Smuin Contemporary Ballet | San Francisco’s Contemporary Ballet

Never Standing Still

Curated collaboratively by Artistic Director Amy Seiwert and Artistic Director Emerita Celia Fushille, our 24/25 Season honors the past with a masterpiece from our founder, Michael Smuin, while embracing the future. We continue to innovate with Company and world premieres from Jennifer Archibald, Trey McIntyre, Matthew Neenan, and Amy Seiwert. Remarkable storytellers, these choreographic visionaries inspire by continually pushing the boundaries of what contemporary ballet can be.

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Dance Series 2

April 25 - June 8

Roche Event 2025 (1)

Roche Winery Event

May 18, 2025

smuinballet

Tessa Barbour is a STAR. Her dancing is committed

Tessa Barbour is a STAR. Her dancing is committed and flawless. Her stage presence and acting are sensational. And she can bake a cheesecake that will make you cry tears of joy. And today is her birthday! Happy birthday, Tessa! We are so lucky to have you in the company!

Tessa, who hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico, trained at Alwin School of the Dance before studying abroad in Warrington, England on a scholarship awarded to her at the Cecchetti International Competition. She has danced with New Mexico Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, and San Diego Ballet. She joined Smuin in 2016.

Photo Credits:

1. Tessa and Anthony Cannarella in Smuin’s “Fly Me to the Moon.”
2. Tessa shows off her stunning Espresso Cheesecake at Smuin’s Gala.
3. Tessa with Mengjun Chen and Zachary Artice in James Kudelka’s “The Man in Black”. Photo by Chris Hardy.
4. Tessa in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s “Requiem for a Rose”. Photo by Chris Hardy

We have had a wonderful few days with Smuin alum R

We have had a wonderful few days with Smuin alum Rex Wheeler, staging and rehearsing Sinfonietta for our upcoming performances of Dance Series 2.

Join us April 25-June 8 across the Bay Area, and watch the magic of Sinfonietta unfold on stage — tickets available today, link in bio!

In the studio with Trey McIntyre ✨ Trey McIntyre

In the studio with Trey McIntyre ✨ Trey McIntyre returns to Smuin with the Bay Area premiere of his Wild Sweet Love, an ode to the ups and downs of love set to a range of music from Mendelssohn to Queen. McIntyre’s “fertility of invention and modernity of spirit” (The New York Times) is no stranger to Smuin, and we’re delighted to add another of his ballets to our repertory.

Join us for Dance Series 2 this spring — April 25 through June 8 across the Bay Area. Tickets on sale today, link in bio!

🎥 Smuin company artists in rehearsal for Wild Sweet Love, video by Ben Estabrook. #smuinballet #inthesmuinstudios

✨ COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT ✨ After 10 seasons of b

✨ COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT ✨
After 10 seasons of bringing joy, technique, turnout, and beauty to the Smuin stage, company artist Mengjun Chen will be taking his final bow at the end of our 24/25 season. Join us for Dance Series 2 this spring as we celebrate Mengjun’s accomplished career!

📌 Save the date: Sunday, April 27 @ 2:00pm, celebrate with us in San Francisco as we honor Mengjun on stage at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts! Tickets on sale for all performances of Dance Series 2, link in bio!

📸 1.) Mengjun in Fly Me To The Moon, by Michael Smuin. Photo by Chris Hardy.
📸 2.) Mengjun in The Man In Black, by James Kudelka. Photo by Chris Hardy.
📸 3.) Mengjun with Terez Dean Orr in Broken Open, by Amy Seiwert. Photo by Chris Hardy.
📸 4.) Mengjun in Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet. Photo by Chris Hardy.
📸 5.) Mengjun with Tessa Barbour in Indigo, by Stanton Welch. Photo by Chris Hardy.
📸 6.) Mengjun in Requiem for a Rose, by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Photo by Chris Hardy.
📸 7.) Mengjun backstage. Photo by Maggie Carey.
📸 8.) Mengjun with Tess Lane in Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet. Photo by Chris Hardy.
📸 9.) Mengjun with Gabrielle Collins in Fly Me To The Moon, by Michael Smuin. Photo by Chris Hardy.
📸 10.) Mengjun with Terez Dean Orr in Smuin’s The Chrismas Ballet. Photo by Chris Hardy.

