Smuin's Annual Gala Celebrates Company Season

Dancers will mix and mingle with arts, business, and civic leaders for an evening en pointe celebrating the 23rd season of one of the nation's most innovative and entertaining contemporary American ballet companies at Smuin's Annual Gala, to be held Sunday, March 19, 2017 at San Francisco's Galleria. Co-chairs Patti and Jerry Hume, and Athena and John Konstin along with Smuin's Board of Trustees and the Friends of Smuin committee will be hosting this event. The elegant evening will include a cocktail reception, dazzling performance by Smuin's acclaimed dancers, premier live auction, gourmet dinner catered by McCall's, and after-dinner dancing. Smuin's Annual Gala takes place 5pm, Sunday, March 19, 2017 at San Francisco's 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: Bruce Braden (President), Patti Hume (Founding President), Dell Larcen (Vice President), Ed Schweitzer (Treasurer), Karen D. Kadushin (Secretary), F. Thomas Aden, Mary Canning, Lee D. Baxter, David Berger, Robert Challey, John Konstin, David M'Raihi, Madelyn Mallory, Maria Nazari, Elizabeth Sanders, 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 are a lavish five day get-away to Mexico, a year's culinary journey to twelve of the Bay Area's most sought-after restaurants, an amazing VIP experience with each of the Bay Area sports teams (San Francisco Giants, Oakland A's, Golden State Warriors), a chance to be on stage in Smuin's annual Christmas Ballet spectacular, and much more.

Funds raised at Smuin's Annual Gala will ensure the company's productions maintain the signature Smuin sparkle audiences know and love, as the troupe moves into its 24th season.

For more than 20 years, Smuin has pushed the boundaries of contemporary ballet within a distinctly American 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 is the San Francisco Chronicle/SFGate.com.

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