BREATHTAKING BRITANNIA
San Francisco balletgoers are in for a treat this month with Cool Britannia. Actually, as proved at last night’s opening, a better title would be Breathtaking Britannia. Now, that’s an apt description of this triple bill of one-act ballets by British choreographers. The cultural explosion of the mid-90s, known as Cool Britannia, fostered a new era of artistic expression, and these three choreographers—Wayne McGregor, Akram Khan and Christopher Wheeldon —rose to prominence during this period.
MaxFrances Max Cauthorn and Frances Chung in Wayne McGregor's Chroma
The evening opens with the strikingly modern Chroma, choreographed by Sir McGregor. This futuristic ballet strips away traditional aesthetics, presenting dancers in androgynous, tan, shapeless costumes designed by Moritz Junge, which eliminate gender distinctions. The choreography is physically demanding, pushing the dancers to the extremes of flexibility and precision.
Esteban Hernández and Dores André in Wayne McGregor's Chroma
Performed live by San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, the musical score—composed by Joby Talbot with additional arrangements of music by Jack White III—pulses with an intense, militaristic rhythm, driving the dancers through McGregor’s signature athletic and contorted movements, with dancers seamlessly navigating the work’s intricate partnering and explosive solos.
Dylan Pierzina and Lucca Ferrò
in Christopher Wheeldon's Within the Golden Hour at San Francisco Ballet
The most delightful performance of the evening, Within the Golden Hour, is by Christopher Wheeldon of Broadway’s MJ and An American in Paris fame (for you musical lovers). Wheeldon describes dance as “most successful when it makes the music visual,” and this piece achieves exactly that. Set to a luminous score of seven pieces for strings by Ezio Bosso and Antonio Vivaldi, the ballet flows effortlessly, with dancers moving in elegant formations that reflect the music’s emotional highs and lows.
Harrison James and Sasha De Sola
in Christopher Wheeldon's Within the Golden Hour at San Francisco Ballet
The dancers, adorned in brand new vivid costumes by the in-demand fashion designer Zac Posen (now Creative Director of Gap Inc!), shimmered under the golden lighting, echoing the changing light of a sunset. The principal pairings of Dylan Pierzina and Lucca Ferrò, along with Harrison James and Sasha De Sola, bring fluidity and warmth to Wheeldon’s intricate partnering. The sense of effortless beauty and poetic motion makes this ballet a highlight.
Katherine Barkman and Benjamin Davidoff in Akram Khan's Dust
The program closes with Dust, a haunting and deeply emotional work by Akram Khan utilizing Kathak, a traditional form of Indian classical dance.. Set in the aftermath of a World War I battle on a field at night, Dust is a visceral portrayal of loss, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit. The music, composed by Jocelyn Pook, weaves an ethereal soundscape that intensifies the ballet’s raw power.
San Francisco Ballet in Akram Khan's Dust
Dramaturg Ruth Little, scenic designer Sander Loonen, and costume designer Kimie Nakano work together to create a dark, immersive world where shadows and movement blend seamlessly. Katherine Barkman delivers a particularly moving performance, her every gesture infused with anguish and hope. She is joined by Benjamin Davidoff, whose raw intensity adds to the ballet’s emotional depth.
Cool Britannia is an extraordinary evening of modern ballet—visually stunning, emotionally powerful, and intellectually stimulating. With its diverse blend of movement, music, and design, it is a must-see for ballet lovers and newcomers alike.
photos by © Reneff-Olson Productions
Cool Brittania
San Francisco Ballet
War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave.
ends on February 19, 2025
for tickets, call 415.865.2000 or visit SF Ballet
Chroma – 27 min
Intermission – 20 min
Within the Golden Hour – 26 min
Intermission – 15 min
Dust – 26 min
total runtime: 2 hours, 4 minutes
