S.F. Ballet turns 75 in grand style

San Francisco Ballet, the oldest professional ballet troupe in the U.S., has announced that it will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2008 with, among other projects, premieres by 10 choreographers, performances by three visiting dance companies and a four-city national tour.

The choreographers -- whose works will be performed over three programs, April 22 through May 6, 2008 -- will include Paul Taylor, James Kudelka (to commissioned music by Rodney Sharman) and Mark Morris (to commissioned music by John Adams).

The visiting companies -- Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, in its San Francisco debut; the National Ballet of Canada and New York City Ballet -- will appear in April. The company’s tour, whose repertory has not been announced, will include stops in Chicago, New York, Washington and Costa Mesa (Nov. 11 to 16, 2008).