Smuin Contemporary Ballet | San Francisco’s Contemporary Ballet

Buy Tickets Now!

Smuin Ballet Performances

2021/22 Season

Be moved.

Smuin Contemporary Ballet offers astounding, accessible, breathtaking productions. From our fiercely festive The Christmas Ballet to new works from up-and-coming dancemakers and the cheekily cheerful revival of Amy Seiwert’s irresistible Patsy Cline tribute — our live performances will move you! Be entertained by Smuin Ballet and experience how the art has never stopped. Tickets are on sale now.

Smuin 21-22, Portrait Image, DS2

Dance Series 2 – P.S. Forever Smuin

April 29, 2022 – May 28, 2022

virtual-ds2-800x880

Virtual Dance Series 2 – P.S. Forever Smuin

May 26 – June 30

smuinballet

Smuin Ballet is heading to the Mountain View Cente

Smuin Ballet is heading to the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts next week, and we can’t wait to share 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯 with you!

Featured in this program are works by Amy Seiwert & Val Caniparoli, as well as world premieres by Company Artists Tessa Barbour and Brennan Wall!

In its review of this program, the @sfchronicle described Smuin as a "company of dancers who keep reaching for, and finding, more." Join us May 19-22 at @mvcpa! Tickets available at smuinballet.org/tix — link in bio! #smuinballet

Company Artists Tess Lane and Maxwell Simoes in 𝘝𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘴, choreographed by Tessa Barbour.
📸 Photo by Chris Hardy
🪡 Costumes by Tess Lane
💡 Lighting Design by Mike Oesch

San Francisco! Thank you for an incredible run of

San Francisco! Thank you for an incredible run of our 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯 performances! We are so grateful for our home audiences and we can’t wait to share this program in Mountain View and Carmel!

Tickets still available at smuinballet.org/tix — get yours today!

𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘦 from the wings, photos by Maggie Carey. #smuinballet

Our final two performances of 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦

Our final two performances of 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯 are at @ybca in San Francisco! Join us tonight (5/6) at 7:30pm or tomorrow (5/7) at 2:00pm before we finish out our season in Mountain View and Carmel! Tickets available at smuinballet.org/tix

Company Artists in 𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘦 by Brennan Wall
📸 Photo by Chris Hardy
💡 Lighting Design by Mike Oesch

“When it opened under its 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪 𝘙𝘰𝘭𝘭 title in 2018, the piece was a caffeinated jolt of both comic outlook and choreographic verve. Four years on, labeled a more somber 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, the work remains a technical feat, vividly performed, but lands at a different angle.”

We’re back at @ybca this Thursday for another round of 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯 performances! Get your tickets today! smuinballet.org/tix

Smuin Ballet Company Artists in 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 by Val Caniparoli.
📸 Photo by Chris Hardy
🪡 Costumes by Susan Roemer
💡Lighting Design by Mike Oesch

“In a vibrant program that unfurls choreographic

“In a vibrant program that unfurls choreographic inspiration and smart design on a company of dancers who keep reaching for and finding more, Smuin Contemporary Ballet is bringing down the curtain on its 28th season in splendid fashion.”

Join us in the theater for another weekend of performances at @ybca! Get your tickets today at smuinballet.org/tix

Company artists in 𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 by Amy Seiwert.
📸 Photo by Chris Hardy.
🪡 Costumes by @bykk.9120
💡 Lighting by Brian Jones, adapted by Mike Oesch.

Thank you to all who attended our opening weekend

Thank you to all who attended our opening weekend of 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯 at @ybca! We’ll be back Thursday, May 5th for another fun weekend of performances! Tickets available at smuinballet.org/tix

Company Artists Terez Dean Orr and John Speed Orr in Tessa Barbour’s world premiere, 𝘝𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘴. #smuinballet

📸 Photo by Chris Hardy
🪡 Costumes by Tess Lane
💡 Lighting Design by Mike Oesch

After an inspiring opening night, we are so excite

After an inspiring opening night, we are so excited to be back at @ybca for a TWO SHOW DAY! Join us in San Francisco until May 8th for 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯! Ticket link in BIO! #smuinballet

Company Artists Cassidy Isaacson and Brandon Alexander in Brennan Wall’s world premiere, 𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘦.

📸 Photo by Chris Hardy
💡 Lighting Design by Mike Oesch

𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯
opens tomorrow night at @ybca! Get your tickets today at smuinballet.org/tix

Enjoy this beautiful clip from 𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 by Amy Seiwert, featuring Terez Dean Orr and Ben Needham-Wood and the beautiful vocals of @kitkavocalensemble — come and enjoy the entire piece this weekend! #smuinballet

𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘦 choreographed by Bren

𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘦 choreographed by Brennan Wall, makes its world premiere during our 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯 performances, opening this Friday, April 29th at @ybca!

Expanded from a pas de deux created during our 2020/2021 season, 𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘦 highlights the choreography of company artist Brennan Wall. Tickets are available now for 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯, link in BIO! #inthesmuinstudios #smuinballet

Photos by Chris Hardy

𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 by Va

𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 by Val Caniparoli, makes a playful return to the Smuin stage! Capturing what the @sfchronicle called “truly, madly, funny and spirit-tingling,” 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 is a nine-part dance set to a contemporary classical baroque score by American composer Nico Muhly and Faroese singer/songwriter Teitur.

Join us in the theater next week as we open 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯 at @ybca. We hope to see you there! Link to tickets in BIO! #smuinballet #inthesmuinstudios

Photos by Chris Hardy

𝘝𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘴, choreographe

𝘝𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘴, choreographed by Tessa Barbour, makes its world premiere during our 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯 performances, opening this Friday, April 29th at @ybca!

