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MODEbayarea, recently had the privilege of attending another brilliant performance, courtesy of the San Francisco Ballet. The 2011 production of John Neumeier’s The Little Mermaid was both beautiful and entertaining from start to finish.
This was our first experience seeing The Little Mermaid production (my wife and I) and even though we come from vastly different understandings and backgrounds when it comes to dance (she was a dancer growing up – I have two left feet) we were both equally impressed by the set pieces, melodic music accompaniment, and of course breathtaking dancing.
What most people are unaware of is that the original story for The Little Mermaid was actually written as a ballet, and then adapted to various media – the most famous of which is Disney’s 1989 animated film.
Suffice it to say you won’t find signing crabs, eels, and seagulls in the 2011 production of The Little Mermaid ; what you will find however is a dramatic, true to form story of a young poet who’s grief and longing for his dear friend, Edvard, takes the form of a little mermaid.
(For a full story synopsis head over to Odettes Ordeal)
Coupled with this compelling story line, were incredible performances – most notably by principal dancer Yuan Yuan Tan. There are not enough words to describe how captivating her performance truly was. From her dancing, which was effortless and graceful – to her facial expressions and stage presence; we often found ourselves forgetting that this was merely a production, and instead were swept away into the heart, mind and soul of the dancer and character of the mermaid herself.
Other notable performances that night included Davit Karapetyan (the Sea Witch) – my personal favorite character from the production (incredibly terrifying and mystical), as well as Tiit Helimets (the Prince) and Sarah Van Patten (the Princess) were wonderful as well.
Along with the great story, and great choreography, there were remarkable set pieces and costumes which told a story of their own. The whimsical and often times flamboyant costumes did well in contrasting the underlying pain and agony experienced through the mermaids sorrow and dilemma.
There is so much more that could be said of the production, from the Naval Officers, and sailors (which were hilarious), as well as Bridesmaids, Nuns (extremely hilarious), Wedding guests, and Passengers – every aspect of the production came together to create a wonderful night of memories and fascinating entertainment.
I cannot stress enough how the San Francisco Ballet is not only a terrific outlet for those who are appreciative of the arts – but also an AMAZING place to take your significant other.
So if you are looking to have a night to remember and an unforgettable experience with those you love – make sure to have the San Francisco Ballet on the top of your list of places to go!
To Reserve your tickets for the 2012 season – head over to: http://www.sfballet.org/
We hope to see you there!
