About City Ballet School of San Francisco:
City Ballet School of San Francisco offers classical Russian Vaganova based training, taught by the finest teachers, and modeled after Artistic Director Galina Alexandrova's own training at the Bolshoi Academy in Moscow. Although the base of the curriculum is in Russian training, the intention is to make each dancer well rounded enough to have the skills, that when combined with talent, offer them the best chance of being in a professional company or to gain scholarships through dance. All may not be able to reach these lofty goals, but each student will be challenged to meet their potential, and all will benefit from a life enriched through dance.
Pre-Ballet
Pre-Ballet program is for young, beginning dancers between the ages of four and six. Taught by professional dancers, the program is designed to offer a fun, inventive, and creative introduction to the discipline of ballet. Done with a live pianist, and accompanied by music they will very often recognize, students are encouraged to use their imagination, and are given a nurturing environment within which to learn. From this basic instruction, they will acquire a beginning ballet vocabulary, and the basic knowledge they will need to succeed in the more structured classes that follow, beginning at age six.
For more information, visit www.cityballetschool.org
Spring Program: May 8th - June 6th
· St. Louis Woman: Smuin Ballet Premiere, Michael Smuin
· The Naughty Boy!: West Coast Premier, Trey McIntire, guest choreographer
· Bouquet: Michael Smuin
St. Louis Woman: A Blues Ballet, was premiered at Lincoln Center in 2003 by Dance Theatre of Harlem, who commissioned the work. Hailed by the New York Times as "gorgeous entertainment," St. Louis Woman is a work that exemplifies Michael's genius at "mixing ballet's classical idiom with period social dances" (New York Times). Trey McIntyre, renowned choreographer and founder of his own company, Trey McIntyre Project, set The Naughty Boy! to Mozart's "Violin Concerto in G Major
The mission of Smuin Ballet is to bring enjoyment of dance to new as well as existing audiences through works of uncompromising originality and quality.
Debuting in March 1994, Smuin Ballet has quickly established itself as "one of this country's most entertaining, original ballet troupes" (Dance Magazine). Indeed, few names in dance are as widely known and recognized as that of Michael Smuin: at the heart of the company is Mr. Smuin's singular ability to create pieces which merged the diverse vocabularies of classical ballet and contemporary dance forms. Recognized for its accessible and innovative repertory, the company adheres to the philosophy that ballet should be a living dance form that can continue to engage and delight modern audiences. In testimony to the success of this commitment, Smuin Ballet frequently performs to sold-out houses.
Between 1995 and 2006 the company has premiered over forty works by Michael Smuin and has recently begun premiering works by a new generation of choreographers, drawn from Smuin Ballet's own company of artists.
Smuin Ballet is proud to have called the Bay Area home for the past fourteen years. Audiences from throughout San Francisco, Marin County, the Peninsula and the East Bay have imbued Smuin performances with passion and enthusiasm since the beginning, supporting an expanding subscription program and touring schedule. The company offers subscription seasons at four venues in the Bay Area: San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Mountain View and Carmel. A season consists of three programs throughout the year. Smuin Ballet also tours nationally and internationally.
For more information and tickets, visit www.smuinballet.org
