Smuin Contemporary Ballet is excited to present its annual spring season over four weeks, April 17 – May 17, in San Francisco, Walnut Creek and Mountain View. Titled Future Forward, the program features newly commissioned works by Andrea Schermoly and Smuin Artistic Director Amy Seiwert in addition to audience favorites from Katarzyna Skarpetowska and Michael Smuin.
South African-born choreographer Schermoly is one of the most in-demand choreographers of her generation. After her early training at The Royal Ballet School in London, Schermoly competed internationally as a member of the South African National Rhythmic gymnastics team, and danced professionally for Boston Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater. As a choreographer, she has received commissions from companies around the world, from the Royal New Zealand Ballet to Kansas City Ballet. She has also choreographed for numerous movies, music videos and commercials in Los Angeles.
In 2018, she broke ground as the first female resident choreographer at Louisville Ballet where her major achievements include a new Rite of Spring dance film and recreations of two of Martha Graham’s iconic works, Appalachian Spring and Judith. Future Forward marks Schermoly’s debut with Smuin.
This season, the company presents its 15th world premiere by Seiwert. She was captivated by Grammy-winning artist Lucy Dacus’ debut solo album, Forever is a Feeling. “When I first heard this album, I could immediately see the ballet living inside of it,” said Seiwert. “The images and stories Dacus creates are visceral and universal. Her music also has a great sense of spaciousness and mystery. This allows a choreographer to be in conversation with the sonic landscape, rather than just imitating it. It’s been a long time since an album has made me stop, listen and imagine a world so completely.”
Skarpetowska, who divides her time between New York City and Warsaw, Poland, is no stranger to Smuin. Her Sextette, which will be performed on the Future Forward program, was originally commissioned by the National Choreographers Initiative for Smuin, premiering at the Irvine Barclay Theatre in Irvine, CA, in 2021. As its name would suggest, Sextette is made for six dancers, and it’s set to music by Johann Sebastian Bach.
“It’s an abstract work that centers on genuine human connection,” said Seiwert. “It’s free from any of the artificial constructs that are often associated with classical ballet. Kate’s unique creative voice is intensely musical and choreographically innovative, which allows the viewer to really ‘see’ the music.”
Finally, Future Forward will present an excerpt from Hearts (Le Ballet des Coeurs) by Michael Smuin. Considered one of Smuin’s greatest works, Hearts was the last piece he made for San Francisco Ballet when it premiered in 1986. With concept and scenario by Raquel Bitton, and set to the music of Edith Piaf, Hearts is inspired by the French film masterpiece, Les Enfants du Paradis, the story of a courtesan and the four men – a mime, an actor, a criminal and an aristocrat – who love her. For Future Forward, Smuin will highlight the relationship between Garance the courtesan and Baptiste the mime.
For more information and to purchase tickets to Smuin Contemporary Ballet’s Future Forward, visit smuinballet.org/events/future-forward.
Share this:
