Smuin Contemporary Ballet | San Francisco’s Contemporary Ballet

The Christmas 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.

Single tickets now on sale

2425 XMAS Portrait Image - 800x880

Smuin's The Christmas Ballet

November 23 - December 24

LGBTQ+ Night!

December 20 7:30 pm

Showcase - Portrait Image - 800x880

Choreography Showcase

February 14-23

Dance Series 2 - Portrait Image - 800x880

Dance Series 2

April 25 - June 8

smuinballet

🩰Did you know: Every season during the Christma

🩰Did you know: Every season during the Christmas Ballet, the women of Smuin trade in their pink pointe shoes for white pointe shoes! ‘Tis the season!

We are just 3 days away from our opening of Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet at the @leshercenter in Walnut Creek! 📸 Photos by Maggie Carey (@grainy_bits)

#smuinballet #ballet #dancephotography #pointeshoes #freedoflondon #backstage #bts #bayareaartist #bayareaarts #thechristmasballet #balletphoto #smuincontemporaryballet

Tis the season! Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet ope

Tis the season! Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet opens this weekend, November 23 & 24 at the @leshercenter in Walnut Creek! Join us in the theater this holiday season and share the gift of dance with your friends and family!

Tickets on sale today for performances in Walnut Creek, Mountain View and San Francisco — November 23-December 24! Link in bio! #smuinballet

🎥 Company Artists #inthesmuinstudios rehearsing ‘Christmastime in New Orleans’, choreographed by Michael Smuin for The Christmas Ballet. Video by Ben Estabrook.

Wishing a very happy birthday to the exquisitely v

Wishing a very happy birthday to the exquisitely virtuosic and exceptionally kind João Sampaio!

João trained in classical ballet in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, under Ana Palmieri and Romulo Ramos. He is the winner of both the Youth America Grand Prix and the World Ballet Competition, and has danced for Tulsa Ballet and Festival Ballet Providence. João joined Smuin Contemporary Ballet in 2019, but was sadly sidelined by an injury earlier this year. Catch João’s triumphant return to the stage 💪 in Smuin’s “The Christmas Ballet”, performing in Walnut Creek, Mountain View, and San Francisco, November 23 - December 24th. Link for tickets in our bio. See you there! 🎄

📷 1. João in Smuin’s “The Christmas Ballet.”
📷 2. João performing alongside Terez Dean Orr, Brandon Alexander, and Ian Buchanan in James Kudelka’s “Man in Black”.
📷 3. João in Darrell Grand Moultrie’s “Salsa ‘til Dawn”.
📷 4. João and Tessa Barbour rehearsing Osnel Delgado’s “The Turntable”.

All photos by Chris Hardy.

Wishing a very, very happy birthday to powerhouse

Wishing a very, very happy birthday to powerhouse performer, choreographer, and Company Artist Brennan Wall ( @brenniewall )

Brennan trained with Los Angeles Ballet Academy before joining Silicon Valley Ballet (previously Ballet San Jose) as a trainee, and continuing on to dance with The New Ballet’s Studio Company. In 2017, Wall joined Ballet de Monterrey under director José Manuel Carreño. She performed in Luis Serrano’s La Bayadere, Swan Lake, and Don Quijote, and danced soloist roles in The Nutcracker, Alberto Méndez’s Phantom of the Opera, and Diego Landin’s Shorthand of Emotion. She has been dancing for Smuin since 2019.
Catch Brennan in Smuin’s “The Christmas Ballet” This holiday season. Click on the link in our bio for tickets. 🎟️ 🎄 🎁

📷 1. Brennan and Smuin Company Artists in Seiwert’s “French Kiss”. Photo by Chris Hardy ( @chrishardyphotos )
📷 2. Brennan choreographing on Smuin Company Artists. Photo by Chris Hardy
📷 3. Brennan and Ricardo Dyer in Smuin’s “Starshadows”. Photo by Chris Hardy
📷 4. Brennan rehearsing for Rex Wheeler’s “Someday Soon” for “The Christmas Ballet”. Photo by David DeSilva ( @david_desilva24 )

In the studio with Rex Wheeler 🧥 Someday Soon i

In the studio with Rex Wheeler 🧥 Someday Soon is a world premiere created by Smuin alum Rex Wheeler for this years edition of The Christmas Ballet. We can’t wait to share this heartwarming new work with our audiences this holiday season!

Tickets are on sale today for Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet. Share the gift of dance with your loved ones this holiday season — ticket link in bio.

📷 Company Artists Brennan Wall and Cassidy Isaacson in Someday Soon, a world premiere choreographed by Rex Wheeler for Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet. Photos by David DeSilva.

Escape to the theater this holiday season and join

Escape to the theater this holiday season and join us for Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet! Treat your loved ones to the gift of dance, November 23-December 24 across the Bay Area. Tickets on sale today, link in bio!

