Val Caniparoli


Val Caniparoli is an American ballet dancer and international choreographer. His work includes more than 100 productions for ballet, opera, and theater for over 50 companies, and his career as a choreographer progressed globally even as he continued his professional dance career with the San Francisco Ballet.
He joined the San Francisco Ballet as a dancer in 1973. He was appointed to the position of principal character dancer with the San Francisco Ballet by Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson in 1987.
WWW valcaniparoli.com

Early years

Caniparoli was born in Renton, Washington, to Francisco Caniparoli, a clothing manufacturer, and Leonora Caniparoli, who worked at Boeing. He attended Washington State University, where he studied music and theater. When the First Chamber Dance Company was touring Eastern Washington, they did performances at WSU, and offered workshops in ballet. Caniparoli attended one and was told he had talent, and should audition at the San Francisco Ballet School. Thereafter he decided to pursue a career in ballet, and left WSU. He received a scholarship from the Ford Foundation that enabled him to attend the San Francisco Ballet School. Caniparoli performed with San Francisco Opera Ballet, and in 1973, just a year and a half into his studies, he was offered a contract with San Francisco Ballet. In his debut season, he worked under Co-Artistic Directors Lew Christensen and Michael Smuin, and later, under Helgi Tomasson.
Caniparoli became interested in choreography when he attended a choreography workshop offered by the Pacific Northwest Ballet. After that work, his choreography career expanded and he was appointed resident choreographer for the San Francisco Ballet in the mid-1980s. In 1984, Caniparoli co-founded a choreographic collective called OMO in San Francisco, and a documentary about OMO's founding was broadcast that year on PBS. In 1994, he created his first full-length ballet entitled Lady of the Camellias, based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas fils, and with a score by Frédéric Chopin. Lady of the Camellias became one of Caniparoli's most popular works, and a part of the repertoire of several ballet companies, including Ballet West, Ballet Florida, Boston Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, and Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
Caniparoli was resident choreographer for Ballet West from 1993 to 1997, and for Tulsa Ballet from 2001 to 2006. He continues to create works for San Francisco Ballet.
In 1995, Caniparoli choreographed a new work entitled Lambarena, set to a musical blend of J.S. Bach with Traditional African music composed by Pierre Akendengue and Hughes de Courson. Lambarena has become another of Caniparoli's most popular creations, a blend of classical ballet and African dance. This ballet has been performed more than 20 companies, including Atlanta Ballet, Boston Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Singapore Dance Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, and State Ballet of South Africa.
In 2002, Caniparoli was invited to choreograph a pas de deux to be performed by Evelyn Hart and Rex Harrington for Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate her Golden Jubilee visit to Canada.
In May 2010, San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater premiered Tosca Cafe, a theater/dance work co-created and co-directed by Caniparoli and A.C.T.'s Carey Perloff; Caniparoli also did the choreography. "'Tosca Cafe"', which started as The Tosca Project, chronicles a wide cast of characters who inhabit Tosca, a bar in the North Beach section of San Francisco in the same location for decades. Caniparoli and Perloff saw this work as a unique opportunity for collaboration between dancers and actors. Since its 2010 premiere in San Francisco, Tosca Cafe has been performed internationally.

Influences

While growing up in Renton, Washington, Caniparoli studied music for 13 years. His study included private lessons on alto saxophone, clarinet, and flute. He credits his study of music with nurturing his eclectic interest in world music and composers, and varied genres. He has become well known for his use of widely diverse music as a principal foundation for his choreographic work. He was also influenced by the dancing of film stars Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. Caniparoli's work has been described as "rooted in classicism but influenced by all forms of movement: modern dance, ethnic dance, social dancing, even ice skating."

Personal

Caniparoli lives in San Francisco, California.

