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Erik Tomasson

@e_tomasson

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Photographer / Reykjavik, Iceland

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In 2011, @tiithelimets organized a tour to his native Estonia. Calling the troupe “Tiit Helimets and Co.,” he planned the international tour from California, where he was a principal dancer at @sfballet. The experience of delegation, decision-making, and directing—with the ensuing challenges each brought—hooked him. “Ever since that year I have been consciously making sure that I understand as much as I can on leadership, reading all the books I can find, to one day be an artistic director,” says Helimets.

Now, Helimets has finally met that goal after taking the helm of @sacballet this month, succeeding Anthony Krutzkamp. He shares his vision for the company’s future at the link in our bio. ⭐

📝: @ggrimball
📸: Photo by @tonynguyenphoto, courtesy @sacballet.
📸: Tiit Helimets at @sfballet. Photo by @e_tomasson, courtesy @sacballet.
📸: Helimets and @ommimirina in Sir David Bintley’s “The Dance House,” with @sfballet in 2012. Photo by @e_tomasson, courtesy @sacballet.

#SacrementoBallet #Balletcompany #Artisticdirector #Balletdancer

Descriptions
1) In front of a light gray backdrop, Tiit Helimets poses for a portrait in a formal black suit with a white button-down underneath. With his hands in his pockets, he looks to the left and tucks one leg up into an over-crossed passé, leaning left slightly. Text: Tiit Helimets Steps Into Artistic Leadership at Sacramento Ballet
2) Tiit Helimets lifts one leg a la seconde at the barre, his working arm in high fifth.
3) Onstage, Tiit Helimets lunges forward while holding Ommi P. Leffler upside-down, using one arm to hold one of her ankles as his other extends forward. Leffler wraps both arms around Helimet’s waist, her head by his back thigh, as she extends one leg vertical and one behind, with a slight bend. Text: Learn more at the link in our bio.

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@lorena_feijoo & @vitorluiz.art in the Act 2 PDD from “Val Caniparoli’s, A Cinderella Story” Costume Design by Sandra Woodall. @sfballet @rwballet @valcaniparoli photography by @e_tomasson

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San Francisco Ballet backstage
Photo by Erik Tomasson
@e_tomasson

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Auditioning for visiting choreographers or répétiteurs carries a particular kind of stress. Being seen by fresh, outside eyes could potentially lead to new opportunities at your company, but the pressure to grasp a work’s intention and quickly pick up a new movement style can be intense and overwhelming. Casting decisions often need to be made quickly, so how can you make a great impression right off the bat—even if you feel out of your element?

Learn more at the link in our bio. ⭐

📝: @gavinalarsen
📸: @justinpeck (left) and rehearsal director @craig.f.hall rehearsing @nycballet. Photo by @erinbaiano, courtesy NYCB.
📸: @craig.f.hall rehearsing New York City Ballet soloist @harrison_coll_ in 2024. Photo by @erinbaiano, courtesy NYCB.
📸: @balletmet dancers @graceannepowers and Vincent Van Harris. Photo by @jenniferzmuda_video.photo, courtesy BalletMet.
📸: @treymcintyreprojects (right) rehearses @sfballet dancers for his "Your Flesh Shall Be a Great Poem.” Photo by @e_tomasson, courtesy SFB.

#Choreographer #Audition #Balletcompany #Casting

Descriptions in comments.

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Maria Kochetkova and Joseph Walsh in Helgi Tomasson's The Nutcracker
San Francisco Ballet
Photo by Erik Tomasson
@e_tomasson

@balletrusse
@josephwalshsf

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For 53 years, @sfballet audiences have watched @valcaniparoli disappear into a character. A dancer with the company since 1973 and a principal character dancer since 1985, he’s also a prolific choreographer. His more than 150 works for companies around the world include five different productions of “The Nutcracker.“

Caniparoli will give his final performance with SFB in “Don Quixote,” on March 28. Even after five decades, he’s not retiring. Instead, he’ll shift his entire focus to choreography.

Head to the link in our bio to read his full interview! ⭐

📝: Caitlin Sims
📸: Val Caniparoli (center) as the title role in “Don Quixote.” Photo by @e_tomasson, courtesy SFB.
📸: Caniparoli in the studio. Photo by @e_tomasson, courtesy SFB.

#ValCaniparoli #sanfranciscoballet #choreography #ballet

Image descriptions
1) Caniparoli—costumed as Don Quixote in breeches, a neck scarf and a curled mustache—stands onstage at the center of a crowd, his arms crossed, smiling slightly. The dancers playing Basilio and Kitri hang adoringly on his arms. Text: Val Caniparoli on Leaving San Francisco Ballet to Focus on Choreography—After More Than Five Decades Onstage
2) Caniparoli—a silver-haired man wearing a black t-shirt and glasses—looks down over his right shoulder as he pretzels his right arm under his left. Text: “Youth has no patent on relevancy. I’ve got a lot of things that I still need to say in choreography. That drives me.” —Val Caniparoli
3) Text: Read the full article at the link in our bio!

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For 53 years, @sfballet audiences have watched @valcaniparoli disappear into a character. A dancer with the company since 1973 and a principal character dancer since 1985, he’s also a prolific choreographer. His more than 150 works for companies around the world include five different productions of “The Nutcracker.“

Caniparoli will give his final performance with SFB in “Don Quixote,” on March 28. Even after five decades, he’s not retiring. Instead, he’ll shift his entire focus to choreography.

