Came here because my parents were visiting from out of town. I wanted them to have good time, so we bought tickets to the ballet!!! Ant the performance was beautiful! My family had such a great time!!! They toured downtown San Francisco, had a great dinner and finished it with a ballet!!!! Would highly recommend this show ' read more

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I've been a Michael Smuin fan since his days a Director of the SF Ballet. Of all his ballets my favorite ballet was the full-length ballet: To The Beatles in about 1994. Unfortunately the SF Ballet is never going to do it. But Smuin has been doing a shorter version for at least a few years. It is just FABULOUS! See it if you can! We miss you Michael! I'd give Smuin Ballet five stars, which the dancers deserve, except that they are not perfectly in synch and a few of the ballets are less than exceptional. That criticism is of no importance, and wouldn't have been mentioned, except I am comparing them to SF Ballet. And they are so highly rated, certainly in the top couple of US ballets companies. read more

For his birthday, I took one of my best friends in San Francisco to the Smuin Ballet. The performance was held at the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts museum in San Francisco. As a first time visitor, I will say that signage at night to find the appropriate place to park and enter was a bit lacking at this venue.... but I digress! I think Smuin performs at other area venues as well, so I am not sure how relevant the venue is. The dancers were wonderful, and I had the pleasure of meeting the art director prior to the performance. It is obvious that the people of Smuin Ballet are passionate about their work, and it shows in the quality of the program. The performance consisted of 3 separate programs. The first was classical ballet, the second was post-modern ballet, and the third was theatrical latin ballroom ballet! I won't give away too much in case you are going to see this same program, but it was pure delight. I actually laughed out loud a few times, as did the rest of the audience. I will say some might consider Smuin an avant-garde ballet company, but I will say it is more accessible and less pretentious ballet than traditional / "main stream" ballet companies. I highly recommend and would definitely go again! Bravo! read more

The very first Smuin performance I ever saw was the Christmas Ballet this past December. Gotta say "loved it!" Now I want to see their other performances. read more

Dancin' with Gershwin by Smuin Ballet was a delightful performance! The music was illustrated by beautifully choreographed dances. The dance style is modern ballet with a jazz and tap twist. The dancers moved so gracefully, it looked like they were floating in the air like feathers at times. The comtempory twists make ballet so much more interesting! I truely enjoyed it. Many thanks to Yelp and Connie C. for the great seats! read more

Wonderful time. Went to the holiday themed show, last night in SF. Amazing dancers, choreography, outfits, and even some humor. read more

Smuin Ballet - Full house - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Lyrical and lovely, I just saw the Smuin Ballet at the Palace of Fine Arts. Its performance of Carmen was simply exquisite, among the three acts performed. Recommeded. read more

The Smuin Ballet has one of the most beautiful dancers in San Francisco as a member. Her name is Erin Yarbrough and she has more grace, style and control then any other I have ever seen. Any chance I have to watch her dance is a treat. The rest of the company is also amazing but if you have a chance to see Erin perform, you should take it. read more

pretty awesome stuff! i just went to the latest performance and saw ballet danced to old western songs. who woulda thunk it? i'm not qualified to give them more stars; it would be un-grounded. if you're sick of seeing the nutcracker (insert joke here), check these guys out. good for showing the honeyz that you have more range than mc d's and donuts. hubba hubba. rating: 4 pairs of overalls. read more

If you haven't yet bought a ticket to the Smuin Ballet's Spring Program, pull out your wallet and buy one right now. I attended the performance with a few friends on Tuesday night, with tickets that we had purchased on Groupon. To be honest, I knew absolutely nothing about the Smuin Ballet when I bought the ticket, and I only decided to go because 1) the ticket was cheap - only $30 for a VIP ticket, which got us seats in the fifth row - and 2) I skimmed the description of the performance and vaguely noticed something about the Beatles. Anyway, it turns out that the Smuin Ballet (founded by Tony and Emmy Award-winning choreographer Michael Smuin) is a modern ballet troupe at its finest, fusing classical ballet techniques, contemporary dance styles, and a variety of music to match. The Spring Program is composed of three acts. The first, Momentum, is set to a Prokofiev concerto, and focuses on the pairing of the dancers, who are light and playful. The second act, Requiem, is choreographed by the Smuin Ballet's Choreographer in Residence Amy Seiwert and set to a famously unfinished Mass composed by Mozart, and in my opinion this act is the star of the show. The haunting music is reflected in the dancers' powerful movements as they weave through gauzy curtains beneath dramatic lighting, and the emotion of the piece is palpable. The third and final act, To The Beatles, is as light as Requiem is heavy, and it is a perfect ending to the night. Clad in neon bellbottoms and minidresses, the dancers burst onto the stage to moonwalk and twist their way through an assortment of Beatles classics ranging from Help to Day Tripper to Penny Lane. The whole audience was laughing and cheering throughout, and I personally had a grin on my face the whole time. All in all, the Smuin Ballet's Spring Program was one of the freshest and most exciting dance performances I've ever seen. The moment the show ended, I wished that I could stay in my seat and watch the whole thing all over again. I already can't wait to see what they put together for their next program. Groupon or not, I'll be there. read more

