Sarah Van Patten, a star San Francisco Ballet dancer known for her dramatic intensity and deep musicality, will retire in May at the end of the 2022 season, the company announced on Tuesday, March 1. A special performance celebrating Van Patten’s 20 years with the company is planned for April 16, at the War Memorial Opera House.
Born and raised in Boston, Van Patten was just 15 years old and studying at the small Ballet Workshop of New England when the co-director of the Royal Danish Ballet suggested she audition. She became the youngest-ever Royal Danish apprentice and was soon chosen by the influential choreographer John Neumeier for the lead in his “Romeo and Juliet,” in which she received great acclaim.
San Francisco Ballet Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson happened to be in Copenhagen reviving his production of “The Sleeping Beauty” and, recognizing Van Patten’s natural acting abilities and her affinity for the works of George Balanchine, offered her a soloist contract at the age of 17. She was promoted to principal five years later, in 2007.
“Sarah is an immensely talented artist who has brought to this company a diverse range of abilities, both in her dancing and in her dramatic interpretations of some of the great roles of classical ballet,” Tomasson said in a statement. “She has been integral to the creation of some of my own ballets, as well as ballets by numerous other choreographers who have worked in our studios throughout the past two decades.”
In addition to interpreting iconic roles like Odette/Odile in “Swan Lake,” she has worked with leading contemporary choreographers to create new roles in works like Christopher Wheeldon’s “Within the Golden Hour” and Justin Peck’s “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming.”
两个男孩的母亲,Van Patten即将退休the stage at the height of her technical and expressive capabilities. In February, she starred in the Ballet’s opening night, creating the fierce main character of Cathy Marston’s world premiere “Mrs. Robinson” and commanding the second movement of Balanchine’s “Symphony in C” on the same program.
During the pandemic, Van Patten founded and led Tahoe Dance Camp, an opportunity for dancers to continue working creatively while following COVID-19 safety protocols. The company then gave a debut performance featuring work by leading choreographers like Dwight Rhoden and Andrea Schermoly at the Classical Tahoe festival on Lake Tahoe in the summer of 2021.
In a statement, Van Patten indicated she will be pursuing further leadership and creative opportunities.
“I feel so fortunate to have been given the opportunity from Helgi when I was 17 to join the company as a soloist,” she added. “I never could have imagined then what has ended up being such an amazing journey.”
Her April 16 retirement performance is expected to include excerpts from Danielle Rowe’s “Wooden Dimes,” George Balanchine’s “Diamonds” and the balcony pas de deux from Tomasson’s “Romeo & Juliet,” as well as the North American premiere of Yuri Possokhov’s “Gabrielle Chanel.”
Tickets for the program go on sale Friday, March 4.
Sarah Van Patten’s Farewell:7:30 p.m. April 16. $25-$270. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave. S.F.www.sfballet.org