Join us in Walnut Creek (@leshercenter) November 23-24, Mountain View (@mvcpa) December 5-8, and San Francisco (@ybca) December 13-24.

📸 Company Artist Tessa Barbour, photo by Chris Hardy. #smuinballet #thechristmasballet

Did you know that Smuin Contemporary Ballet Partne

Did you know that Smuin Contemporary Ballet Partners with @vettix to give free tickets to veterans and active duty service members? Each time we do this, we receive a picture of someone beaming and telling us how much they enjoyed the show. Here are a few of our favorite responses.

Happy Veteran’s Day from all of us at Smuin.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wishing a very, very happy birthday to the person

Wishing a very, very happy birthday to the person who keeps us moving. Three cheers for our fearless artistic director, Amy Seiwert.

Amy danced professionally for 18 years with Smuin, Los Angeles Chamber, and Sacramento Ballets. She served as Smuin’s Choreographer in Residence from 2008 - 2018. Her work has been performed at the Joyce, The NEA, the Kennedy Center and ODC Theater. Her creations are in the repertory of Smuin, ODC/Dance, BalletX, Ballet Austin, and AXIS Dance, as well as Washington, Atlanta, Oakland, Kansas City, Colorado, Louisville, Cincinnati, Oklahoma City, American Repertory, and Milwaukee Ballets. This is Amy’s first season as Artistic Director for Smuin, and we are thrilled to have her magic back in the studio once more. ✨

📷 1. Amy in rehearsal with Smuin Ballet. Photo by Keith Sutter.
📷 2. Amy in director mode. Photo by Scot Goodman.
📷 3. Amy back in her dancer days. Photo by Scot Goodman.

❄️We are just 2 weeks away from our opening pe

❄️We are just 2 weeks away from our opening performances of Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet in Walnut Creek! We have been busy piecing together this program in our studios in Potrero Hill, and we can’t wait to share our holidays with the Bay Area!

Join us in Walnut Creek (November 23 & 24), Mountain View (December 5-8), and San Francisco (December 13-24)! Treat your loved ones to the gift of The Christmas Ballet this holiday season — ticket link in BIO! #smuinballet #inthesmuinstudios #thechristmasballet

🎥 Smuin Contemporary Ballet company artists in rehearsal for The Christmas Ballet, video by Ben Estabrook.

We are so grateful to have Smuin alum Rex Wheeler

We are so grateful to have Smuin alum Rex Wheeler in the studio choreographing a world premiere for this years edition of The Christmas Ballet. We love the care and detail that Rex puts into his work, and we can’t wait for our audiences to experience it this holiday season!

Treat your loved ones to the gift of dance this holiday season! Tickets on sale today for performances in Walnut Creek, Mountain View and San Francisco — November 23-December 24! Link in bio! #smuinballet

Escape into the magic of Smuin’s The Christmas B

Escape into the magic of Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet this holiday season ❄️ Don’t miss out on this years edition, including world premieres by Smuin Artistic Director Amy Seiwert, current company artist Brennan Wall, and Smuin alum Rex Wheeler.

The LGBTQ+ Night performances of Smuin’s festive holiday classic will also return on December 20 at @ybca, hosted by Smuin alum and RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant, Rex Wheeler/Lady Camden!

Tickets are on sale today, treat your loved ones to the gift of The Christmas Ballet. Performing in Walnut Creek (@leshercenter), Mountain View (@mvcpa) and San Francisco (@ybca) - November 23-December 24! Link in bio!

🎥 Smuin Contemporary Ballet company artists in The Christmas Ballet, video by @raptproductions

The San Francisco Dance Film Festival’s Online E

The San Francisco Dance Film Festival’s Online Encore is now streaming on Marquee TV until November 3! It is comprised of select 2024 Festival programs, including six feature films and four shorts programs, one of which is Organized Hope choreographed by our Artistic Director Amy Seiwert. #sfdancefilmfest

To enjoy the Encore Online Festival, purchase a Streaming Pass for $20. Streaming Passes give ONE person access to Marquee TV for three months, including access to streaming our Encore Online Festival until November 3 on Marquee TV.

Don’t miss out on these incredible films! More details can be found @sfdancefilmfest or at sfdancefilmfest.org

🍿 After months of screenings all over the world

🍿 After months of screenings all over the world, and a sold out screening at @framelinefest, Lady Like is finally coming home to San Francisco with 2 homecoming screenings!

Come hang out with Smuin alumn @ladycamden and director @lukewillis at @thechancenter here in San Francisco! There will be a Q&A with @reggieaqui (3:30pm) and @tonybravosf (7pm) plus a fabulous champagne toast, red carpet VIP party between the two screenings!

🗓️ Sunday Oct 27, 3:30pm and 7pm.

