Dance Flash: Smuin Ballet

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You may be surprised to hear this, but San Francisco houses more than just one ballet company. San Francisco Ballet is the major one, but we're lucky enough to host several smaller, more intimate companies, such as Alonzo King's LINES Ballet and Smuin Ballet. I'll touch on LINES in the coming weeks, but today, I'm focusing on Smuin Ballet.

The late Michael Smuin led a prolific and artistic dance career. He performed as a principal dancer (translation: top dog or clean-up hitter) with both American Ballet Theatre and San Francisco Ballet, spent about 12 years as co-artistic director for San Francisco Ballet, choreographed on Broadway and for the silver screen, and founded and led his own SF-based ballet troupe. Almost two years have gone by since he passed away, but his company continues to promote his legacy.

Smuin's "Medea," follows a storyline that trumps even the juiciest of the original "Melrose Place"This weekend, Smuin Ballet opens its Fall/Winter season with two Smuin classics and one premiere by resident choreographer Amy Seiwert. I could reword press releases and the company's website, but that doesn't tell you much about the nitty gritty. Really, how many times could I type "smooth" and "stylish" before you closed this tab and went back to playing online blackjack work? Thankfully, I got an opportunity to observe a full rehearsal this past Sunday, and boy, was it full of strong legs, abundant enthusiasm, and flinging hair sweat.

While the company lacks some of the bells and whistles of larger arts institutions, it more than makes up for this with its staff's professionalism and approachability. On Sunday, Artistic and executive director Celia Fushille gracefully floated across the front of the room, welcoming visitors and discussing last-minute rehearsal details with calming ease, and all of the dancers were neatly dressed, observant, smiling, and eager to attack the steps, even in a non-air conditioned studio on a scorching hot day. And it was so hot that I kept wiping my face with the only napkin I could find in my purse, one from my pizza lunch at Arizmendi. I'm sure those sitting next to me were wondering why the air smelled sweetly like asiago, garlic, and olive oil. Sorry, that was my forehead and not someone's lunch outside...

The afternoon consisted of three diverse ballets. Amy Seiwert's flirty world premiere "Soon These Two Worlds," set to selections from the Kronos Quartet's "Pieces of Africa," opened the rehearsal. There's a lot of group dancing, but Seiwert has created some intricately detailed duets, which smartly highlight her dancers' strengths. Smuin's "Medea," follows a storyline that trumps even the juiciest of the original "Melrose Place": there's love, lust, adultery, jealousy, rage, and mass murder. On Sunday, Susan Roemer's drama-queen Medea conveyed strength and a bald-Britney-wielding-a-baseball-bat-like craziness. True, I was saddened when she killed the Princess just steps from my feet, but minutes later, I was secretly rooting for her as Aaron Thayer's Jason met his demise. That debbie downer didn't last long, though, as the dancers took a short break and soon had me tapping my toes as they tossed their hats, twirled and waltzed across the floor, and strutted along to some of Frank Sinatra's best in Smuin's "Fly Me to the Moon."

Smuin Ballet isn't looking to reinvent the wheel, but they are trying to reach out to new audiences. One way that might interest our readers is the Smuin Soiree. Before the October 10th performance, join Smuin Ballet for cocktails, beer, and appetizers at a Sinatra-themed party. Soiree doors open at 6:30PM and the show starts at 8PM. Purchase two tickets for the price of one ($40 seats). That means $20 per person to see the show and enjoy thepre-party. But note that you will not be permitted into the Soiree without showing 2-for-1 tickets to that night's show.

Smuin Ballet is a small company, and one that won't be producing the likes of a full-length "Swan Lake" anytime soon, but not everyone wants that in a ballet company. So for the non-traditionalist, Smuin Ballet offers an approachable and enjoyable dance experience aimed at a wide variety of audiences.

What: Smuin Ballet's Fall/Winter Season
When: Oct. 2-10, 2009, 8PM and Oct. 3-4, 2009, 2PM
Where: Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon Street , San Francisco
Tickets: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts box office, 415.978.2787 or online. If buying tickets for the Oct. 10th 2-for-1 party and performance, use the promo code "Soiree". More details about the Smuin Soiree is on Facebook Discounted tickets for the remainder of the run may also be available at Goldstar (subject to availability)