A shower of flowers and a sustained standing ovation marked the end of an era: Yuan Yuan Tan’s retirement from San Francisco Ballet after almost 30 years on February 14, her 48th birthday. A muse to choreographers, an inspiration to generations of dancers, and a deeply beloved audience favorite, Tan, known as YY to friends and colleagues, played a central role in the company’s success during Helgi Tomasson’s­ long tenure as artistic director.

Here are the latest promotions, appointments, departures, awards, and accomplishments from January 2024, plus new or newly available funding opportunities for dance artists and organizations.

I think fate brought me to dance. My mom had dreamed of becoming a dancer, but was discouraged by my grandfather. At 10 years old I ended up being one of a couple thousand kids to be selected to audition at Shanghai Dance School. I had all the criteria they wanted. But my parents disagreed […]

This year we celebrate five extraordinary artists: San Francisco Ballet principal Yuan Yuan Tan, dance-theater innovator Martha Clarke, European maverick Mats Ek, Balanchine ballerina Patricia Wilde, and the composer who makes us want to lose ourselves in dancing—Philip Glass.     Yuan Yuan Tan When Yuan Yuan Tan receives the Dance Magazine Award this month, […]