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Joan Boada & Maria Kochetkova in Tomasson's 'Romeo & Juliet' at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 10/21/11; Photo: Michael Khoury for Orange Coast

Joan Boada & Maria Kochetkova in Tomasson's 'Romeo & Juliet' at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 10/21/11; Photo: Michael Khoury for Orange Coast

San Francisco Ballet’s Artistic Director, Helgi Tomasson, has paired San Francisco Ballet’s Joan Boada and Maria Kochetkova together, once again, for this 2012 season’s run of Romeo & Juliet. ‘Masha’ (as Maria is affectionately known to her friends and fans) and Joan’s special chemistry has inspired more than a few SFBalletomanes to weep uncontrollably in their seats (who, me?) with their emotionally rich portrayal of the star-crossed lovers. 

Maria Kochetkova & Joan Boada in Tomasson’s Romeo & Juliet; Photo: © Erik Tomasson

It was with Joan, as Albrecht, that Masha won her first well-deserved ‘Izzie’ (Isadora Duncan Dance Award) for her portrayal of the title role in Giselle and it was not lost on the petite ballerina, who made sure to thank her partner in her acceptance speech, nor this journalist, that it ‘takes two to tango’ and Odette believes both of them should have won Izzies for their Giselle performances that season.

Maria Kochetkova & Joan Boada in Tomasson’s Romeo & Juliet; Photo: © Erik Tomasson

Though Masha has made her mark in her equally remarkable partnership with fellow countryman, Gennadi Nedvigin (in Coppélia and her 2nd spectacular run of Giselle), and Joan has also been in the spotlight with other partners, winning an ‘Izzie’ with SFB’s Loréna Feijoo for their roles in Tomasson/Possokhov’s Don Quixote, Masha & Joan’s Romeo & Juliet partnership is still one of the best Odette has seen.

Joan Boada & Maria Kochetkova in Tomasson's 'Romeo & Juliet' at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 10/21/11; Photo: Michael Khoury for Orange Coast

Today’s Romeo & Juliet photographic compilation previews tonight’s featured opening night cast better than anyone who isn’t Shakespeare possibly could, in words alone;  welcome to the doomed youths, as portrayed by Maria ‘Masha’ Kochetkova and Joan Boada. 

Joan Boada & Maria Kochetkova in Tomasson's 'Romeo & Juliet' at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 10/21/11; Photo: Michael Khoury for Orange Coast

Joan Boada & Maria Kochetkova in Tomasson's 'Romeo & Juliet' at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 10/21/11; Photo: Michael Khoury for Orange Coast

Maria Kochetkova & Joan Boada in Tomasson’s Romeo & Juliet; Photo: © Erik Tomasson

 See You at the Ballet!

Odette