet Sun Valley’s Fall Festival from October 10–11 and alongside a live organ concert at the San Francisco Legion of Honor’s Centennial Weekend Celebration on November 9 from 4pm–5pm. These special performances will feature a diverse repertoire including three world premieres, demonstrating the skill and artistry cultivated through the School’s rigorous training programs. Tickets for the performances at Ballet Sun Valley are available to purchase on their website, and the Legion of Honor event is free and open to the public.
Choreographing new works for SF Ballet School are Principal Dancer Esteban Hernández and Corps de Ballet member Davide Occhipinti, who have been carefully selected through SF Ballet’s Creation House initiative. Hernández’s piece, marking his choreographic debut, is influenced by his Mexican heritage and features the Huapango, a traditional Mexican folk dance with accompanying folk music. This ballet is poised to premiere at Ballet Sun Valley in October; Occhipinti’s ballet is currently in development and will premiere at the Spring Festival in May.
“I am absolutely delighted to support Esteban and Davide in their creative processes for these pieces,” said Director of Artist Development Kerry Nicholls. “Our Creation House program continues making strides to cultivate the next generation of dancemakers, and I am thrilled to be part of their artistic journeys as mentor and witness their fresh and dynamic choreographic voices emerge on stage.”
Additionally, former SF Ballet Soloist Hansuke Yamamoto has been appointed to the esteemed faculty of SF Ballet School. Born in Chiba, Japan, Yamamoto joined SF Ballet in 2001 and was promoted to soloist in 2005. In 2011, he received the Isadora Duncan Dance Award for the lead role in Classical Symphony in the Performance Ensemble category. Yamamoto retired from SF Ballet in 2023, and during his 22-year tenure in San Francisco, danced nearly 100 repertory pieces. In July 2023, he was appointed head of the boys’ program at EleNoble – The Finest Ballet Training Program, based in Tokyo. Yamamoto brings a wealth of expertise and artistry to his new role, promising to inspire and nurture the next generation of ballet dancers.
About Creation House
San Francisco Ballet launched Creation House in 2023, a portfolio of career-enhancing creative opportunities focused on choreography and new work development for company members, SF Ballet School students, and guest artists. Through programs ranging from residencies for visiting choreographers to structured choreographic workshops, the initiative provides space and time for creative exploration and mentorship within the company. Creation House is accompanied by Raising Leaders, a leadership training program that provides professional and personal development for company dancers who seek to make a broader impact within the arts sector in the future.
About San Francisco Ballet School
San Francisco Ballet School, founded in 1933, is the oldest ballet school in the country and is one of the most highly sought-after dance training institutions in the industry, cultivating the next generation of professional dancers for San Francisco Ballet and ballet companies around the world. Approximately 70% of San Francisco Ballet dancers trained at SF Ballet School, and students in the School appear in SF Ballet productions throughout the season. More than $1.5 million in annual scholarships and financial aid is awarded to students to attend SF Ballet School.
Under the combined leadership of SF Ballet School Director Grace Holmes and Artistic Director Tamara Rojo, San Francisco Ballet School has a dual mission: to train classical ballet dancers capable of joining the ranks of SF Ballet and other world-renowned companies and to offer young children and adults in the Bay Area an introduction to ballet and the joy of moving to music.