Smuin’s Artistic Director, Amy Seiwert, reveals

Smuin’s Artistic Director, Amy Seiwert, reveals the inspiration behind her new ballet, titled “I Remember Now”. This gorgeous work, about the courage it takes to show one’s true self, embraces ballet traditions while breaking ballet stereotypes. “I Remember Now” is set to premier as part of the company’s Dance Series 2, performing April 25 - June 8 in San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Mountain View, and Carmel. Tickets can be found through our website at the link in our bio!

We had a wonderful two weeks with Trey McIntyre an

We had a wonderful two weeks with Trey McIntyre and Ilana Goldman, staging and rehearsing Wild Sweet Love for Dance Series 2. Join us April 25-June 8 across the Bay Area. Tickets on sale today, link in bio!

Smuin Contemporary Ballet company artists with Trey McIntyre and Ilana Goldman, photo by Robbie Sweeney.

I Remember Now, a world premiere choreographed by

I Remember Now, a world premiere choreographed by Smuin’s Artistic Director Amy Seiwert, takes the stage during Dance Series 2 this spring. Not only is this Seiwert’s 13th work for Smuin Contemporary Ballet, but it is her first work created as Smuin’s Artistic Director.

Dance Series 2 runs April 25-June 8 across the Bay Area, join us in the theater as we bring this world premiere to the stage alongside works choreographed by Michael Smuin, Rex Wheeler, and Trey McIntyre — tickets available today, link in bio!

🎥 Smuin Contemporary Ballet artists in rehearsal for I Remember Now, video by Ben Estabrook.

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#smuin #smuinballet #ballet #dance #contemporaryballet #ContemporaryDance #dancephotography #BayAreaArts #amyseiwert #supportthearts #smuincontemporaryballet #worldpremiere

Smuin Contemporary Ballet’s “Dance Series 2”

Smuin Contemporary Ballet’s “Dance Series 2” is a triumph! Featuring the speed and fluidity of Rex Wheeler’s “Sinfonietta”, the driving force and powerful spirit of Trey McIntyre’s “Wild Sweet Love”, the beauty and emotion of Michael Smuin’s “The Eternal Idol”, and a show-stopping new premiere by Artistic Director Amy Seiwert, there is something for everyone you know in this fantastic production. Learn more, and get your tickets at the link in our bio.

We are hard at work in the creation process for Am

We are hard at work in the creation process for Amy Seiwert’s newest work, premiering this spring during Dance Series 2. Join us in San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Mountain View and Carmel, April 25 - June 8! Tickets on sale today, link in bio!

📸 Company Artists in rehearsal #inthesmuinstudios, photos by Maximillian Tortoriello (@maxtphoto)

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#smuin #smuinballet #ballet #dance #femalechoreographers #contemporaryballet #ContemporaryDance #dancephotography #BayAreaArts #amyseiwert #supportthearts #smuincontemporaryballet

🥂 Last night we celebrated our 31st annual Gala

🥂 Last night we celebrated our 31st annual Gala — what a night! Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the evening such a success. We can’t do what we do without the support from our audiences and generous donors, and we are so grateful to have the ability to continuously share our art with you. #smuinballet

Photos by Maximillian Tortoriello Photography

ByCHANCE is offered as a Digital Replay from March

ByCHANCE is offered as a Digital Replay from March 21-31, 2025. Tune in at your convenience, as many times as you like, during that window, from the comfort of home!

This world premiere ballet, choreographed by Jennifer Archibald, debuted as part of Dance Series 1 in Fall 2024. Fun fact: Jennifer was recently featured as the cover story in @dancemagazine. Tickets available today, link in bio!

