San Francisco Ballet (SF Ballet) has unveiled an ambitious and multifaceted initiative known as Creation House, aimed at providing a wide range of career-enhancing opportunities for SF Ballet company members, SF Ballet School students, and guest artists. This initiative places a strong emphasis on choreography and the development of new works, offering a diverse portfolio of options to participants.
Creation House encompasses four distinct strands of creative exploration and mentorship, namely Choreographic Residencies, the Choreographic Exchange and Physical Play workshops, ChoreoLabs, and the SF Ballet School Choreographic Program. Through these avenues, dancers will have the necessary space and time to delve into their creativity, push boundaries, and receive guidance within the company’s supportive environment. This initiative builds upon SF Ballet’s longstanding commitment to fostering innovation, nurturing emerging choreographic talent, and fostering collaboration within San Francisco’s artistic communities and beyond.
The brainchild of Artistic Director Tamara Rojo and Associate Artistic Director Kerry Nicholls, the Creation House program will be part of a broader range of professional development initiatives aimed at comprehensively supporting the careers of dancers within both the school and the company. These initiatives will include a two-year leadership training program, providing dancers with valuable skills beyond their mainstage roles, as well as opportunities to engage in wellness sessions conducted by external health and wellbeing practitioners. SF Ballet’s professional development programs, including the newly introduced Creation House, actively seek collaborative partnerships from the Bay Area and beyond, reflecting the company’s global vision.
“Through the launch of Creation House, SF Ballet will provide both company members and the renowned international choreographers who visit us the opportunities and resources they need to create bold new work with confidence,” said Rojo. “In my first year as Artistic Director, a core priority has been to expand the resources we offer to our dancers. Taking part in new work development and having access to the choreographic process is invaluable experience for dance artists, and by offering this opportunity to our company members, we will also help SF Ballet identify and invest in the innovative new voices that will further our art form.”
With the launch of Creation House, SF Ballet reaffirms its commitment to nurturing talent, encouraging innovation, and providing dancers with a holistic support system. By offering a plethora of career-enhancing opportunities and promoting collaboration with artists from diverse backgrounds, SF Ballet aims to create an environment conducive to artistic growth and excellence.