Smuin Contemporary Ballet is delighted to announce its 33rd season—SMUIN IN FRAME—featuring regional and world premieres by Val Caniparoli, Nicolo Fonte, My’Kal Stromile, Amy Seiwert, and more. Curated by Artistic Director Amy Seiwert, Smuin’s next season features four programs: a triple bill titled French Kiss, followed by The Christmas Ballet, a Choreography Showcase featuring new works by Smuin artists, and a triple bill titled What’s Going On.
Of special note is a new work commissioned from Boston-based choreographer Stromile in his West Coast debut. Smuin has a lengthy history as a cultural incubator, and Stromile follows in a distinguished line of dance makers who made their regional debut through Smuin, artists including Ma Cong, Osnel Delgado, Trey McIntyre, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Helen Pickett.
“We are the legacy of our founder, Michael Smuin,” said Seiwert. “His passion for creation shines through the works he created for us, and we honor his spirit of innovation by seeking new horizons for ballet. For our 26/27 Season, we present groundbreaking world and regional premieres. Works of joy, of hope, resistance and resilience. There is a unique power in the collective experience of a live performance, and these ballets are curated to ignite that sense of connection.”
French Kiss
Mountain View, Walnut Creek, & San Francisco | September 11–Oct 18, 2026
Headlining Smuin’s fall season is a world premiere by Boston-based choreographer My’Kal Stromile. Since graduating from Juilliard in 2018, Stromile has earned a reputation for elegantly constructed works of layered movement with commissions from Ailey II, Paris Opera Ballet, and Vail Dance Festival, among others.
His collaboration with Smuin marks his West Coast debut. Titled I-SCRIT-AH-SCREE-TAH-SKRATT, his new work explores the mind as a shifting system of thoughts that fracture, multiply, and reorganize into structure. Set to a score inspired by J. S. Bach, Stromile describes the work “as a cognitive map of his thinking in motion.”
French Kiss, choreographed by Seiwert, premiered in 2023. Commissioned by Smuin, the ballet translates 1960s-era cocktail songs as interpreted by Pink Martini into masterful spatial compositions and inventive partnering, the dancers outfitted in candy-colored costumes by former Smuin company dancer Susan Roemer.
Completing the fall season is Michael Smuin’s Stabat Mater, hailed at its premiere in 2002 as “a powerful response to a national tragedy, and one of the most beautiful ballets in this choreographer’s remarkable career” (San Francisco Chronicle). “Stabat Mater is a ballet born from the collective grief of 9/11,” said Seiwert. “Its beauty is rooted in human resilience, the strength of community and hope. Next year will be the 20th anniversary of when we lost Michael, and we present this work in his honor.”
The Christmas Ballet
Walnut Creek, Mountain View, and San Francisco | November 21–December 24, 2026
Smuin’s joyful holiday tradition returns, 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. Smuin’s holiday spectacular is “sheer joy…the finest toast to the season” (San Francisco Chronicle).
The LGBTQ+ Night performance of Smuin’s irrepressible holiday classic, featuring fun twists and special guest appearances in support of local nonprofits, returns December 22.
Choreography Showcase
San Francisco | February 19–28, 2027
Smuin’s Choreography Showcase is a biennial program designed to foster an essential pipeline of opportunity for emerging choreographers. Open to all Smuin artists, the Showcase presents new work in an intimate studio setting. The Showcase alternates in off years with Spring Point, a commission-based platform culminating in fully produced works in a professional theater. Smuin is committed to supporting every stage of a dance maker’s journey.
Next year’s Choreography Showcase will take place at the Smuin Center for Dance. Approximately 10–12 artists are expected to participate, presenting short new works between five and ten minutes in length.
What’s Going On
San Francisco, Walnut Creek, & Mountain View | May 7–30, 2027
Smuin concludes its 2026/27 season with What’s Going On, a triple bill featuring regional premieres by Nicolo Fonte and longtime Smuin collaborator Val Caniparoli together with a world premiere by Amy Seiwert, her 16th ballet for the company.
Fonte’s The Heart(s)pace, commissioned by Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, premiered in 2014. Under the pulse-quickening strains of Ezio Bosso’s Symphony No. 2 and performed by a cast of eight, The Heart(s)pace delivers a captivating meditation on the ways of love.
Caniparoli’s What’s Going On, created for Richmond Ballet, premiered in 2022. Taking its title from Marvin Gaye’s classic anthem, What’s Going On is set to a tapestry of protest songs by Bob Dylan, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Gaye, and other artists. The ballet marks Smuin’s fourth presentation of a work by Caniparoli, an early collaborator of Michael Smuin’s at San Francisco Ballet and a mentor to Seiwert supported by The Joyce Theater in New York.
Finally, Smuin’s spring season will present a new work by Seiwert, with more information to follow early next year.
Subscriptions and Tickets
Season subscriptions are available now.
Single ticket will go on sale August 1. Stay tuned!
Smuin Contemporary Ballet performs in San Francisco at the Cowell Theater at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA, and the Smuin Center for Dance; in Walnut Creek at the Lesher Center for the Arts; and in Mountain View at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.
Featured Image & Image 1: Brennan Wall, center, in French Kiss. Photo by Chris Hardy.
