A Conversation on Krazy Kat + Thiebaud with SF Ballet
Grace Maduell Holmes in Brenda Way's Krazy Kat, with scenic design by Wayne Thiebaud, 1990. © San Francisco Ballet, courtesy of the San Francisco Museum of Performance + Design
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Join us for a panel discussion on San Francisco Ballet’s 1990 production of Krazy Kat in conjunction with the special exhibition Wayne Thiebaud: Art Comes from Art. This conversation will feature the ballet’s choreographer and ODC Artistic Director, Brenda Way, and original SF Ballet cast member Grace Holmes, currently Director of SF Ballet School. This lecture-demonstration will highlight the stage production, which was designed by Theibaud, as well as the choreography of the work.
About the speakers
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Grace Maduell Holmes was promoted to a company position in San Francisco Ballet in 1983 and danced with the company as a soloist until 1995. She then was a senior soloist with Birmingham Royal Ballet. Her repertoire includes over 100 ballets and has performed at major theaters internationally. She was Academy Director for Tapestry Dance Company in Austin, Texas, was a Professor of Dance at University of Texas, and was the School Director of Kansas City Ballet for nine years.
Brenda Way received her early training at The School of American Ballet and Ballet Arts in New York City. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of ODC/Dance and creator of the ODC Theater and ODC Dance Commons, community performance and training venues in San Francisco’s Mission District. Way was instrumental in forming an inter-arts department at Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music in the late 1960’s before relocating to the Bay Area in 1976. She has choreographed more than 100 pieces over the last 53 years.
About SF Ballet
San Francisco Ballet, long recognized for pushing boundaries in dance, has a history of making history. Founded in 1933, the company staged the first full-length American productions of Coppélia (1938) and Swan Lake (1940) and, in 1944, launched an annual holiday tradition by staging the first full-length production of Nutcracker in the US.
The Company is led by Artistic Director, Tamara Rojo. SF Ballet is accompanied by its own orchestra and operates one of the country’s most prestigious schools of ballet. Today SF Ballet builds on their heritage by commissioning groundbreaking dance from today’s top choreographers, by uncovering new choreographic talent, and by staging modern classics and the works that make up the canon of classical ballet. Their approach defines ballet in the 21st century, and it makes San Francisco Ballet the essential place to see the most adventurous dance in America.
Ticket info
Free program. Theater doors will open 30 minutes before the start of the program. Seating is limited and unassigned and on a first-come-first-served basis. Admission to the theater program does not include admission to the special exhibition or other galleries in the museum.
Contact info
Public Programs
publicprograms@famsf.org
415.750.7694
