BY KAREN BOSSICK

Kenzie Andrews is just 18 years of age. But she has already choreographed a ballet piece titled “Shadows.” And she will perform it on stage for the first time with other dancers from the San Francisco Ballet School’s Pre-Professional Dance Program Thursday and Friday at The Argyros Center for the Performing Arts in Ketchum.

The San Francisco Ballet School Pre-Professional dancers will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 23 and 24, at The Argyros.

The evening, brought to Sun Valley audiences by Ballet Sun Valley, will feature an eclectic program of pieces ranging from 19th century classics to new works choreographed by San Francisco ballet company artists.

Andrews’ piece, she said, is inspired by the idea that you always feel a presence around you. It is performed to eerie, mysterious music—perfect for the Halloween season.

“When people watch my piece, I want them to be shocked by what happens next,” she said. “I want people to be on the edge of their seats.”

Andrews said “Shadows’ is very special to her because her father—a musician and composer—composed the music: “We sat down together and played out each idea that I had so I could tell him what I wanted in each part of the dances. The music matches and fits well.”

In addition to “Shadows,” the performances will include excerpts from “Raymonda” choreographed by San Francisco Ballet Artistic Director Tamara Rojo, a Spanish ballerina, and “Flames of Paris pas de deux,” choreographed after Vasily Vainonen,

There also will be world premieres by San Francisco Ballet School instructor Karen Gabay and San Francisco Ballet soloist Myles Thatcher, who took part in the pre-professional program before joining the company.  He has been commissioned by the New York City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Scottish Ballet and San Francisco Ballet

San Francisco Ballet dancer Davide Occhipinti choreographed a piece to “Time Will Softly Lull.”

“It’s a contemporary piece I made last season for the level 8 students, who are the oldest students at San Francisco Ballet. This time around it will be performed by the trainees, a group of students who are getting ready to go pro. The whole program is pretty varied, I think, in terms of styles, which means the audience will see different flavors in one evening.”

The 14 dancers who will perform this week were selected for the prestigious program in a highly selective process. This year’s trainees come from Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Mexico, as well as the United States.

The Sun Valley performances will mark the first time they’re performing on stage together after convening in San Franciso weeks earlier.

Watching the dancers who performed at The Argyros last year, it was hard to believe they were “pre-professionals.” Their performances were stirring and well performed with little surprises sprinkled throughout the choreography.

“The director of the school and training program go around the world to get the best dancers they can. And the students get experience and exposure so they can get jobs,” said Occhipinti. “The pre-professional program is a very good program for finishing your ballet techniques and they get to perform with the San Francisco Ballet Company.

It takes years of intense work for even the most naturally gifted dancer to turn into a pro.

During their time with the trainee program, they’re steeped in daily classes, rehearsals and cross-training to get an idea of what company life will be like. They also learn to refine their body language and gain confidence.

Their visit to Sun Valley marks the first experience touring for most of them as they learn how to take care of themselves, see what goes into a fully produced performance and adapt what they’ve learned from the studio to stage, said San Francisco Ballet School Director Grace Holmes.

“We love coming to Sun Valley. It’s important for us that not only are the dancers exposed to a variety of dance but also the audience,” said Pascal Molat, a French-born dancer who trained at the Paris opera Ballet School and now serves as associate director of the Trainee Program.

The trainee program began in 2004. Many of the past students, such as Anna Chazirogloou, now with the San Francisco Ballet, have gone on to join prestigious ballet companies around the world.

Tickets for Thursday and Friday’s performances start at $38 and are available at  https://ci.ovationtix.com/35937/production/1249254

DID YOU KNOW?

Pascal Molat, who performed with ballet companies across Europe before joining San Francisco Ballet in 2002, will teach a free advanced ballet class at Footlight Dance Centre while in the Wood River Valley for Thursday and Friday’s performances by San Francisco Ballet School Pre-Professional Dancers.