Christian Lacroix’s luxurious designs make North American debut
SAN FRANCISCO, CA—February 20, 2024—San Francisco Ballet (SF Ballet) is thrilled to announce details for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, George Balanchine’s choreographic take on the classic tale by William Shakespeare, on stage from March 12–23 and marking the North American debut of iconic French designer Christian Lacroix’s lavish production and costume designs.
A tale of love, magic, and revelry that’s fun for the entire family, A Midsummer Night’s Dream includes music by Felix Mendelssohn performed by Volti San Francisco and the SF Ballet Orchestra and a cast of more than 100 dancers. Lacroix’s designs were commissioned by the Paris Opera Ballet, debuted in Paris in 2017, and include intricate and imaginative embroidery, Sophie Hallette lace, and one million Swarovski crystals, creating a visual feast for audiences and bringing the glamour of Parisian couture and scenery to the San Francisco stage. Sketches and photos of Lacroix’s costumes can be found here (login required).
SF Ballet’s Professional Teaching Artists and SF Ballet School Faculty Members will lead family-friendly and sensory-friendly Dance-Along workshops on Sunday, March 17. These interactive workshops will explore the story, choreography, music, and characters of A Midsummer Night’s Dream through hands-on activities.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Public Relations, San Francisco Ballet
415-865-6610
press@sfballet.org
Click here for photos (login required)
TICKETS & PERFORMANCE DATES
Tickets start at $29 and are available for purchase at sfballet.org. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling Ticket Services at 415-865-2000, open Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm. A service charge applies and prices are subject to change.
Tuesday, March 12 at 7:30pm
Wednesday, March 13 at 7:30pm
Thursday, March 14 at 7:30pm
Friday, March 15 at 8pm
Saturday, March 16 at 2pm
Saturday, March 16 at 8pm
Sunday, March 17 at 2pm
Thursday, March 21 at 7:30pm
Friday, March 22 at 8pm
Saturday, March 23 at 2pm
Saturday, March 23 at 8pm
PRODUCTION CREDITS
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Ballet in Two Acts and Six Scenes
Choreographer: George Balanchine
Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Staged by: Sandra Jennings
Scenic and Costume Design: Christian Lacroix
Lighting by: Jennifer Tipton
World Premiere: January 17, 1962—New York City Ballet, City Center of Music and Drama; New York, New York
San Francisco Ballet Premiere: March 12, 1985—War Memorial Opera House; San Francisco, California
© The George Balanchine Trust
Music: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture, Op. 21; selections from A Midsummer Night’s Dream Incidental Music, Op. 61; Overture to Athalie, Op. 74; The Fair Melusine Overture, Op. 32; Overture to The First Walpurgis Night, Op. 60; Allegro and Andante from Symphony No. 9 for Strings; Son and Stranger Overture, Op. 89.
Additional Children’s Rehearsal Assistant: Jeffrey Lyons. This performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a Balanchine© Ballet, is presented by arrangement with the George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style© and Balanchine Technique© service standards established and provided by the Trust. Production courtesy of I‘Opéra national de Paris.
ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO BALLET
San Francisco Ballet is a leading ballet company and trailblazer in dance locally, nationally, and internationally. Performing, commissioning, and collaborating with exceptional artists in dance and across disciplines, SF Ballet balances an innovative focus on new and contemporary choreography with a deeply held dedication to the classics. SF Ballet is a catalyst for the future of ballet by cultivating creativity, bringing dance of the highest caliber to a wide audience, and providing exceptional training opportunities for the next generation of professional dancers in its world-renowned School.
Since its founding in 1933 and as the oldest professional ballet company in the United States, the Ballet has been an innovator in the artform and an originator of beloved cultural traditions, from staging the first American production of Swan Lake to bringing an annual holiday Nutcracker to U.S. audiences.