Amazing Lives in Music and Dance: Two Legendary Artists of the Bay Area Part II

Artistic Director & Principal Choreographer of the San Francisco Ballet

The splendor of the City by the Bay is definitely glowing and sparkling as the San Francisco Ballet’s 2015 season marks and celebrates Helgi Tomasson’s 30th anniversary as its artistic director and principal choreographer. When passion meets brilliance, as in the case of Tomasson, the results are triumphant in his remarkable helm of one of the most famous and respected ballet companies in the world.

Praised for its unique repertoires, which showcase the dancers’ extraordinary artistry and virtuosity, Tomasson’s creative and innovative vision transforms the magic and the beauty of his spectacular presentations, stunning sets and costumes, musical orchestration, and spellbinding ambiance. Tomasson creates mesmerizing ballet performances admired widely on the stages of the national and international dance world, and most importantly for us, the Bay Area ballet lovers, on the grand stage of the iconic War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco.

Helgi Tomasson was born in Reykjavik, Iceland where he began his early ballet training and continued his education at the National Theatre’s affiliated school. At 17, he received a scholarship to study at the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City, with continued affiliation for his professional career with The Joffrey Ballet and later with The Harkness Ballet. Over the next six years, he became one of the company’s most celebrated principal dancers.

In 1969, Tomasson entered the First International Ballet Competition in Moscow as a United States representative and returned with the Silver Medal, as the Gold Medal was awarded to the legendary Mikhail Baryshnikov. Tomasson joined New York City Ballet as a principal dancer in 1970 and over the course of his career became one of the finest classical dancers of his era.

In 1985, Tomasson accepted the invitation from the San Francisco Ballet to become the Artistic Director of America’s oldest professional ballet company, drawing to a close a glorious performing career. Since assuming this role, Tomasson has choreographed over 40 ballets, including full-length productions of Don Quixote, Giselle, Romeo & Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, and two productions of Swan Lake (1988 and 2009), among others.

Little did I know when I first saw Helgi Tomasson’s awe inspiring debut with the New York City Ballet at the Lincoln Center in New York that our paths will cross again 30 years later in San Francisco. Although I never met him in person, and I hope I will in the next 30 years, I continue to be amazed by Tomasson’s never-ending quest for perfection, his strive for excellence, and his continued dedication in keeping the San Francisco Ballet on this phenomenal journey of cultural enrichment that we got so accustomed to seeing. The good news for the ballet aficionados is that the boyish 72-year-old artist has no plans to retire, or as I call it ‘’graduate,’’ in the nearest future. ‘’I just don’t have the time to think about it,’’ he says to the delicate query of the San Francisco Chronicle’s dance correspondent.

The company’s press release states that in addition to his role as artistic director and principal choreographer of the San Francisco Ballet, Tomasson is the director of the San Francisco Ballet School, which is central to the life and development of the Company. Just as he expects the finest dancing and most meticulous attention to detail from his dancers, he demands the highest standards for training the students in the School.

Tomasson’s outstanding achievements as a soloist dancer as well as an internationally respected and admired choreographer have led to him having numerous awards and honors bestowed upon him. He also participated and served as a judge for international ballet competitions in Italy, Russia, France, Finland, and Japan.

Helgi Tomasson lives in San Francisco with his wife, Marlene, who was dancing with The Joffrey Ballet when they met. They have two sons, Erik and Kris. For additional information on the San Francisco Ballet programs and special events visit www.sfballet.org.

Lina Broydo immigrated from Russia, then the Soviet Union, to Israel where she was educated and got married. After working at the University in Birmingham, England she and her husband immigrated to the United States. She lives in Los Altos Hills, CA and writes about travel, art, style, entertainment, and sports. She hardly cooks or bakes, not the best of ‘’balabostas’’ her beloved beautiful Mom, Dina, was hoping for. Therefore, she makes reservations and enjoys dining out.

By Lina Broydo