Putting the City’s Best Feet Forward

During the past two decades, San Francisco Ballet has grown from a respected regional dance company into one of the leading ballet companies in the world. This growth has been made possible, in part, due to the generous annual unrestricted financial support provided by the Koret Foundation.

The Koret Foundation’s financial investment, totaling more than $750,000, has supported initiatives vital to the continued sustainability of San Francisco Ballet. These initiatives include the creation of new works, ongoing national and international tours, numerous education and outreach programs, and the San Francisco Ballet School, which provides sound training to aspiring dancers. Most importantly, Koret’s investment supports the artistic vision of artistic director Helgi Tomasson, who has led the company for over 20 years.

Under Tomasson’s direction, the company has achieved an international reputation as one of the preeminent ballet companies in the world. The first professional ballet company in America, and one of the three largest, San Francisco Ballet has a rich artistic heritage of “firsts” on which to draw. The company was the first to mount American productions of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, as well as the first to perform the 20th-century American Coppélia.

Tomasson has taken this strong heritage and added a few “firsts” of his own. In 2005, the Society of London Theatre presented San Francisco with the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award, its first, in the category of Outstanding Achievement in Dance for its 2004 London tour. In 2006, San Francisco Ballet was the first non-European company elected Company of the Year in Dance Europe magazine’s annual readers’ poll.

As San Francisco Ballet looks forward to its milestone 75th anniversary season in 2008, Koret is proud to remain a part of its family of dedicated patrons and supporters.