Smuin Ballet Explained

Smuin Contemporary Ballet, formerly known as Smuin Ballet,[1] is a touring ballet company based in San Francisco, California.[2] Smuin Ballet performs its season in multiple venues: the Dean Lesher Center in Walnut Creek,[3] [4] the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts in Mountain View, the Sunset Center in Carmel, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and The Palace of Fine Arts Theater[5] in San Francisco.[6]

History

Founding

Michael Smuin, a former dancer, choreographer[7] and co-artistic director[8] with the San Francisco Ballet and an award-winning choreographer,[9] founded Smuin Contemporary Ballet in 1994.[10]

Then known as Smuin Ballet, the "American ballet company with a distinctly American accent… infused ballet with the rhythm, speed, and syncopation of American popular culture.”[11] Michael Smuin created about 40 ballets for the Smuin Ballet company.[12] After his sudden passing in 2007, Smuin's longtime “muse and mainstay,” [13] Celia Fushille, was named Artistic Director of Smuin.[14] [15] [16] As a founding member of the company, Fushille created roles in some of Michael Smuin's most memorable ballets, from the romantic Roxane in Cyrano to the lusty Lola-Lola in The Blue Angel. Fushille's vision for the Company, beyond the role of conservator and prime presenter of Michael Smuin’s ballets, is to bring to the stage new works by both world-renowned and emerging choreographers, as well as support young aspiring choreographers within the Smuin company.[17]

Company

Artistic Director

Associate Artistic Director

Rehearsal Director

Rehearsal Assistant

Company Artists

[18]

Touring and performing

Smuin performs over 60 shows per season in theaters throughout San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Mountain View, and Carmel. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Smuin also tours across the country to venues including the Joyce Theater in New York; Montana, Michael Smuin's home state; southern California; Colorado; and Alaska,[19] as well as throughout Europe and Australia.[19]

Smuin has launched over 50 new works into the American dance repertoire, including many choreographed by Michael Smuin, as well as over 10 ballets created by Amy Seiwert, Smuin's Choreographer in Residence.[20] Many notable choreographers such as Trey McIntyre, Helen Pickett, Ma Cong, Adam Houghland, and Val Caniparoli have premiered works with Smuin. Many of the choreographers have also given Smuin the opportunity to perform their works, including Jiří Kylián, Twyla Tharp, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and more.

Recognitions

In February 2023, Dance Data Project announced the results from its first Gender Equity Index for the 50 largest U.S. ballet companies. Smuin Ballet was ranked "Best of Leadership" and “Exceptional.”[21] [22]

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.sfgate.com/performance/article/Smuin-company-shows-growing-pains-in-season-opener-9281509.php "Smuin company shows growing pains in season opener"
  2. Book: Lucille W. Keens. Visit San Francisco. Clinton Gilkie. 26–. GGKEY:42TLWHFKUDK.
  3. http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_25714914/world-class-dance-company-neighborhood-smuin-ballet-frequent "A world-class dance company in the neighborhood: Smuin Ballet a frequent visitor to Walnut Creek"
  4. http://www.contracostatimes.com/contra-costa-times/ci_27032012/eye-east-bay-oakland-zoo-is-too-warm "Snow and Sharks"
  5. Web site: Smuin Ballet at Palace of Fine Arts Theater . https://web.archive.org/web/20181101015501/https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/event/smuin-ballet-2/2018-09-28 . 2018-11-01 . datebook.sfchronicle.com.
  6. Book: Frommer's. AARP San Francisco 2012. 30 May 2012. John Wiley & Sons. 978-1-118-26880-3. 238–.
  7. Book: Michael Bower. Newcomer's Handbook for Moving to San Francisco and the Bay Area: Including San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley, and Palo Alto. registration. 1 March 2001. First Books. 978-0-912301-46-4.
  8. News: Michael Smuin, 68, Dancer and Eclectic Choreographer, Dies. The New York Times. 25 April 2007. Martin. Douglas.
  9. Book: Dorothy Dean Stevens. Dancing Through Life: On the Monterey Peninsula and Beyond. 1 November 2008. iUniverse. 978-0-595-48441-6. 195–.
  10. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SF-dance-pioneer-Michael-Smuin-collapses-dies-2600518.php#photo-2089329/ "SF Dance Pioneer Michael Smuin Collapses, Dies."
  11. Web site: Founder – Smuin Ballet. smuinballet.org. en-US. 2017-07-18.
  12. Book: Debra Craine. Judith Mackrell. The Oxford Dictionary of Dance. registration. 19 August 2010. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-956344-9. 415–.
  13. Web site: Company.
  14. Web site: Celia Fushille . Smuin Contemporary Ballet . 20 December 2020 . June 19, 2022.
  15. http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Review-New-take-on-Serenade-for-Smuin-Ballet-5801808.php "Review: New take on 'Serenade’ for Smuin Ballet"
  16. http://www.sfgate.com/performance/article/Dance-review-Smuin-Ballet-kicks-off-holiday-5911914.php "Dance review: Smuin Ballet kicks off holiday performance season"
  17. News: Smuin dancers try hand at choreography. SFGate. 2017-07-18.
  18. Web site: Dancers – Smuin Ballet. smuinballet.org. en-US. 2017-07-18.
  19. Web site: Surprising Facts About Smuin Ballet That You Might Not Know! - Smuin Ballet . www.smuinballet.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160321204810/http://smuinballet.org/interesting-smuin-ballet-facts-might-known/ . 2016-03-21.
  20. Web site: Company . Smuin Ballet . en-US.
  21. Web site: Howard . Rachel . April 19, 2023 . Smuin Ballet’s leading women ahead of the dance world’s curve . 2024-01-14 . Datebook San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide . en-US.
  22. Web site: 2023-02-28 . Dance Data Project® Announces First-Ever Gender Equity Index Ranking of Largest U.S. Ballet Companies . 2024-01-14 . Dance Data Project . en-US.

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