Expanded from a pas de deux created during our 2020/2021 season, 𝘝𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘴 highlights the choreography of Barbour through a cohesive collection of movements. Tickets are available now, link in BIO! #inthesmuinstudios #smuinballet

Photos by Chris Hardy

𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, by

𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, by Amy Seiwert, is inspired by the 385-mile “Women’s Wall” protest in India, a movement aimed at building awareness of gender equality on New Year’s Day in 2019. Seiwert’s ballet is set to an evocative a cappella soundtrack by Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble, an award-winning Oakland-based group specializing in the techniques of traditional and contemporary Balkan, Slavic, and Caucasian vocal styling.

Join us in the theater next week as we open 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯 at @ybca! We hope to see you there! Link to tickets in BIO!

Company Artists rehearsing 𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, photos by Chris Hardy. #smuinballet

💖 Smuin Ballet has been #TeamLadyCamden since d

💖 Smuin Ballet has been #TeamLadyCamden since day 1! @ladycamden, we are so proud of you and the journey that you have taken to pursue your dreams! Watching the world fall in love with you has been so exciting, and we’re rooting for you to bring home the crown tonight! 👑 @rupaulsdragrace

How many iconic Lady Camden looks can you spot in these photos? #smuinballet

Behind the Seams 🧵 Not only is Company Artist T

Behind the Seams 🧵 Not only is Company Artist Tess Lane a beautiful performer on stage, but offstage she is an incredibly talented seamstress! Join us for 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯 where you’ll get to see her completed work on display in 𝘝𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘴, a world premiere by Tessa Barbour.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this program in another capacity! I like to sew everyday garments, but creating costumes is so fun because it allows my imagination to really run free. We are such a multitalented group, I can’t wait to show our audiences what we’ve created!” #smuinballet

Film photography by Maggie Carey (@grainy_bits)

Art in Motion • Company Artists Marc LaPierre an

Art in Motion • Company Artists Marc LaPierre and Tessa Barbour in the studio rehearsing 𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘦, choreographed by Brennan Wall.

Don’t miss your opportunity to see this world premiere during our 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯 performances, opening April 29th at @ybca! Ticket link in BIO! #smuinballet

🎶Featuring music by Max Richter.

🎥 Videography by Ben Stillerman

𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘦 by Brennan Wall makes

𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘦 by Brennan Wall makes its world premiere during our 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯 performances, running April 29th - May 28th across the Bay Area!

Expanded from a pas de deux created during our 2020/2021 season, 𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘦 highlights the choreography of company artist Brennan Wall.

“This process has been a huge challenge — a humbling and inspiring experience, but one that the artists and team around me are bringing to life in a way I didn’t even think was possible. I couldn’t be more grateful, and I am beyond excited to see the final product onstage.”

Tickets are available now for 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯, link in BIO! #inthesmuinstudios #smuinballet

Photos by Maggie Carey

Art in Motion • Company Artists Cassidy Isaacson

Art in Motion • Company Artists Cassidy Isaacson and Ian Buchanan in the studio rehearsing 𝘝𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘴, choreographed by Tessa Barbour.

Don’t miss your opportunity to see this world premiere during our 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯 performances, opening April 29th at @ybca! Ticket link in BIO! #smuinballet

🎶Featuring music by Tchaikovsky, breathtakingly played by @aroma.duo

🎥 Videography by Ben Stillerman

𝘝𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘴 by Tessa Barb

𝘝𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘴 by Tessa Barbour makes its world premiere during our 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯 performances, running April 29th - May 28th across the Bay Area!

Expanded from a pas de deux created during our 2020/2021 season, 𝘝𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘴 highlights the choreography of company artist Tessa Barbour. While working through this creative process, Barbour has reminded herself to be inspired with the talent in the room and to feed off of the dancers excitement and natural flow of movement. “It’s not about me having a great idea, but to have been inspired to arrive there together.”

Tickets are available now for 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 2: 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘯, link in BIO! #inthesmuinstudios #smuinballet

Photos by Maggie Carey.

You love her on stage, and you will love learning

You love her on stage, and you will love learning from her in the studio! Terez Dean Orr, as well as many of our Smuin artists, teach classes through our Center for Dance. Follow our @smuincenterfordance account for her full Teacher Spotlight and to learn about our class offerings so you can dance with the Smuin Artists themselves. #SmuinBallet #SmuinCenterForDance

Photo by Chris Hardy

The Women of Smuin — Kathryn T. Graham KT Graha

The Women of Smuin — Kathryn T. Graham

KT Graham joined Smuin Ballet in 1997 after working as Production Stage Manager and Lighting Designer for Lewitzky Dance Company in Los Angeles, as well as Technical & Lighting Director for @thewashingtonballet in Washington, D.C. with whom she toured extensively both nationally and internationally. She also engages in freelance projects and has particularly enjoyed serving as Production Stage Manager for @asimagery, Dances from the Heart benefits for The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation, and for the National Dance USA showcase in 2012.

To celebrate Women’s History Month, we are highlighting the women that make Smuin Ballet what it is today. As an organization, we are so grateful to have so many strong women leading us — Women’s History Month is celebrated year round at Smuin Ballet! #smuinballet

Production Manager and Stage Manager K.T. Graham, photo by Chris Hardy. #WomensHistoryMonth

Load More... Follow on Instagram

We thank all our generous sponsors for their support. Sponsored in part by SF Grants for the Arts, General Fund Portion of the San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund and National Endowment for the Arts.

Foulke Correa

Beverly M. Folger Foundation

gravity-tray-800x800

Connect with Us

Sign up for email news from Smuin. We'll keep in touch about our performances, offers, classes, and events.