📸 Company Artists in ByCHANCE, choreographed by Jennifer Archibald for Smuin Contemporary Ballet. Premiered September 2024.
🎥 Video by @raptproductions
🪡 Costume Design by @scurveapparel
💡 Lighting Design by Mike Oesch
🎶 Everything is in Everything, by Roger Goula

We’ve been in the studio with Artistic Director

We’ve been in the studio with Artistic Director Amy Seiwert, who’s creating her 13th ballet for Smuin this spring! Come check out her latest work as part of Dance Series 2, running April 25 - June 8 across the Bay Area. Tickets on sale today, link in bio.

📸 Amy Seiwert #inthesmuinstudios, photo by Maximillian Tortoriello.

Join us next Saturday, March 22, for Amy Seiwert’s inaugural Gala as Artistic Director! Featuring a one-night-only performance and exclusive auction packages, Smuin’s Gala 2025 promises to be a wonderful evening celebrating the Company as it continues to shatter preconceptions of ballet. Funds raised at our Gala help underwrite Smuin’s ongoing role as a vibrant hub for pioneering works, as well as a sanctuary for creativity and exploration, where artistic expression flourishes.

📌 Join us at the San Francisco Design Center, Saturday March 22, 2025, from 5:30–9:30pm. (101 Henry Adams Street • San Francisco) • Purchase your ticket today, link in bio!

🍽️ Dinner provided by McCall’s Catering & Events • @mccallssf

📸 Photos from our 30th anniversary gala, by Maximillian Tortoriello.

Wishing a very happy birthday to the dazzling Tess

Wishing a very happy birthday to the dazzling Tess Lane! Tess has been dancing with Smuin Contemporary Ballet for seven years and brings her personality to every role and rehearsal. We all love working and performing alongside her, and she makes us all shine. ✨

Tess trained at South Bay Ballet in Torrance, CA, and performed Robert Kelly’s Summertime at the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MI. She began her professional career apprenticing with Sacramento Ballet, and then joined California Ballet Company in 2013. She danced in the National Choreographers’ Initiative in 2017 and 2018 and joined Smuin in 2018.

We hope her day is as wonderful as she is!

🎉🎂🥳

Photo Credits:
1. Tess Lane and Brandon Alexander in Smuin’s “Fly Me to the Moon”. Photo by Chris Hardy.
2. Tess Lane and Mattia Pallozzi in Rex Wheeler’s “Sinfonietta”
3. Tess Lane and Smuin Contemporary Ballet Company Artists in Amy Seiwert’s “Renaissance”

🎂March 7, 1994 — Today is the 31st anniversar

🎂March 7, 1994 — Today is the 31st anniversary of our first performance! Happy Birthday to Smuin Contemporary Ballet! We celebrated with a photoshoot to promote our 25/26 season! #smuinballet

✨ Gala Chairs John Konstin and Lee D. Baxter, Sm

✨ Gala Chairs John Konstin and Lee D. Baxter, Smuin’s Board of Trustees, and the Friends of Smuin Host Committee, invite you to celebrate Artistic Director Amy Seiwert’s inaugural Gala with dinner and cocktails, a live auction, and a specially curated performance by the artists of Smuin Contemporary Ballet.

📌 Join us at the San Francisco Design Center, Saturday March 22, 2025, from 5:30–9:30pm. (101 Henry Adams Street • San Francisco) • Purchase your ticket today, link in bio!

🍽️ Dinner provided by McCall’s Catering & Events • @mccallssf

📸 Gabrielle Collins and Jace Pauly, photo by Chris Hardy.

We can’t let #BlackHistoryMonth end without ackn

We can’t let #BlackHistoryMonth end without acknowledging those who have given their hearts, talent, and excellence to Smuin Contemporary Ballet. To those who have helped to shape our organization into what it is today, we are honored to amplify your voices within our community as we continue to create and grow together.