Ballet choreography

Jekyll & Hyde, 2020 Finnish National BalletForeshadow, 2018 San Francisco BalletThe Nutcracker, 2018 Royal New Zealand BalletIf I Were A Sushi Roll, 2018 Smuin BalletDances for Lou, 2017 Ballet West4 in the Morning, 2016 Amy Seiwert's ImageryTwisted 2, 2016 BalletMetRepeat After Me, 2016 Menlo BalletWithout Borders, 2016 Texas Ballet TheaterBeautiful Dreamer, 2016 Oakland BalletStolen Moments, 2015 Richmond BalletDas Ballett, 2015 Oakland BalletThe Nutcracker 2014 Grand Rapids BalletTwisted, 2014 BalletMetTutto Eccetto Il Lavandino 2014 Smuin BalletSpaghetti Western 2014 Louisville BalletTears, 2014 San Francisco BalletIn Pieces, 2013 Colorado BalletTriptych, 2013, Amy Siewert's ImageryCaprice, 2013 Premiere: Cincinnati BalletThe Lottery, 2012 Premiere: Ballet WestChant, 2012 Premiere: Singapore Dance TheatreIncantations, 2012 Premiere: Joffrey BalletSwipe, 2012 Premiere: Richmond BalletTears From Above, 2011 Premiere: Diablo BalletDouble Stop, 2011 San Francisco BalletBlades of Grass, 2010 Premiere: Milwaukee BalletStill Life, 2010 Premiere: Scottish BalletAmor Con Fortuna, 2009 Premiere: Tulsa BalletThe Seasons, 2009 Premiere: Pacific Northwest BalletThe Nutcracker, 2009 Premiere: Louisville BalletEbony Concerto, 2009 Premiere: San Francisco BalletIbsen's House, 2008 Premiere: San Francisco BalletSuite, 2007 Premiere: American Repertory BalletViolin, 2006 Premiere: Richmond BalletSongs, 2005 Premiere: Central West BalletIkon of Eros, 2005 Premiere: Washington BalletSonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, 2004 Premiere: Boston BalletVal Caniparoli's A Cinderella Story, 2004 Premiere: Royal Winnipeg BalletGustav's Rooster, 2003 Premiere: Tulsa BalletVivace, 2003 Premiere: Tulsa BalletUntitled, 2003 Premiere: Royal Winnipeg BalletNo Other, 2002 Premiere: San Francisco BalletUnspoken, 2002 Premiere: Royal Winnipeg BalletMisa Criolla, 2002 Premiere: Tulsa BalletDevil's Sonata, 2002 Premiere: Sacramento Balletboink! 2002 Premiere: Lawrence Pech Dance CompanyThe Nutcracker, 2001 Premiere: Cincinnati BalletTorque, 2001 Premiere: Pacific Northwest BalletJaybird Lounge, 2001 Premiere: Pennsylvania BalletDeath of a Moth, 2001 Premiere: San Francisco BalletBird's Nest, 2000 Premiere: Washington BalletAlready Dusk, 2000 Premiere: Lawrence Pech Dance CompanyFade to Black, 2000 Premiere: L. Feijoo and Y. PossokhovGoing for Baroque 1999 Premiere: Tulsa BalletAttention Please, 1999 Premiere: Richmond BalletAquilarco, 1999 Premiere: San Francisco BalletSeparations, 1999 Premiere: Ballet FloridaOpen Veins, 1998 Premiere: Atlanta BalletAria, 1998 Premiere: San Francisco BalletBook of Alleged Dances, 1998 Premiere: Ballet WestSlow, 1998 Premiere: San Francisco BalletThe Bridge, 1998 Premiere: Pacific Northwest BalletDjangology, 1997 Premiere: Richmond BalletCiao, Marcello, 1997 Premiere: San Francisco BalletPrawn-watching, 1996 Premiere: Ballet WestBow Out, 1995 Premiere: Richmond BalletLambarena, 1995 Premiere: San Francisco BalletLa Folia, 1994 Premiere: Marin BalletTangazzo, 1994 Premiere: Marin BalletLady of the Camellias, 1994 Premiere: Ballet WestSeeing Stars, 1993 Premiere: San Francisco BalletConcerto Grosso, 1992 Premiere: Marin BalletPulcinella, 1991 Premiere: San Francisco BalletTryst, 1991 Premiere: Pacific Northwest BalletGran Partita, 1990 Premiere: Pacific Northwest BalletIn Perpetuum, 1990 Premiere: San Francisco BalletRitual, 1990 Premiere: Johann Renvall and Stars of American BalletA Door Is Ajar, 1990 Premiere: Ririe WoodburyBetween Ourselves, 1989 Premiere: Pittsburgh Ballet TheatreKinetic Impressions, 1989 Premiere: Ballet WestConnotations, 1989 Premiere: San Francisco BalletWhite Mourning, 1989 Premiere: Ballet WestOphelia, 1988 Premiere: Ballet WestNarcisse, 1987 Premiere: San Francisco BalletHamlet and Ophelia Pas de Deux, 1985 Premiere: San Francisco BalletAubade, 1985 Premiere: Israel BalletAccidental or Abnormal Chromosomal Events, 1984 Premiere: Bay Area Playwrights FestivalTar Marmalade, 1984 Premiere: Oakland BalletChansons de Scheherazade, 1983 Premiere: San Francisco BalletWindows, 1983 Premiere: San Francisco BalletLoves-Lies-Bleeding, 1982 Premiere: San Francisco BalletDeranged Dances, 1982 Premiere: Marin BalletSix-for-Eight, 1981 Premiere: Palo Alto Dance TheatreStreet Songs, 1980 Premiere: Pacific Northwest BalletConcertino, 1979 Premiere: Contemporary Dance Theatre of Tucson

Theater choreography and direction

A Little Night Music American Conservatory Theater, San FranciscoArcadia American Conservatory Theater, San FranciscoTosca Café Theatre Calgary, Vancouver PlayhouseThe Tosca Project American Conservatory Theater, San FranciscoTis Pity She's a Whore A.C.T., San FranciscoA Christmas Carol, A.C.T., San FranciscoA Doll's House, A.C.T., San Francisco

Opera choreography

Two Women San Francisco OperaAndrea Chenier Lyric Opera of ChicagoCapriccio San Francisco Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of ChicagoManon San Francisco Opera

Concert choreography

Mlada San Francisco SymphonyPsycho, The Ballet San Francisco PopsEmbraceable You San Francisco Pops

Film choreography

Television

In 2015, co-choreographed with Helgi Tomasson, a commercial for the 50th Anniversary Super Bowl with dancers from San Francisco Ballet.
Choreography from Lambarena featured on Sesame Street with dancers Lorena Feijoo and Lorna Feijoo.
Caniparoli appeared on PBS in The San Francisco Ballet in Cinderella ''Dance in America in the role of Cinderella's father. In addition, he appeared in three television specials:
  1. The Creation of OMO in which he discussed the experimental dance company he co-founded
  2. A Song for Dead Warriors
  3. Romeo and Juliet'', Michael Smuin's ballet production, which aired on PBS in 1976

Honors and awards