Amazing. I didn't think I was a "ballet person", but after visiting Smuin, I'm pleased to admit, I was WRONG. The shows are sexy, stunning, and exciting! It includes a variety of dance styles, with the focus being on Ballet. I really can't say enough about how wonderful these shows are! I've now been to at least 5 performances, and I can't wait for the next season! :) read more

$40 for tickets to the ballet $400 for dinner at Compton Place hotel getting my husband to the ballet - pricelss. I love the ballet, I actually go to an adult ballet class 2x a week, so watching the ballet is a great treat. My husband was really not sure about the ballet. I had taken him to The Crucible in Oakland for Romeo and Juliet (fire ballet), which he loved. I was a little skeptical about him liking Smuin ballet. But to my surprise he loved it... The show we saw was amazing. I think we are trying to get tickets for Winter Ballet next. read more

Non-snobby ballet, yay! The dancers are gorgeous, and while I have my favorites, the strength, talent, and beauty of every single one never fails to amaze me. The versatility of the group is impressive, and if you're a fan of tap and modern dance, you won't be disappointed. The new choreography that is being incorporated this year is stunning as well, and the lighting and costumes enhance each performance flawlessly. read more

Their Christmas show is fun, playful, seductive, full of variety. Their style is very different from SF Ballet. Their regular program is more artsy and can be slow at times. read more

The Smuin Ballet is the best dance company I've had the pleasure of experiencing. Each of their performances performances is unique, refreshing, beautiful, and highly entertaining. I attend as many of their performances as i can. read more

Saw Dance series 01 at Lesher Center. It was a wonderful experience and we can't wait to go back. Love the fact that we did not have to travel far from home to see such an amazing show. read more

I always enjoy going to their ballet shows! They never fail to amaze me with their graceful dancing. I just wish that spotlight time was more equal to each of the dancers. read more

Smuin Ballet, was my very first time going to see ballet and I was so blessed to have seen their Christmass show it was amazing would love to see it again and again. The Smuin is a must see ballet show........ read more

I love to watch dance in all forms. SMUIN brings together many styles into one big entertaining extravaganza. It has a foundation of ballet, but there is so much more to appreciate. My pocketbook willing, they've got a life long customer. read more

Had a fantastic time at "The Christmas Ballet" last Friday here in beautiful downtown San Francisco. Lucky me, one of my friends is a dancer in the company, so my date and I were able to snag great front row seats (yay leg room!). The show was great and all of the dancers are so talented! There was everything from classic ballet, to sombreros, "Santa Baby", tap, and the perfect amount of humor! I can't wait for next season! read more

Magnificent! Fun, beautiful, exciting, and surprising. Our kids LOVED the Christmas special. Will definitely go again!

The 2016 show is my least favorite so far. The choreography and skill is not as advanced as the last two years. The music selections during the second act put us to sleep. The mood was mellow rather than festive. The ticket prices were higher this year. read more

"Pathetic" is the only way the describe The Christmas Ballet I saw at YBCA on Dec. 16. The only thing worth watching is the tap dancer. Sir, you are terrific, I applaud you! Bravo! (But please ask the costume shop to make your pants fit better) The rest of it is a version of "accessible" ballet - primitive, uninspiring choreography for average dancers. The decent "classical" portion would have required technical skills the dancers may be lacking, but in the second, supposedly contemporary dance part, the choreography is less interesting than in some high-school dance groups. There is simply no excuse for that. The music is yet another disappointment - of all the options, the company selected the most unsophisticated, "muzak" version of each piece. The promotional materials describe the second part of the performance as "fun and whimsical". I would use this characterization only in a sense you can use it for a hand-knit Christmas sweater your elderly spinster aunt sent you last year. read more

