Now that the holidays are over, the sound of sleigh bells has given way to the subtle twang of Cupid’s bow. It may not yet be the Month of Love, but at San Diego Ballet romance is already in the air. We’ll be performing Ritmos Latinos: Que Bonito Amor on Valentine’s Day weekend, which gives us reason to celebrate all the love that fills our company. Many of our dancers are in relationships, but San Diego Ballet is graced with not one but two couples in the studio.
By Cindy Case
Bo Brinton and Andrew Ranshaw both joined San Diego Ballet this season, after living on opposite ends of the country last year. Bo says, “It really is a blessing that we are even dancing in the same city, let alone for the same company.” The two met while in the dance program at the University of Arizona, and have had a lot of experience sharing the same studio. When asked what it’s like balancing being a couple and being coworkers, Bo says, “We both view the studio as a sacred space of sorts; we try to leave our relationship at home and focus on our individual responsibilities and goals when we go to class and rehearsal.”
Readers may remember SDB’s other couple, Adam Bloodgood and Izzy Overstreet, from a previous blog post. This month, however, marks a new chapter in the Bloodstreet Saga: while visiting Paris, Adam and Izzy got engaged! Company dancer Georgie Parfitt, who joined the two of them for the Paris leg of their trip, confides that Adam let her in on the secret way back in November. Izzy, however, had no idea that the proposal was coming. For the company, the timing could not be more perfect. Artistic Director, Javier Velasco created Que Bonito Amor after attending a cousin’s wedding and being struck by how universal a chord mariachi music strikes for Southern Californians. As he put it, “Mariachis mean celebration!” This Valentine’s Day weekend, we hope that you’ll join us to celebrate love of all kinds at Ritmos Latinos: Que Bonito Amor.