Guest artist for the SF Ballet Nutcracker season December 4, 2009
Vadim Solomakha (left) and Yuan Yuan Tan performing the “Black Swan” pas de deux from Swan Lake at the San Francisco Ballet, 1998. George Nikitin/AP
Happy Friday! Have you picked your dream Nutcracker cast yet? SF Ballet’s Nutcracker opens on Tuesday, December 8.
Maybe I’m the only one who didn’t know, but there was an unfamiliar name on the casting site. After some sleuthing, I found out more about this mystery name (footnote credit to the SF Ballet PR department – thanks!). Vadim Solomakha is a guest artist for SF Ballet during the Nutcracker season, and was previously a principal with SF Ballet who has remained in close contact with the company during his time away. (Doesn’t he look a little like Baryshnikov?) Here’s another photo of him with Sarah van Patten in a Voice of Dance article.
Which cast would you like to see? If you could create your own dream cast, who would be in it? I’m having the hardest time picking which cast to see.
Vadim has guested with SFB once or twice over the past few years. He’s a lovely dancer with pure lines and unaffected technique. If you have a chance, make the time to go see him!
Hi Becca, thanks for the info! I was checking him out mostly b/c I wanted to see Sarah Van Patten, who he’s partnered with.
Who do you want to see in the Nutcracker? Are you going on opening night? ooh it’s tomorrow!
I haven’t gotten to see Nut yet this year… Things are just too hectic!
I know the feeling! I’ve definitely ramped down my theater viewing this winter, and things will only get more hectic next spring… eep. I hope you get a chance to see it though!
Me, too! Also, Cory Stearns, soloist at ABT and 2009 winner of the Erik Bruhn prize (best male dancer), will be partnering Sofiane Sylve in the grand pas at the end of the month. Seems like there’s a lot to see at SFB. Maybe I’ll have to grabbed a few performances in via SRO.
Yeah, I saw Stearns briefly with ABT but he didn’t really leave a memorable mark. Maybe he’ll be more distinct in a more solo role, and he’s probably gotten a lot better since I saw him. Interesting how Sofiane is getting all these guest partners, no? I’ll be looking forward to your reviews. I still have to write mine.