Smuin Ballet

Mission Statement

In 1994, Michael Smuin set out to build an American ballet company with a distinctly American accent--"to infuse ballet with the rhythm, speed, and syncopation of American popular culture." His vision continued after his his sudden passing in 2007. Eclectically creative, Michael was an Emmy, Drama Desk, and Tony Award winner for outstanding achievements in choreography and best direction of a musical. A classicist by intuition, Michael was over time a principal dancer of such significant companies as American Ballet Theatre, a choreographer for such important troupes as the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and ballet master and finally artistic director at San Francisco Ballet. Michael built Smuin Ballet to take its place in the top tier of American ballet companies.