Read his interview at the link in our bio. 🧡

📸: Val Caniparoli (center) as the title role in “Don Quixote.” Photo by @e_tomasson, courtesy SFB.
📸: Caniparoli in the studio. Photo by Tomasson, courtesy SFB.
📝: Caitlin Sims

@tulsaballet @balletwest1 #ValCaniparoli #sanfranciscoballet #choreography

Descriptions:
1) Caniparoli—costumed as Don Quixote in breeches, a neck scarf and a curled mustache—stands onstage at the center of a crowd, his arms crossed, smiling slightly. The dancers playing Basilio and Kitri hang adoringly on his arms. Text: Val Caniparoli on Leaving San Francisco Ballet to Focus on Choreography—After More Than Five Decades Onstage
2–3) Text in caption.
4) Caniparoli—a silver-haired man wearing a black t-shirt and glasses—looks down over his right shoulder as he pretzels his right arm under his left. Text: “Youth has no patent on relevancy. I’ve got a lot of things that I still need to say in choreography. That drives me.” —Val Caniparoli

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Maria Kochetkova in George Balanchine's Serenade with the San Francisco Ballet
Photo by Erik Tomasson
@e_tomasson

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’Tis the season for the “Nutcracker” grind. Throughout the next month, companies will be staging the Tchaikovsky classic, some doing multiple runs over several weeks. That means packed days for dancers, many of whom will juggle two performances in one day. @sfballet corps member Gabriela Gonzalez likens it to running a marathon.

Thankfully, Gonzalez, who joined SFB in 2017, has learned how to take care of her body to meet the demands of a grueling performance day. She and other experienced dancers and health experts share their tips on how to set yourself up for a successful “Nutcracker” at pointemagazine.com ✨

📝: @adeocareezaa
📸: @siruichaa and @joshua.a.stayton in @cincinnatiballet’s “Nutcracker.” Photo by @hiromiplattphotography, courtesy Cincinnati Ballet.
📸: @gabri_go in Helgi Tomasson’s “Nutcracker.” Photo by @e_tomasson, courtesy @sfballet.
📸: Gonzalez (far left) with her fellow Mirlitons backstage at San Francisco Ballet’s “Nutcracker.” Photo courtesy Gonzalez.
📸: Liu in “Nutcracker.” Photo by @hiromiplattphotography, courtesy Cincinnati Ballet.

#Nutcracker #Ballet #SanFranciscoBallet #CincinnatiBallet #Dancers @cinchnutrition

Image descriptions
(1) Sirui Liu poses in attitude wearing a purple tutu and a tiara. Joshua Stayton wears red pants, a white shirt, and a gold vest. He holds Liu with his right arm and extends both is left arm and left leg to the side. Text: Nutcracker Tips for Surviving Double-Show Days
(2) Gabriela Gonzalez and other dancers pose in arabesque onstage. They wear gold headpieces and romantic tutus that resemble flower petals. Text: “Listen to your body and know that it’s okay to be communicative with your rehearsal director when you need to take it easy.”
—Gabriela Gonzalez, San Francisco Ballet corps member
(3) Three dancers pose backstage in blue tights and pointe shoes. They wear colorful, ruffled tutus and tall hair pieces with feathers.
(4) Text: “I would suggest dancers try different [warm-up methods] to find out what works best for them.”
—Sirui Liu, Cincinnati Ballet principal

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Congratulations to @franadian for your 2025 @dancemagazine award. So deserved!!!!! Here in “Lambarena” by @valcaniparoli @sfballet photography by @e_tomasson

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Happy #ThrowbackThursday! 🧡 Today, we’re taking a look back in time at some special moments when three of our 2025 Dance Magazine Awardees have appeared in @dancemagazine, @pointemagazineofficial, and @dancespiritmagazine. (Stay tuned for more of our other awardees later!)

Featuring:
⭐ Frances Chung (@franadian, @sfballet): “Why I Dance” in “Dance Magazine” August 2007, “Working Out With Frances Chung” in “DM” March 2015, “Frances Chung on Taking Ballet Seriously—But Not Too Seriously” in “Pointe” 2023
⭐ Mandy Moore (@nopenother): “10 Minutes With Mandy Moore” in “DM” January 2018, “Choreographing for Celebrities” in “DM” April 2023, “Choreographer Mandy Moore Brings Her Creative Vision to Vegas” in “DM” July 2024
⭐ Kenny Ortega (@kennyortegablog): “Kenny Ortega Is the Newest Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame” in “Dance Spirit” June 2019, “Announcing the 2023 World Choreography Award Winners” in “DS” 2023, “Brief Encounters” in “DM” June 1988, “Xanadu” in “DM” August 1980

⭐ Please join us for the 2025 Dance Magazine Awards on Monday, December 8, at 7 pm PST, featuring performances and presentations for each awardee. This year’s ceremony will take place at Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles.

Get your tickets at the link in our bio! 🎟️

📸: Courtesy the “DM,” “Pointe,” and “DS” Archives.

#DanceMagazineAwards #DanceMagazine #dance

Description: Ten images taken from print and web editions of “Dance Magazine,” “Pointe,” and “Dance Spirit” across several decades, starting in 1980. The article clips feature text and photographs of dancers and choreographers, including Frances Chung, Mandy Moore, and Kenny Ortega.

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Photograph by @e_tomasson @sfballet @valcaniparoli

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