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Smuin will also present the company premieres of Alejandro Cerrudo’s Extremely Close and Seiwert’s A Long Night—inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream—plus the revival of Kate Skarpetowska’s Sextette and Michael Smuin’s Hearts Suite.
Smuin’s beloved annual tradition, The Christmas Ballet, returns during the holiday season to spread cheer with its signature mixed repertoire of classical ballet and contemporary dance set to yuletide tunes.
Smuin’s programs will be presented from September 12, 2025, through May 10, 2026, in San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Mountain View, and Carmel. For subscriptions ($110-$255, inclusive of fees) or more information, the public may call (415) 912-1899 or visit www.smuinballet.org. Single tickets ($25-$125, inclusive of fees) will be available beginning August 1.
Smuin’s season opener, Extremely Close (September 12 – October 5), features a trio of company premieres by award-winning choreographers set to an eclectic soundtrack. Justin Peck’s Partita is a vibrant fusion of movement, sound, and visual art that has captivated audiences since its world premiere with New York City Ballet in 2022. Now, Smuin becomes the first company outside of NYCB to perform this groundbreaking work. Set to Caroline Shaw’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Partita for 8 Voices,” the ballet features eight dancers in sneakers. Peck’s choreography translates the composition’s vocal intricacies—including gasps, moans, and harmonies—into striking physicality, with bodies weaving, interlocking, and unfolding to the sounds.
Continuing with the theme of fusing art with choreography is Alejandro Cerrudo’s Extremely Close, a ballet that is part art installation, part movement drama. Set to the evocative music of Philip Glass and Dustin O’Halloran, this exploration of impermanence takes place in a dreamlike landscape.
The program continues with Amy Seiwert’s A Long Night, a whimsical ballet that reimagines Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream through a modern lens. Subverting classical ballet language with contemporary movement, the result is a charming, lighthearted piece that blends humor with heartfelt storytelling. Critics applauded Seiwert’s fresh take on Puck and the lovers, marking a successful departure from her typical non-narrative style. Departing from the Mendelssohn score, the soundtrack features a medley of vintage and contemporary songs including classics by Patsy Cline, Doris Day, Harry Nilsson, and Pink Martini.
Smuin’s joyful holiday tradition returns November 22 – December 28, spreading yuletide cheer with its signature showcase of classical and contemporary dances set to delightfully festive tunes. The Christmas Ballet offers something for everyone including an elegant first act presenting beautiful classical ballet set to beloved carols, followed by the red-hot second act with joyful contemporary numbers set to pop favorites. With the surprise unwrapping of new treats each year, this celebratory medley incorporates a variety of dance styles including ballet, tap, jazz, swing, and more.
For its 2025/26 season, Smuin debuts Spring Point (February 13-15, 2026), a bold new showcase designed to foster artistic innovation and elevate emerging voices in ballet. Evolving from the company’s beloved Choreography Showcase, which nurtured in-house talent, Spring Point will expand Smuin’s reach to spotlight original works by both Smuin artists and early-career choreographers from the wider dance community. Presented for the first time at ODC Theater, this fresh initiative invites audiences to experience a vibrant collection of world premieres and reimagined pieces, offering a thrilling glimpse into the future of dance.
Smuin concludes its season with Future Forward (April 17 – May 10, 2026), a dynamic mixed repertory program that delves into the company’s past to explore its future. Artistic Director Amy Seiwert unveils a new World Premiere, her 14th ballet for Smuin. The company also presents a World Premiere by Andrea Schermoly, the Resident Choreographer of Louisville Ballet.
The program continues with Kate Skarpetowska’s Sextette, set to a moving concerto by Johann Sebastian Bach. Originally created on Smuin artists for the National Choreographers Initiative in 2021, its spring 2023 performance on the company’s mainstage was called “an athletic yet graceful piece that allows the dancers’ technique and partnership to shine” by the Los Altos Town Crier. Finally, Michael Smuin’s Hearts Suite, returns to the Smuin stage for the first time in over a decade. Set to recordings by Edith Piaf, this poignant work offers audiences a look at the founder’s evocative choreography in this study of yearning based on the classic French film, “Les Enfants du Paradis.”
Smuin’s 2025/26 season boldly lives out its tagline—“Standing Out from the Crowd”—with a lineup of company premieres and revivals that reflect the company’s unwavering commitment to innovation. Curated by Artistic Director Amy Seiwert, the season champions choreographers who defy convention and challenge expectations. “Passion and risk-taking are vital to the evolution of ballet,” says Seiwert. “The ballets in our 32nd Season do just that, shattering preconceptions of what ballet is and can be. By presenting works that fuse diverse dance styles with daring creative voices, Smuin continues to forge a dynamic path forward.”
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Alejandro Cerrudo, Amy Seiwert, ballet, choreography showcase, contemporary ballet, Extremely Close, interviews, Justin Peck, Kate Skarpetowska, Michael Smuin, Season Announcement, Sextette, Smuin, Smuin Contemporary Ballet, The Christmas Ballet
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