📸 1.) Company Artist Ricardo Dyer, with Terez Dean Orr in Renaissance, choreographed by Amy Seiwert.
📸 2.) Choreographer Jennifer Archibald, creating ByCHANCE at Smuin (2024)
🎥 3.) Video by Ben Estabrook.
📸 4.) Smuin alumn Brandon Alexander with current company artist Dominic Barrett in Tupelo Tornado, choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa (2024)
📸 5.) Choreographer Osnel Delgado, creating the Turntable at Smuin (2022)
🎥 6.) Video by @jettison_creative
📸 7.) Company Artist Dominic Barrett with Tessa Barbour in Tupelo Tornado, choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa (2024)
📸 8.) Choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie, creating Salsa ‘Til Dawn at Smuin (2023)
📸 9.) Vincent Avery, Wardrobe Supervisor with Smuin Contemporary Ballet for over 20 years.

Smuin Contemporary Ballet Company Artist, Cassidy

Smuin Contemporary Ballet Company Artist, Cassidy Isaacson, talks about the piece she choreographed for Smuin’s “Choreography Showcase”, which performed February 14 - 23 at Smuin Center for Dance in Potrero Hill.

The live show was sold out, but you can still get access to the virtual version at the link in our bio!

Video Credit:
Smuin Contemporary Ballet Company Artists Cassidy Isaacson, AL Abraham, Jacopo Calvo, Mengjun Chen, Ricardo Dyer, Yuri Rogers, and João Sampaio rehearsing for “Choreography Showcase” at Smuin Center for Dance. Video by Ben Estabrook. Edited by Amy Seiwert. #inthesmuinstudios

Our final performance of the Choreography Showcase

Our final performance of the Choreography Showcase is this afternoon, featuring 10 premieres by 10 company artists! This is one of our favorite programs of the season, and we are so grateful to our audiences for supporting these creative voices! While every show is currently sold out, you can still check out our Digital Replay!

Filmed in our studios, this year’s Choreography Showcase is offered as a Digital Replay from now until March 2, 2025. Tune in at your convenience, as many times as you like, during that window, from the comfort of home.

Featuring choreography by Company Artists AL Abraham, Tessa Barbour, Jacopo Calvo, Maggie Carey, Julia Gundzik, Cassidy Isaacson, Marc LaPierre, Shania Rasmussen, Yuri Rogers, and Brennan Wall.

📸 1.) Smuin Company Artists in Her cadence, choreographed by Cassidy Isaacson. Photo by Robert Suguitan.
📸 2.) Smuin Company Artists in Party Zute, choreographed by Marc LaPierre. Photo by Robert Suguitan.
📸 3.) Smuin Company Artists in Here’s To You, Harvey, choreographed by Tessa Barbour. Photo by Robert Suguitan.
📸 4.) Smuin Company Artists in Un Paysage Choisi, choreographed by Julia Gundzik. Photo by Robert Suguitan.
💡 Light Design by Mike Oesch

The Choreography Showcase continues all weekend lo

The Choreography Showcase continues all weekend long, featuring 10 premieres by 10 company artists! While every show is currently sold out, you can still check out our Digital Replay!

Filmed in our studios, this year’s Choreography Showcase is offered as a Digital Replay from now until March 2, 2025. Tune in at your convenience, as many times as you like, during that window, from the comfort of home.

Featuring choreography by Company Artists AL Abraham, Tessa Barbour, Jacopo Calvo, Maggie Carey, Julia Gundzik, Cassidy Isaacson, Marc LaPierre, Shania Rasmussen, Yuri Rogers, and Brennan Wall.

📸 1.) Smuin Company Artists in Recto Verso, choreographed by Brennan Wall. Photo by Robert Suguitan.
📸 2.) Smuin Company Artists in The Singer and The Song, choreographed by Maggie Carey. Photo by Robert Suguitan.
📸 3.) Smuin Company Artists in A Good Story and Some Good Soup, choreographed by Yuri Rogers. Photo by Robert Suguitan.
💡 Light Design by Mike Oesch

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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

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