American Choreographer Kenneth von Heidecke made his San Diego Opera debut in Romeo and Juliet in 1998, returning to choreograph Ariodante in 2001, Samson and Delilah in 2007 and Aida in 2008. Considered to be the protégé of Prima Ballerina Assoluta, Maria Tallchief, he has choreographed over 40 ballets and 40 opera throughout Europe and the U.S. including at New York City Opera, Edinburgh Festival, The Dallas Opera, La Scala, Rome Opera, San Francisco Ballet and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Opera performances include Eugene Onegin, La traviata, La sonnambula, Rigoletto and Carmen, among others. He founded the Von Heidecke School of Ballet and the Von Heidecke Chicago Festival Ballet.