San Francisco Ballet's video: Fostering New Voices in Ballet Choreography Leadership and Audiences

This week, SF Ballet participated in and to make space for Black voices and pertinent resources. We took that time to discuss systemic oppression, racism, and violence toward the Black community. In this spirit, we urge you to support our colleagues at Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem, who have a legacy of centering Black experiences in their art and within their communities. In 2018 as part of Unbound: A Festival of New Works, we were fortunate to have Virginia Johnson, artistic director of Dance Theatre of Harlem; and Dwight Rhoden, founding artistic director/resident choreographer of Complexions, join us to discuss ballet’s present and future. Featured here are excerpts from two panels of this event, the first of which asked, “How is contemporary ballet responding to the world around us?” and the second, “What does it mean to make space for new and diverse perspectives and creative voices in our field?” In this current moment, we’re revisiting these conversations. These discussions capture a moment in time. In the two years since, the country, the art form, and SF Ballet have continued to change and evolve, especially as we understand our responsibility toward diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. We still have a long way to go. We thank the speakers for sharing their perspectives and voices. San Francisco Ballet recognizes that if ballet is going to remain crucial and relevant to audiences, it needs a diversity of voices and bodies on stage, in the studio, and in the executive offices. Join us for a discussion of how directors and company leaders are thinking about including new voices and perspectives in the dancers they hire, the choreographers they commission, the audiences they reach, and the stories they tell. Speakers: Helgi Tomasson (SF Ballet), Patrick Armand (SF Ballet School), Celia Fushille (Smuin Contemporary Ballet), Dwight Rhoden (Complexions Contemporary Ballet), Andrea Yannone (SF Ballet); Moderator: Virginia Johnson (Dance Theatre of Harlem)