Smuin's Annual Gala March 3 Celebrates Quarter-Century For Contemporary Ballet Company

Smuin Contemporary Ballet celebrates its silver anniversary with Smuin's Annual Gala, hosted by co-chairs Patti and Jerry Hume and Athena and John Konstin along with Smuin's Board of Trustees and Friends of Smuin committee. Honoring 25 years at the forefront of contemporary ballet, arts, civic, and philanthropic leaders of San Francisco will mingle with Smuin artists at this fabulous fête featuring a cocktail reception, gourmet dinner catered by McCall's, world class wines from Napa Valley's Grgich Hills Estate, and delightful performances by Smuin's exquisite dancers. Guests will also enjoy a thrilling live auction featuring one-of-a-kind gifts and experiences, followed by after-dinner dancing. Smuin's Annual Gala takes place 5pm, Sunday, March 3, 2019 at The Galleria, 101 Henry Adams Street, San Francisco. For tickets and more information, the public may contact Smuin at (415) 556-5000 x100 or visit www.smuinballet.org.

Assisting with the event are Smuin's Board of Trustees and officers: Dell Larcen (President), Patti Hume (Founding President), Lee Baxter (Vice President), Karen D. Kadushin (Secretary), and Madelyn Mallory (Treasurer), as well as the Friends of Smuin committee. Live auction items will include rare and memorable experiences and superb goods and services. Among this year's one-of-a-kind auction items: A VIP Golden State Warriors experience in the Hearst Suite, a Smuin collector's must-have package with a signed pair of Michael Smuin's shoes, a chance to be on stage with the dancers in a special walk-on appearance in Smuin's annual Christmas Ballet spectacular, and more.

Funds raised at Smuin's Annual Gala will support the Company in staging its innovative productions around the Bay Area, ensuring the company's productions maintain the signature Smuin sparkle audiences know and love as it celebrates a quarter-century of combining classical ballet artistry with the athleticism of contemporary dance.

For 25 years Smuin has pushed the boundaries of contemporary ballet with a distinctly athletic and innovative style, engaging and delighting audiences with uncommon physicality and expression. Founded in San Francisco in 1994 by Tony and Emmy award-winning choreographer Michael Smuin, the company is committed to creating work that merges the diverse vocabularies of classical ballet and contemporary dance. As Artistic Director since 2007, Celia Fushille has maintained Michael Smuin's legacy while enriching the company's impressive repertoire by collaborating with inventive choreographers from around the world, commissioning world premieres, and bringing new contemporary choreographic voices to the Smuin stage.

Daily Newspaper and Online Media sponsor for Smuin's 2018/2019 season is the San Francisco Chronicle and SFGATE.