The Little Mermaid - San Francisco Ballet

"Rejoice, exult" - John Neumeier turns Buch's Christmas Oratorio into an experience that confronts us all with the most basic questions of trust, hope, faith, doubt and self-sacrifice. "My choreography is not a religious undertaking. We perform to Bach's music, for a few hours unifying individuals of many different cultural and religious backgrounds, For me, the basic human values expressed through the choreography are always the most important thing. Therefore, in my ballet, Mary is known simply as 'The mother' and Joseph as 'Her husband'." "Once again it is impossible not to be impressed by the flawless technique of the ensemble ... When at the end Lloyd Riggins tap-dances his way across the stage like Fred Astaire, the Christmas oratorio is complete" (Sueddeutsche Zeitung).

Created in 1971, John Neumeier's ballet set to Tchaikovsky's music is now a classic performed all over the world. In his reinterpretation of The Nutcracker, the American choreographer transposes young Marie's initiation into the world of dance under the tutelage of ballet master Drosselmeier.

From grand spectacles to poignant close-ups, experience Helgi Tomasson's bravura interpretation of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet like you've never seen it before. With passionate choreography, spine-tingling swordsmansip, and a celebrated score by Sergei Prokofiev, San Francisco Ballet's passionate retelling of the Bard's greatest tragedy has packed houses around the world. Romeo & Juliet is one of the Company's most popular and widely toured ballets and has been seen by more than 200,000 people since it premiered in 1994. Choreographed by Helgi Tomasson, with sets and costumes by Jens-Jacob Worsaae, this visually stunning production and the brilliant dancers of San Francisco Ballet bring this powerful and touching tragedy - and Renaissance-era Verona - vivdly to life. ""Tomasson lifts Shakespeare's complex and familiar language off the gilded pages and translates it into lucid classical choreography that is visceral, fresh, and ultimately sublime"" (Huffington Post).

This production of the famous ballet has been reset to take place during the 1915 San Francisco World's Fair.

Lis Jepessen dances the lead role of La Sylphide -- a beautiful forest sprite who entrances Scottish farmer James (Nikolaj Hubbe) with her radiance -- in this memorable stage adaptation of August Bournonville's most enduring work, a piece he created for the Royal Danish Ballet in 1836. Sorella Englund co-stars as Madge, a vengeful witch and fortune-teller who, after being spurned by James, resolves to destroy his future.

The San Francisco Ballet's performance of John Neumeier's ballet, The Little Mermaid. Composer: Lera Auerbach Conductor: Martin West Artists: John Neumeier, Yuan Yuan Tan, Lloyd Riggins Year: 2011-11 Run time: 02:14:00

This production of the famous ballet has been reset to take place during the 1915 San Francisco World's Fair. From the lovely Waltz of the Flowers to the crystalline beauty of the stunning Snowflake Waltz; each scene is more breathtaking than the last; bringing to life all the well-known and beloved characters with fresh sparkle and compelling originality.

In this narrative ballet, John Neumeier links the myth of the swan prince Siegfried with the tragic life story of Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, who fell into madness, and contrasts his own creations with the old original choreography by Ivanov and Petipa from 1895. Recorded at the Hamburg State Opera in May 2001.