In a bold but calculated move, the San Francisco Opera opened its summer season last week with the U.S. premiere of Calixto Bieito's notorious production of Bizet's "Carmen."

With "Onegin," a three-act ballet choreographed in 1965 by the gay South African John Cranko, San Francisco Ballet brought their 2016 season to a sensational close.

The AIDS epidemic nearly wiped out an entire generation of creative lights - writers, artists, musicians, actors and intellectuals - but it hit the dance community especially hard.

Eagle-eyed readers who have been following Besties coverage in Arts & Culture over the years will have noticed that many of the winners in various categories have been previous awardees as well.