"San Francisco Ballet’s tribute to Hans van Manen will change how you see dance."
- San Francisco Chronicle
Immerse yourself in the innovative legacy of Hans van Manen, a pioneer in the Dutch dance scene. This evening features four dynamic works curated by Tamara Rojo, spanning from steamy tango to elegant classical and contemporary themes. Set to diverse scores from Astor Piazzolla to Bach and Beethoven, this showcase highlights van Manen’s striking, humanistic style and his profound exploration of human connection.
WHO IT'S FOR: Is a trip to Amsterdam on your itinerary? This program is for anyone who has ever wondered, “What’s going on in the European dance scene?” Ballet lovers, modern dance devotees, tango buffs, and anyone curious to see what Hans van Manen is all about.
Nikisha Fogo and Fernando Carratalá Coloma in Van Manen's Grosse Fuge // © RJ Muna for San Francisco Ballet
CHOREOGRAPHER
Hans van Manen
Grosse Fuge
COMPOSER
Ludwig van Beethoven
Variations for Two Couples
COMPOSERS
Benjamin Britten
Einojuhani Rautavaara
Stefan Kovacs Tickmayer
Astor Piazzolla
SOLO
COMPOSER
Johann Sebastian Bach
5 Tango's
San Francisco Premiere
COMPOSER
Astor Piazzolla
RUNTIME
Grosse Fuge – 30 min
Intermission – 20 min
Variations for Two Couples – 14 min
Solo – 8 min
Intermission – 15 min
5 Tango's – 35 min
Total runtime: 1 hours, 55 minutes
Casting, times, and program subject to change
Grosse Fuge
Choreographer: Hans van Manen
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Supervised by: Rachel Beaujean
Staged by: Ricardo Bustamante
Scenic Design: Jean-Paul Vroom
Costume Design: Hans van Manen
Lighting Design: Jan Hofstra
World Premiere: April 17, 1971—Nederlands Dans Theater; Scheveningen, The Netherlands
SF Ballet Premiere: February 24, 2004—War Memorial Opera House; San Francisco, California
Variations for Two Couples
Choreographer: Hans van Manen
Composers: Benjamin Britten, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Stevan Kovacs Tickmayer after Johann Sebastian Bach, and Astor Piazzolla
Staged by: Rachel Beaujean and Felipe Diaz
Scenic and Costume Design: Keso Dekker
Lighting Design: Bert Dalhuysen
World Premiere: February 15, 2012—Dutch National Ballet, Het Muziektheater; Amsterdam, The Netherlands
SF Ballet Premiere: January 22, 2014—San Francisco Ballet 81st Anniversary Gala; War Memorial Opera House; San Francisco, California
Solo
Choreographer: Hans van Manen
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Supervised by: Rachel Beaujean
Staged by: Felipe Diaz
Costume Design: Keso Dekker
Lighting Design: Joop Caboort
World Premiere: January 16, 1997—Lucent Danstheater; The Hague, The Netherlands
SF Ballet Premiere: February 4, 1999—War Memorial Opera House; San Francisco, California