NAME: Tomasson, Helgi

BIRTH DATE/LOCATION:
Iceland

»
San Francisco Ballet Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson
Photo by David Martinez

click to enlarge   
  • identification & bio
  • key contact
  • human repositories
  • video documentation
  • photographic documentation
    		•
  • movement notation
  • production materials
  • oral history
  • personal papers
  • immediate needs
    		•
  • other relevant information
  • overview of works
  • bibliography
  • back to introduction
    •
  • back to index of choreographers
    •

    IDENTIFICATION AND BIO:
    In February of 1995, San Francisco Ballet (SFB) artistic director Helgi Tomasson choreographed When We No Longer Touch for an AIDS benefit titled "Classical Action" that included contributions from the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony, and the American Conservatory Theater. The pas de deux was accompanied by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and articulated emotions of grief and anger in response to the AIDS epidemic. Tomasson began his dance training at the age of ten and embarked on a professional career in dance in 1958. He joined the New York City Ballet as principal dancer in 1970 where he stayed for fifteen years, securing the status as one of the finest male dancers of his time. Since assuming the role of artistic director in 1985, Tomasson has choreographed more than thirty ballets for the company as well as works performed by companies such as the New York City Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, and Houston Ballet.

    In May of 1995, SFB again presented When We No Longer Touch for "United We Dance: An International Festival," an event (organized by SFB) commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the United Nations charter. When We No Longer Touch was created in three movements and drew praise from San Francisco Chronicle dance critic Octavio Roca who wrote, "There was no mistaking the intensity of the dance..."

    KEY CONTACT PERSON(S)/EXECUTOR OF ESTATE:
    Helgi Tomasson

    Kyra Jablonsky
    Public Relations Manager
    San Francisco Ballet
    455 Franklin Street
    San Francisco, CA 94102
    415-861-5600
    kjablonsky@sfballet.org

    HUMAN REPOSITORIES OF THE WORK
    (name and contact info, relationship to the artist and the work, assessment):
    Sabina Allemann
    Eric Hoisington
    contact both via San Francisco Ballet (see above)

    VIDEO DOCUMENTATION:
    (location, format, condition, assessment):
    The San Francisco Ballet holds archival video footage of the piece.

    PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION
    (location, format, condition, assessment):
    The San Francsico Ballet holds photographic documentation in slide format by Lloyd Englert.

    MOVEMENT NOTATION
    (location, type [including notes taken by dancers], assessment):
    None.

    PRODUCTION MATERIALS
    (scores, sound recordings, set/costume designs):
    A compact disc recording of Kristopher Jon Anthony's When We No Longer Touch: Songs for Survival is available through the Turtle Creek Chorale Label as of 24 January 1995.

    The San Francisco Ballet holds costume pieces/designs from the work.

    ORAL HISTORY:
    None identified.

    PERSONAL PAPERS
    (location of newspaper clippings, printed programs, press releases, notes, files, diaries; assessment):
    None identified in relation to this work.

    IMMEDIATE NEEDS
    (archival assistance? storage? other?):
    None identified.

    OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:
    None.

    OVERVIEW OF WORKS PERTAINING TO HIV/AIDS
    (title, premiere date, music, production notes, performers):
    When We No Longer Touch (1995)—score composed by Kristopher Jon Anthony and performed live by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, performed by dancers Sabina Allemann and Eric Hoisington, "Classical Action," Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco

    BIBLIOGRAPHY:

    • Anderson, Jack. 1995. "Varied as the Nations, United in Dance." New York Times (23 April).
    • Hamlin, Jesse. 1995. "'Classical Action'—A Classical Gas AIDS Benefit Raises Money and Spirits." San Francisco Chronicle (21 February).
    • Roca, Octavio. 1995. "'Classical Action' Dazzles and Surprises: A Night of Music and Dance Raises Funds to Fight AIDS." San Francisco Chronicle (22 February).
         		 
    index of choreographers »

    TOP