S.F. Ballet dancer to leave company after 53 years

Principal Character Dancer Val Caniparoli announces departure to focus on choreography

Mar. 16, 2026 at 6:22pm by Ben Kaplan

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After 53 years with the San Francisco Ballet, Principal Character Dancer Val Caniparoli announced that he will be stepping away from the stage to continue his focus on choreography. Caniparoli, who joined the company in 1972 on a Ford Foundation Scholarship, has created over 150 works for 60 companies globally and had 25 of his ballets performed by the San Francisco Ballet during his tenure. His final performance with the company will be on March 28 in 'Don Quixote'.

Why it matters

Caniparoli's departure marks the end of an era for the San Francisco Ballet, as he has been a fixture with the company for over five decades, both as a dancer and a choreographer. His legacy includes creating numerous acclaimed works that have been performed around the world, cementing his reputation as a prolific and influential artist in the ballet community.

The details

Val Caniparoli joined the San Francisco Ballet School in 1972 on a Ford Foundation Scholarship and officially joined the company the following year. He was appointed a resident choreographer under the leadership of Lew Christensen and Michael Smuin, and later named a principal character dancer and rehearsal director by Helgi Tomasson. Caniparoli has continued to choreograph and dance under the current artistic director, Tamara Rojo. Over the course of his career, he has received numerous accolades, including 10 grants for choreography from the National Endowment for the Arts, an artist fellowship from the California Arts Council, and the Isadora Duncan Award for Sustained Achievement.

  • Caniparoli joined the San Francisco Ballet School in 1972.
  • Caniparoli joined the San Francisco Ballet company in 1973.
  • Caniparoli's final performance with the company will be on March 28, 2026.

The players

Val Caniparoli

A principal character dancer who has been with the San Francisco Ballet for 53 years, both as a dancer and a choreographer. He has created over 150 works for 60 companies globally and had 25 of his ballets performed by the San Francisco Ballet during his tenure.

Lew Christensen

A former artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet, under whom Caniparoli was appointed as a resident choreographer.

Michael Smuin

A former artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet, under whom Caniparoli was appointed as a resident choreographer.

Helgi Tomasson

A former artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet, who named Caniparoli a principal character dancer and rehearsal director.

Tamara Rojo

The current artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet, under whom Caniparoli has continued to choreograph and dance.

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What they’re saying

“I will be stepping away from the (Ballet) stage to continue my focus full time on choreography. During my tenure, SF Ballet has performed 25 of my ballets and I have created over 150 works for 60 Companies globally.”

— Val Caniparoli, Principal Character Dancer (Instagram)

What’s next

Caniparoli's final performance with the San Francisco Ballet will be on March 28, 2026 in 'Don Quixote'. He is currently creating 'Goat Rodeo', a world premiere for Richmond Ballet, as well as his full-length 'Dr. Coppélius', set for March 2027.

The takeaway

Caniparoli's departure from the San Francisco Ballet marks the end of an era, as he has been a integral part of the company for over five decades. His legacy as a prolific choreographer, creating over 150 works for 60 companies globally, and his contributions as a dancer and rehearsal director, have left an indelible mark on the San Francisco Ballet and the wider ballet community.