Summer Season (Online) - San Diego Ballet

San Diego, CA – The San Diego Ballet’s (SDB), presents its first ever Summer Season (on-line) this July and August, opening with a broad-cast of Terra Incognita/Rhapsody on July 10th, 2020.

Running for 8 weeks, audiences will get access to a sampling of SDB’s creative offerings. Here’s how it works:

Links (for purchase) will be given at 5pm every Friday for 8 weeks (beginning July 10th).
Each link will be available for viewing for 72 hours, and may be viewed multiple times.
Each link will contain complete performances and new footage, including the process leading up to our first Fall production Los Musicos
featuring SDB Artistic Director Javier Velasco’s original choreography to original jazz compositions by SDB resident composers: jazz legends Charles McPherson and Gilbert Castellanos.

Terra Incognito / Rhapsody July 10-12	Travel to the San Diego back country with SDB to explore Julian, CA. Beautifully shot in natural settings, the serene imagery and cool sounds of Gilbert Castellanos will offer a moment of reprieve. This piece has never been presented to the public. Also on the program, Velasco’s lush pas de deux, Rhapsody!
Reflections and Hope July 17-19	A perfect compliment to the sea-son during these uncertain times. Charles McPherson’s composition for San Diego Ballet features beautiful dance with a non traditionally voiced musical trio – cello, violin,… and saxophone!
Gershwin Divertissment July 24-26	Feel the sound of Summer-time with this playful work by Velasco and McPherson.
Song of Songs 1 July 31-August 2	Artistic Director Javier Velasco recently used the history’s timeless ode to love as a spring board for 3 ballets. First up, no music. Just the words themselves and a single dancer are used to illuminate the nature of desire.
Song of Songs 2 August 7-9	The second ballet in the Song of Songs cycle features a sextet of dancers gliding and swooning through Yale Strom’s evocative musical score.
Song of Songs 3 August 14-16	Set to Charles McPhersons’ funk and gospel infused blueprint, the last part of the Song of Songs triad will leave you rocking in the seat….or your couch at home.
In Conversation with Charles McPherson August 21-23	Get in-sight from Charles McPherson about his upcoming tribute to Charlie Parker in Los Musicos plus a sampling of rehearsal footage gearing up to the October Show.
In Conversation with Gilbert Castellanos August 28-30	Gilbert Castellanos takes center stage to discuss his deeply personal piece to premiere in Los Musicos.

Lemons from lemonade. I never quite understood that little phrase. I like lemons. I like the color. I like the taste.
SDB’s mission statement includes the words “imaginative presentation.” These are difficult times for performing arts groups, but they are difficult times for everyone. If we need to come up with ways to imaginatively present “imaginative presentations”, then so be it.
I hope the this Summer Season will give us the opportunity to expose more people to the organization and what we do. So often (too often), I hear people ask me “Well, what is the difference between you and the other dance companies in town?” even though I doubt they would ever ask the Globe what makes it different than the Playhouse. Well now they have a chance to see us from the comfort of their homes and at whatever time of the day they wish to and make up their own minds. It’s up to me to educate. And that’s fine. I didn’t spend years as a public school teacher for nothing. In what is sure to be a year of challenges, THIS is one I can deal with.
Javier Velasco, Artistic Director SDB