<BR>Lorena Feijoo<P> <BR>Parrish Maynard<P>Lorena Feijoo and Parrish Maynard danced the leads in SF Ballet's "Raymonda" Act III. SF Chronicle critic called it "a rich feast": <A HREF="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/04/13/DD86456.DTL&type=performance" TARGET=_blank>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?<BR>file=/chronicle/archive/2000/04/13/DD86456.DTL&type=performance</A> <P>And here are SFB's notes on this production: <A HREF="http://www.sfballet.org/repertory00/raymonda.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.sfballet.org/repertory00/raymonda.html</A> <P>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited April 13, 2000).]<p>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited August 08, 2001).]

And here is a review from last year about Mark Morris' "Sandpaper Ballet" which is on the same bill as "Raymonda" this season (check out the goofy costumes): <A HREF="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/04/29/DD93912.DTL&type=performance" TARGET=_blank>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?<BR>file=/chronicle/archive/1999/04/29/DD93912.DTL&type=performance</A> <p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited April 13, 2000).]

"Raymonda" was indeed a sumptuous feast for the eyes. However, having seen Balanchine's "Pas de Dix" from his Raymonda Variations, I find this Nureyez after Petipa version a little belabored... perhaps I am a child of the modern world. Joanna Berman, as usual, put in an impeccable performance, as did her partner, former ABT star Parrish Maynard.<P>Morris' "Sandpaper Ballet" has not lost any of its charm in its encore season. It is as wacky as ever; it's a very silly ballet but without very many spectacular steps. As expected, the music of Leroy Andersen, replete with sounds of horse hoofsteps and neighing put the audience in the right mood even before the curtain went up on the dancers in their lime green costumes.<P> <BR>Tina LeBlanc<P>The surprise of the evening for me, personally, was Helgi Tomasson's reprise of "Nanna's Lied," danced to music by Kurt Weill. It features a technically competent and emotionally expressive Tina LeBlanc as an innocent seduced and mistreated by men. Possibly Tomasson's best work.<p>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited April 21, 2000).]

<p>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited August 08, 2001).]