I love the Smuin Ballet. I have been going to all the shows for the past 6 years. It is never a disappointment. Always creative and energetic. Although we miss Michael dearly. God rest his soul! What a great man! Hopefully his legacy will live forever. read more

Smuin Ballet is a fun alternative to the San Francisco Ballet (although I recommend making time for both). It's a little lighter, a little shorter, and - if you see it at the YBCA - a little more comfortable. read more

Just saw the Fall 2012 program. Very enjoyable and varied. Excellent dancers and choreography that pops. Highly recommended.

Smuin Christmas ballet is my favorite Christmas thing to do in San Francisco. I've seen it every year for the past 4 years and it always warms my heart and sets the right Christmas atmosphere. It is so much better than the Nutcracker as it's in a smaller theater and you can sit quite close to the stage for probably half the price. The dancers are all amazing and a feast for the eyes, together with a beautifully set scenery and breathtaking choreography. The program is split into two halves: the traditional Christmas and the "cool" Christmas, both absolutely fantastic. Being a big Beatles fan, I have also seen their performance of To The Beatles in 2011, they can dance pretty to any music. A local treasure. Just one suggestion to fellow ballet fans and art lovers: do not bring children. They are unable to appreciate the beauty of the performance, get bored very quickly and, as a result, annoy everyone around them. read more

I loved the Christmas ballet. Extremely fresh and creative. Not your annual nutcracker by a long shot.

I've watched their performance in Mt. VIew and Yerba Buena in SF - choreography is original....no boring moments. Their Christmas performances have consistently been good and received excellent reviews. I am excited to see their performance again this Christmas and thinking of going to the one in Mt. View. Performing Arts read more

I bought (blind) Elite Level tickets (Groupon) for the 12/15/2010 presentation . Smuin has to be clear about what they sell as Elite because they assigned us two of the worst seats in the theater.(Just one row from the back wall and in one of the sides) Regarding the performance i have only two words to describe it boring & forgettable. read more

Inspiring and beautiful! The Christmas Ballet is a wonderful and uplifting holiday show, that's become an annual tradition.

This year's "Uncorked" was the second time I saw Smuin Ballet within a year (which says a lot as I don't have a lot of time).) I thoroughly enjoyed the performances which displayed an array of classic witticism to be appreciated by all ages. The dancers have incredible skills. choreography was well-thought out and the sets were creative. This is one company I would not mind seeing again. read more

Just saw the Smuin ballet perform XXMAS last night in Mountain View and they are wonderful!! They are classical with a twist which makes it so fun to watch! I just love them!! Especially great for someone new to ballet! We had a yummy dinner at Crepevine, and the free parking is also awesome. Go see them, you won't be disappointed! read more

i went to watch the obrigado brazil show at the mtn view performing arts center last night and was thoroughly pleased! this was my first time watching the smuin ballet. the first performance was choreographed by an apprentice choreographer, and it was beautiful. the second performance was set to japanese music and a bit eery, b/c it told the tale of doomed lovers. i primarily came to watch the last performance, which was set to brazilian bossa nova, samba, and axe music, and it was a lot of fun to watch. it's interesting to see ballet combined w/ such energetic music, and it was really well done. read more

