HELGI TOMASSON

Helgi Tomasson was appointed Artistic Director of San Francisco Ballet in 1985. Born in Reykjavik, Iceland, he trained with the National Theatre's affiliated school and the Pantomime Theatre in Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens. At age 17, Mr. Tomasson caught the eye of Jerome Robbins, who offered him a scholarship to study at the School of American Ballet in New York. He began his professional career dancing with the Joffrey Ballet for two years before joining The Harkness Ballet, where he danced for the next six years. In 1970, he joined New York City Ballet as a principal dancer and originated several roles in ballets by George Balanchine and Robbins. In 1980, Mr. Tomasson choreographed his first ballet for the annual School of American Ballet Workshop. While at San Francisco Ballet, Mr. Tomasson has choreographed over 30 ballets, including four full-length ballets: Giselle, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and Romeo and Juliet. His other works include Con Brio, Handel-A Celebration, Meistens Mozart, "Much Ado...," Nanna's Lied, Sonata, Prism, Bartok Divertimento, and Chi-Lin. Mr. Tomasson's ballets have been performed by New York City Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Houston Ballet, Alberta Ballet, and Asami Maki Ballet. Mr. Tomasson also serves as Director of San Francisco Ballet School.