Smuin Contemporary Ballet
Sunday, October 5,2025 2 pm
Yerba Buena Center, San Francisco
Sunday Delight
Amy Seiwert, the Artistic Director of the Smuin Ballet, has succeeded Michael Smuin and now, to delighted San Francisco audiences, brings new choreographic works. For this program she has not only done her own “A Long Night” (inspired by “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”), but has brought works by other choreographers, i.e. Justin Peck’s “Partita” and “Extremely Close” by Alejandra Cerrudo.
Originally premiered 2022 for the NYC Ballet, Peck (who has recently become a major choreographer for that company and is now Resident Choreographer), gives us a work of long locomotor patterns with complex, delightful rhythms. He, and other choreographer are, at this time, are creating a variety of dance ‘moves’ that challenge conventional ballet phrasing. Partnering is also innovative: dancers perform with one another in seemingly endless groups, duets…or in complex solos. It is all delightful…and demanding for today’s audiences.
Seiwert’s “take” on “Midsummer Night’s Dream” featured Mark La Pierre as Puck (for the Sunday 10/5 performance). Dressed in a gold costume, he was indeed the transformative agent in the well-known Shakespeare story of mixed-up lovers. Others for this charming event were: Shania Rasmussen, Dominic Barrett, Maggie Carey, and Yuri Rogers as the couples. (Note: cast members change for each performance; a wonderful practice.)
“Extremely Close” is listed as a “world premiere, 2007” at “Hubbard Street Dance “Chicago. ( This reviewer does not recall that we have seen any of Hubbard Street Dance recently in the SF Bay Area.) The choreographer is currently Artistic Director of the Charlotte Ballet. It is an amazing, delightful work! Although (and because) the stage is “littered” with while paper (tissues?) the dancers move on them with ease. They are also challenged by the varied use of three white screens, which they move and appear behind, in front and alongside them. We, the audience, must look carefully and with great attention.
It Is the final duet (dancers not cited) that is truly a “show stopper.” The two dancers execute complex, detailed moves that challenge audiences’ observing skill. All moves are unusual, sometimes surprising and technically beyond belief. The lead male dancer ‘rolls up” the carpet. End dance.
Audiences are ‘now’ challenged to enjoy today’s ballet offerings. There is a ‘news look’ …demanding and exiting.
Note: All program details available at Smuin Ballet