San Francisco Chronicle, SF Gate

Wes Chapman plays new role at Ballet SJ

Allan Ulrich

Published 2:24 p.m., Wednesday, October 31, 2012

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  New Ballet San Jose artistic adviser Wes Chapman (center) rehearses Maykiel Solas and Junna Ige of Ballet SJ in the "Don Quixote" pas de deux, which Chapman is staging in February. Photo: Robert Shomler, Ballet San Jose / SF

  
  

Many, perhaps too many, dancers find it impossible to relinquish their ballet slippers, even when the calendar tells them to.

Not Wes Chapman. Once a much-lauded principal in both classic and contemporary fare at American Ballet Theater (and an audience favorite during the company's annual San Francisco visits), he retired with no regrets at 31. "It was one of those scenarios where I had done everything at ABT at that point," said Chapman in a phone call, "and wanted to get into the other side of the business, directing, in particular."

Indeed, he did. Sixteen years later, Chapman has returned to the Bay Area in the newly created post of artistic adviser of Ballet San Jose and he promises big changes in repertoire and the standard of dancing. Before all that, Ballet San Jose needs to raise some money, which is why the company is launching its 2012-13 season with a gala of dance and music Saturday evening.

Arrived in January

One suspects that the ousting last year of founding Artistic Director Dennis Nahat may have alienated some of the company's financial backers and possibly encouraged new sources of support. But that is a matter that Chapman, who came aboard in January, cannot discuss.

After this weekend's gala, the entire repertoire will be fresh to the South Bay. Following the premiere of a new "Nutcracker" (the first in 30 years) by veteran principal dancer Karen Gabay, Ballet SJ's partnership with ABT will be clearly evident. In February, the troupe will dance "Don Quixote" (in a Chapman staging) for the first time. Later, two mixed bills will include vintage dances by Frederick Ashton, Merce Cunningham and Kurt Jooss (the antiwar classic "Green Table"), a world premiere from emerging choreographer Jessica Lang and recent dances by Stanton Welch and Jorma Elo. Live music (courtesy of Symphony Silicon Valley), the cost of which will be underwritten by the gala proceeds, will accompany all ballets that call for it.

"I want to give the company a new identity by performing different choreographers," says Chapman, 47. "Ashton is one of them." The great British choreographer is ranked by many critics second only to George Balanchine among 20th century classicists. Yet, says Chapman, "there are not a lot of American companies who are doing his work on a regular basis." A new licensing arrangement with the Ashton estate should make his ballets more available in the future.

Deciding on repertoire is one of Chapman's chief tasks carried out in tandem with principal ballet master Raymond Rodriguez. They will jointly run Ballet SJ on a daily basis, dealing with everything from casting to photo shoots.

41 dancers overall

In addition to unfamiliar repertoire, new dancers will spice the Ballet SJ roster. Five dancers split for various reasons last season; Chapman has increased the overall number to 41, feeling he can draw from the Ballet SJ School when crowds are required for "Nutcracker" and "Don Quixote." Peruse the revised roster and you may spot Nutnaree Pipit-Suksun, a San Francisco Ballet soloist for many years and an attractively fluid dancer who always seemed criminally underused in her former job.

Chapman has his eye on her and others on the roster. "One of my great strengths is coaching. As a director, I think I have a gift for making dancers understand what a ballet is about," he says.

Chapman has had plenty of experience in that area. When he quit ABT, he returned to his home state to run Ballet Alabama for 11 years. Then, he received a call to be an ABT ballet master and, subsequently, to direct the junior ABT company, for which he coached, commissioned ballets and led international tours. Costs eventually forced a disbanding of the troupe, but Chapman found his four years on the job helpful to his career.

"It got me connected with presenters all over," said Chapman. "Running around the world with those wonder children was an experience I would not otherwise have had. It was enlightening and exciting."

The adviser in front of his name may not suggest permanent employment, but this is a full-time job. Chapman has relocated to San Jose and owns a California driver's license. Right now, he is wrestling with finding a "Don Quixote" set that will fit on the Performing Arts Center stage (the costumes come from ABT). In the long run, he is pondering a subscription program during the autumn months.

Chapman is hopeful: "I've seen the company come a long way since January. Now, they're being inundated with work they've never seen, and they're loving it."

And his wish for the company: "I'd like to see us become a real happening thing."

Ballet San Jose: Opening gala and performance. 8 p.m. Saturday. Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd., San Jose. (408) 255-2820. $45-$125. www.balletsj.org.

Allan Ulrich is The San Francisco Chronicle's dance correspondent. E-mail: dancebookletters@sfchronicle.com