Michael Smuin – A Celebration of His Life & Art
Friday, August 3, 11am
San Francisco’s Geary Theatre
Family, Friends & Colleagues to Honor Internationally Acclaimed Dancer & Choreographer Who Passed Away April 23
Memorial Also Held at New York’s Joyce Theater Friday, August 17, 2:30pm
20 July 2007 – San Francisco, CA: Michael Smuin will be honored at a special Memorial on Friday, August 3 at San Francisco’s Geary Theatre ( 415 Geary Street) home of the American Conservatory Theater. Shane Smuin has put together a moving program which includes speakers and video collages to reflect all aspects of his late father’s life. Steve Smuin will speak about his brother’s life growing up in Montana. Michael Smuin – A Celebration of His Life & Art will also include testimonials from dancers Finis Jhung and Evelyn Cisneros and remarks by Smuin Ballet Board President Patti Hume. The Memorial is intended for Michael’s family, friends, dancers, colleagues, and devoted fans. Additionally, a special celebration of Michael’s life will be held at New York’s Joyce Theater ( 175 8th Avenue) on at 2:30pm Friday, August 17 following a week of performances there by Smuin Ballet.
“I hope this celebration of my father’s life and art gives his family, friends and loved ones a chance to say goodbye.” said Shane Smuin, who has arranged the memorial to his father. “No doubt it will be a very special event.”
“Smuin Ballet is above all else, a dancer’s company – a company dedicated to unique artistic expressions as expressed through dancers true to Michael’s vision,” said Dwight Hutton, Smuin Managing Director. “Through these two tributes, in the two cities on which Michael had such an artistic impact, we will pay tribute to this company’s original and ubiquitous dancer – Michael himself.”
“Michael once described his company members as actors that dance,” said Patti Hume, Smuin Ballet Board Chair. “This is a legacy that will continue -- one dancer at a time -- with the focus, as always, on individuality and passion.”
Smuin made the San Francisco Bay Area his home since he was a Principal Dancer with San Francisco Ballet, before going on to dance on Broadway, and appearing in film and television. He was Principal Dancer and Resident Choreographer for American Ballet Theatre before returning to San Francisco as Director of San Francisco Ballet (1973-1985), and was instrumental in raising that company's profile in the international arts community, including many “Dance in America” programs on PBS. He directed ABT's 50th Anniversary Gala. Broadway credits include Sophisticated Ladies, Anything Goes (Tony Award for Choreography), Shogun and Canciones de Mi Padre. Feature film credits include Rumblefish, Cotton Club, Dracula, and The Fantasticks. Television credits include Ira Gershwin at 100: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall. His productions on PBS of Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, and A Song for Dead Warriors won several Emmy Awards. His ballets are currently in the repertories of major dance companies around the country. Smuin died on April 23 of this year, suffering a heart-attack in his San Francisco studio as he was beginning a rehearsal with his company of dancers.
Media Contacts: David Perry & Associates, Inc. / David Perry (415) 693-0583 / news@davidperry.com
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