Smuin to Present Trey McIntyre Premiere THE CHICKEN SEES and More for 23rd Season

Smuin concludes its 23rd season with Dance Series 02, featuring a world premiere by internationally acclaimed choreographer Trey McIntyre entitled The Chicken Sees. McIntyre returns to Smuin to pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of the "Summer of Love" in an energetic exploration of dance and the creative process. The program also includes an exciting new addition by Smuin dancer Nicole Haskins. Rounding out the bill is Choreographer-in-Residence Amy Seiwert's critically lauded Broken Open.

Continuing its 23rd season under its new identity of Smuin (formerly Smuin Ballet), the company will tour the Bay Area with this vibrant program, beginning with shows in Mountain View (May 5-7), continuing in Walnut Creek (May 12-13) and San Francisco (May 19-28), and finishing in Carmel (June 2-3). Tickets ($32-$75) are available by calling the individual venues (see below for details) or visiting www.smuinballet.org.

McIntyre's new work, The Chicken Sees, is inspired by the "Summer of Love," a historic moment in time that shaped San Francisco and its culture for generations. The title is taken from a page in Ram Dass' book on spirituality, Be Here Now. The world premiere features selections from musical legends of that vibrant era, including Janis Joplin, The Mamas and The Papas, and Jefferson Airplane, among others. McIntyre was last seen with the troupe when commissioned by Smuin to create his acclaimed Oh, Inverted World, a piece set to music of indie-rock band The Shins. Much loved by audiences and cheered by critics, it was called "irresistible" by The New York Times, and "arresting" with "undeniable freshness" and "witty physicality" by the San Francisco ChroniclE. McIntyre has won numerous awards, including a Choo San Goh Award for Choreography, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Society of Arts and Letters, two personal grants for choreography from the National Endowment for the Arts, and is a United States Artists Fellow. He has produced more than 100 pieces during his career thus far. His works have been performed by companies around the world such as Stuttgart Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Queensland Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, New York City Ballet, BalletX, The Washington Ballet, and Oregon Ballet Theatre. He recently created a piece for San Francisco Ballet's 2017 Gala.

Company member and choreographer Nicole Haskins will employ a classical score to create a new work that is a joyful celebration of dance. She sets her world premiere to the allegro and the adagio of Tchaikovsky's Sextet in D minor Op. 70, also known as "Souvenir de Florence." In her fourth season at Smuin, Haskins' talent has established her as standout dancer and choreographer. She has danced professionally with the Sacramento Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Washington Ballet, and Amy Seiwert's Imagery. Her innovative choreography has previously been commissioned by the Sacramento Ballet, Richmond Ballet, and Smuin. She has presented original works at the Los Angeles Dance Invitational and the McCallum Theatre's Dancing Under The Stars Choreographic Competition. Most recently, her work was selected as a finalist at the 19th annual Choreography Festival at the McCallum Theater in Palm Desert. Haskins has contributed memorable works to the last three productions of The Christmas Ballet, in which her Fantasia was declared "enchanting" by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Also on the bill is Amy Seiwert's Broken Open, which the San Francisco Chronicle called "fresh, challenging, and relevant" and "endlessly inventive, fascinating" when it received its world premiere with Smuin in Fall 2015. The Contra Costa Times also lauded Seiwert's "keen craftsmanship." This piece is set to music by world-renowned cellist and composer Julia Kent, who creates music using looped cello, found sounds, and electronics. Seiwert worked with her mentor Michael Smuin for eight of her nine years as a dancer with Smuin. As a choreographer, her collaborations with artists of other disciplines and commitment to experimental work from a classical base make her a unique voice in the Bay Area dance community. The Bay Area Reporter declares her to be "the most talented and prolific young choreographer working from a ballet base around here" and the San Francisco Chronicle has called her "sharply innovative" and "one of the country's most exciting young dance makers." She has also been called "a Bay Area choreographer you need to know about" by The Mercury News. She was named one of "25 to Watch" by Dance Magazine, one of the "Hot 20 under 40" by 7x7 Magazine, and her choreography has been listed in the "Top 10" dance events of the year by the San Francisco Chronicle three times. In addition to Smuin, Seiwert's work is in the repertory of companies across the country, including Ballet Austin, BalletMet, American Repertory Ballet, Washington Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Oakland Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Louisville Ballet, and Cincinnati Ballet, as well as Robert Moses' Kin.

For more than 20 years, Smuin has pushed the boundaries of contemporary ballet within a distinctly American style, engaging and delighting audiences with uncommon physicality and expression. Founded in San Francisco in 1994 by Tony and Emmy award-winning choreographer Michael Smuin, the company is committed to creating work that merges the diverse vocabularies of classical ballet and contemporary dance. As Artistic Director since 2007, Celia Fushille has maintained Michael Smuin's legacy while enriching the company's impressive repertoire by collaborating with inventive choreographers from around the world, commissioning world premieres, and bringing new contemporary choreographic voices to the Smuin stage.

Daily Newspaper and Online Media sponsor for Smuin's 2016/2017 season is the San Francisco Chronicle/SFGate.com.

SHOWS:

MOUNTAIN VIEW:

May 5-7, 2017

8:00 pm Friday

2:00 pm & 8:00 pm Saturday

2:00 pm Sunday

Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts

500 Castro Street (at Mercy), Mountain View

(650) 903-6000 or www.smuinballet.org

Tickets ($56-$72)*

WALNUT CREEK:

May 12-13, 2017

8:00 pm Friday

2:00 pm Saturday

Lesher Center for the Arts

1601 Civic Drive (at Locust), Walnut Creek

(925) 943-7469 or www.smuinballet.org

Tickets ($57-$73)*

SAN FRANCISCO:

May 19-28, 2017

8:00 pm Thursday

8:00 pm Fridays

2:00 pm & 8:00 pm Saturdays

2:00 pm Sundays

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

YBCA Theater

700 Howard Street (at Third)

(415) 912-1899 or www.smuinballet.org

Tickets ($32-$75)*

CARMEL:

June 2-3, 2017

8:00 pm Friday

2:00 pm Saturday

Sunset Center

San Carlos Street (between 8th and 10th), Carmel

(831) 620-2048 or www.smuinballet.org

Tickets ($57-$73)*

*All prices are listed without fees - box office and order fees may apply.
**No additional fees in San Francisco

Discounts are available for students and groups of 10 or more.

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