By K.D. Norris
The Grand Rapids Ballet has named James Sofranko, currently a featured solo dancer with the San Francisco Ballet and an advocate for contemporary dance and social causes, as its new artistic director.
Sofranko will officially join GRBallet on July 1, after his final production with the Bay Area dance company, and will replace Patricia Barker, who is leaving Grand Rapids to lead the Royal New Zealand Ballet.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to lead Grand Rapids Ballet into their next chapter,” Sogranko said in supplied material. “Upon my visits, I was impressed with the dancers, the board, the staff, and the city of Grand Rapids. The company works easily in both contemporary and classical styles, which makes them a natural fit for me. I’m excited to begin working to continue to bring great dance to the city of Grand Rapids, as well as to continue my growth as a choreographer.”
The naming of Sofranko comes after a nationwide search by the Grand Rapids Ballet Artistic Director Search Committee, led by co-chairs Dana Baldwin and Leah Voigt.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff, and dancers of Grand Rapids Ballet, we are excited to welcome James Sofranko to Grand Rapids,” Baldwin and Voight stated in supplied information. “He is a true star and brings a passion for dance along with the sophistication, grace, and knowledge required for this leadership position. We expect great things as we move forward in an incredible new era of the Company’s history.”
Sofranko is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, received his dance training at The Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida, and The Juilliard School in New York City, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, according to supplied information. Upon graduation in 2000, he joined San Francisco Ballet and was promoted to soloist in 2007.
He comes to West Michigan with a glowing recommendation from the leadership of the San Francisco Ballet.
“James is an intelligent, thoughtful, and versatile dancer who has dedicated so much to the company over the last 18 seasons,” San Francisco Ballet Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson. “He has also made a lasting impact on the Bay Area dance community through performances he has produced himself. With his vision, I have no doubt that he will bring Grand Rapids Ballet to new heights, and I wish him all the best on this exciting new chapter. We will miss him.”.
Sofranko’s last performance as a dancer with San Francisco Ballet will take place during the Company’s Unbound Festival in May. He will officially join Grand Rapids Ballet July 1.
Along with his duties to Grand Rapids Ballet, Sofranko will continue to develop SFDanceworks, currently presented in San Francisco each summer, and may continue his Dance For A Reason (DanceFAR) a dance event supporting cancer prevention, a cause Sofranko strongly believes in.
At GRBallet, Sofranko will be responsible for all artistic direction and artistic planning including programming and hiring of dancers and choreographers, production staff, touring, and outreach efforts.
He also plans to choreograph new works for Grand Rapids Ballet, as well as hire outside-the-company choreographers, so he will have an important role in development of 2018-2019 season programming, to be announced in early Spring 2018.
For more information visit GRBallet.com .
