Iceland review - 2016, Side 71

ICELAND REVIEW 69
City Ballet, where he remained the principal dancer for 15
years. At the age of 42, at the peak of his career, he decided
to quit dancing. The New York Times praised him after his
farewell performance as “one of the world’s greatest classical
dancers.” Within a week, Helgi was hired as artistic director
of the San Francisco Ballet, where he has remained for 31
years. He has been credited with transforming what was a
regional ballet into one of international standard, excellence
and fame.
“When I took over as artistic director, the New York City
Ballet was at its peak and my standard for what I wanted
from the dancers was high. I taught the warm-up session
every day and showed the dancers what had to be improved.
I also hired new, top-quality choreographers. But a ballet
group is always judged by the way it performs the classical
pieces, so after three years, we performed Swan Lake, which
was very well-received,” Helgi explains.
Today, the 72-member ballet is truly international. Among
the 35 dancers who made up the group that performed in
Reykjavík, 17 nationalities were represented. Competition
in the world of ballet is notoriously fierce, and Helgi points
out that it’s common for ballet companies to be made up of
members from numerous countries.
What, I ask him, does it take to
become a first-rate ballet dancer? “You
have to love music very much and be
passionate about the art form. You also
have to be very flexible, especially the
women. A stage presence that capti-
vates the audience is essential. It takes
a dancer eight to ten years to make it to
a professional dance group and, if you
have the ability, it can take another seven
or eight to become a soloist. It takes an
enormous commitment. You must love
what you do.”
FASCINATING FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Helgi himself became captivated
by ballet when, as a small child in
Vestmannaeyjar, where he grew up, he
saw the first ballet performance of his
life. Thus, he is well aware of the impor-
tance of kindling children’s interest in
ballet.
BALLET
Opposite page: Helgi Tómasson during rehearsal of Tomasson’s Trio; Above and next spread: performance of Tomasson’s Trio.