Review for dance series 01: the whole experience probably worth two stars, but as a dancer myself, I know how much hard work it goes into a production. So I gave one more star as encouragement. First Serenade for Strings: the worst one out of three pieces. Overall, this company has better female dancers than male ones. So the dancers in general did ok. I had problem with the choreography of this piece: choppy, boring, repetitive and lack technical excitement. This is an oddly choreographed contemporary piece that has weird ballet element to it, but is far from the basic principles of ballet. It lacked fluidity between movements. Dancers seemed to have tried their best given this is the first piece, but it failed to excite the audiences and put people next to me to sleep. Even I got bored after seeing the barely changed duets from the third couple. I did not get the fun and loving interaction in the dances - it is a bore. And the costumes - you are giving the male dancers a cheap club going shirts that not only restrict movement, crinkle up, and were completely soaked in sweat at the end. Requiem for a Rose: my favorite piece in the show. Bravo for the creative choreography. Dancers overall translated the piece well. Beautiful stage presentation, simple tasteful costumes, the entire vision elevated the dance beyond just a stage entertainment. Fly Me to the Moon: oh boy. where do I start? I had mixed feelings on this one - I loved most of the female dancers and saw some powerful and solid techniques. Though I would love to see more softness and elongation (like Russian port de bras) given the romantic theme of this piece.Male dancers were very lacking in power, stability and energy. Mengjun Chen is the only exception. Totally stood out with the sharpness of his movements (though he could work on his control from the excitement). Other male dancers were half awake - not dancing for the audiences. The male solo - what a wonderfully choreographed piece, though the guy totally failed at delivering in his baggy khaki pants and cheap looking silk vest. Overall, the dances were overpowered by Sinatra's music. Bad, bad thing in ballet when the music is better than your dance. Overall, I expected more than what I had seen on a Friday night. read more

Bought Groupons to go see their Christmas Show at the Yerba Buena Center. I was disappointed after reading all the great reviews - thought I was going to be in for something really special but it felt more like a local variety show. The old Christmas was traditional classic ballet which was lovely. The new Christmas had a few nice dances but some just felt so corny (Blue Christmas..surf board..shark..guy in a speedo....really??) Woman beside spent the night texting people to tell them how bored she was which didn't help with the entertainment factor. read more

I'm a 1st time (2011/2012) subscriber to Smuin Ballet. I had not seen the company perform, nor had I ever been to the Palace of Fine Arts Theater. With the exception of the matinee audience not understanding to stop talking during the performance, I walked away liking Michael Smuin's choreography a lot better and enjoyed the dancers. There is not a bad seat in that theater. The music is recorded, but the dancers are very talented. Be sure to read the program notes. The Tango Palace is sultry, but it is meant to be more whimsical. It started a little cold, but the young dancers warmed to the situation Did Smuin understand that older dancers bring the intensity because Tango is like flamenco? The lighter tone was enjoyable. Stabat was moving. I adored Eternal Idol. That is where passion was programmed for the season. It was very beautiful, erotic, and simple. Dear Miss Cline was a lot of fun. Amy Seiwert''s fun vocabulary of movement was a nice whimsical bookend to the afternoon. Really good dancing. I gambled in buying season tickets this year. With the exception of Smuin's A Song for a Dead Warrior for SF Ballet, I used to think his choreography was fluff. There is an unpretentious and comfortable intimacy in his work. Other mundane details are that their concession snacks are really reasonably priced. They even provide a shuttle bus if you have to park farther out. MUNI takes you right there. This not the glamorous side of the the recommendation, but it lets you know what to expect. read more

The performance was nice. A little bit awkward feeling though to see the dancers in the hall after the show soliciting for donations with their hats. The ticket price was $50-60. read more

We saw the Christmas ballet last night and we LOVED it. We haven't been to the ballet for ages, but we wanted to see something new and different for the holidays. The Smuin Christmas ballet was the perfect choice. Innovative choreography, fun costumes, and great dancers. "Santa Baby"the Duke Ellington version of the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and "Baby, It's Cold Outside" were fabulous. read more

What happened to the SMUIN CHRISTMAS BALLET? I've been several times, but this year was very UNDERwhelming for the most part. Nothing like it used to be! Maybe it's a new, younger cast? My dancer friends and I agreed that fewer numbers than before were good. "Baby it's cold outside" was danced beautifully, by both dancers. "Jingle Bells Mambo" was fun and a nice addition. "Blue Christmas" was good because 'Elvis' was so good. Otherwise, nothing really notable. "Sugar Rum Cherry" used to be sexy and fun but the (new?) dancers just seemed like they couldn't act sexy and didn't flirt with the audience the way that piece has been in the past. I kept thinking "deer in the headlights" as I watched their faces. Plus, who or where was "Frosty the Snowman?" Didn't get that costume at all and that and "Drummer Boy", "Please Come Home", "Pretty Ribbon" and "Home for the HOlidays" could all use some reworking. For the price we paid, we expected a lot more. C'mon, SMUIN, we know you can do better, because we've seen it !!! read more