Afterwards, head over to @beauxinthecastro where Lady Camden and the other queens from the film are taking over the Sunday Big Top party!

For tickets and more information visit the link in our bio!

Since joining Smuin Contemporary Ballet in 2008, T

Since joining Smuin Contemporary Ballet in 2008, Terez Dean Orr has shared her presence on stage and in the studio in such an impactful way. It’s nearly impossible to fit 17 years of performance highlights into one video! Congratulations on an incredible career Terez, we can’t wait to see your next chapter unfold!

🎥 Company Artist Terez Dean Orr featured in selected works choreographed by Jiří Kylián, Amy Seiwert, Trey McIntyre, Val Caniparoli, Michael Smuin, James Kudelka, and Jennifer Archibald over the years. #smuinballet

#smuin #smuinballet #ballet #dance #contemporaryballet #ContemporaryDance #dancephotography #BayAreaArts #supportthearts #smuincontemporaryballet #terezdeanorr #congratulations

🌹Our final performance of Dance Series 1 was fi

🌹Our final performance of Dance Series 1 was filled with so much love and admiration for Terez Dean Orr, who took her final bow after a remarkable 17 years with Smuin Contemporary Ballet. We are in awe of Terez and everything that she has brought to this organization and to the stage, year after year.

Since joining Smuin in 2008, Terez has shared her presence with the Bay Area in many ways. She has been involved in numerous World premieres, and has brought personal flair to every role she has been given. She has created and directed dance films, and with her quick thinking and creativity she helped to support Smuin through a global pandemic. She not only is an incredibly creative artist, but she also finds any and every way to support the art of her friends. We will miss seeing Terez on the Smuin stage, but we can’t wait to see her next chapter unfold!

📷 Smuin Contemporary Ballet Company Artist Terez Dean Orr taking her final bows on the Smuin stage, surrounded by her friends and family. #smuinballet
Photos 1 & 4 by @maxtphoto
Photo 2 by @maggiecareyyy

It’s a 2-show day at the Cowell Theater! Join us

It’s a 2-show day at the Cowell Theater! Join us this weekend for our final performances of Dance Series 1, featuring choreography by Jennifer Archibald, Matthew Neenan and Amy Seiwert. Don’t miss your chance to see these artists in action, ticket link in bio! #smuinballet

Company Artists Cassidy Isaacson and Ricardo Dyer in The Last Glass, choreographed by Matthew Neenan.
📸 Photos by Chris Hardy

Dance Series 1 continues tonight at the Cowell The

Dance Series 1 continues tonight at the Cowell Theater! Join us for our final weekend of performances, October 17-20, as we share works by Jennifer Archibald, Matthew Neenan, and Amy Seiwert. Tickets available today, link in bio!

Company Artist Gabrielle Collins on stage during ByCHANCE choreographed by Jennifer Archibald.
📷 Photo by Maggie Carey
🪡 Costume Design by Susan Roemer
💡 Lighting Design by Michael Oesch

#smuin #smuinballet #ballet #dance #contemporaryballet #ContemporaryDance #dancephotography #BayAreaArts #supportthearts #smuincontemporaryballet #femalechoreographer #inthewings #backstage #bts

Backstage at Smuin 🎥 There is something so spec

Backstage at Smuin 🎥 There is something so special about a view from the wings, and we are loving this behind the scenes footage captured by our friends at @jettison_creative — featuring the artists of Smuin Contemporary Ballet in Renaissance, choreographed by Amy Seiwert.

Dance Series 1 continues this weekend at the Cowell Theater at @fortmasoncenter in San Francisco! Join us October 17-20 for our final performances of this program, get your tickets today! Link in bio!

Backstage at Smuin 🎥 There is something so spec

Backstage at Smuin 🎥 There is something so special about a view from the wings, and we are loving this behind the scenes footage captured by our friends at @jettison_creative — featuring the artists of Smuin Contemporary Ballet in The Last Glass, choreographed by Matthew Neenan.

Dance Series 1 opens tonight at the Cowell Theater at @fortmasoncenter in San Francisco! We will be here for the next two weekends, get your tickets today! Link in bio!

Join us for Dance Series 1, as we incorporate Amer

Join us for Dance Series 1, as we incorporate American Sign Language and Audio Description into our performances at the Cowell Theater at Fort Mason.

📌 Friday, October 18 @ 7:30pm — there will be a signer in American Sign Language for the entire performance. #ASL #ASLperformance

📌Sunday, October 20 @ 2:00pm — This performance will include Audio Description, as well as a pre-show Haptic Access Tour. #AudioDescription

For more information about these specific performances, visit the link in our bio!

Company Artists Terez Dean Orr for The Last Glass, choreographed by Matthew Neenan. Photo by Chris Hardy. #smuinballet

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

Connect with Us

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