Smuin Contemporary Ballet Celebrates 30th Anniversary With CELEBRATING MICHAEL SMUIN

Smuin Contemporary Ballet celebrates its 30th anniversary with Celebrating Michael Smuin, a special added program honoring its dynamic late founder. A consummate ballet choreographer, as well as a Tony Award-winning Broadway dancemaker, Smuin was equally renowned for his incandescent, heartbreaking ballets, his magnetic storytelling, and his bold, athletic, audience-pleasing choreography that expanded the boundaries of traditional ballet.

Two of Smuin’s beloved works will take the stage: the bold Zorro!, returning to the stage for the first time since 2006, and Fly Me to the Moon, a warm and witty tribute to Sinatra, revived for its 20th anniversary.

Celebrating Michael Smuin will be presented in five performances only, February 29 – March 3, 2024 at the Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA (700 Howard St, San Francisco). For tickets ($25-$99) and more information, the public may call 415-912-1899 or visit smuinballet.org.

This one-week-only program will showcase Michael Smuin’s inimitable pizzazz with Zorro!, the “sword fighting, whip cracking spectacular” (Talkin’ Broadway) story ballet about the adventures of a beleaguered movie theater usher who longs to emulate the swashbuckling masked California folk hero. Set to a captivating original score by Grammy, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award-winning composer Charles Fox, and featuring fight choreography by fencing master Richard Lane, the San Francisco Chronicle declared this piece “delicious. Irrepressible. Broadway meets ballet in the greatest terms.” Paired with Zorro! is Michael Smuin’s joyful tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes, “Fly Me to the Moon.” Performed against a twinkling backdrop of glowing stars, the ballet brings to life an array of warm and witty Sinatra favorites including “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” the funny and charming “I Won’t Dance,” the brash and brassy “That’s Life,” and many more, culminating in a full chorus, high kicking “New York, New York” finale.

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