Highly Recommended Dance: SMUIN CONTEMPORARY BALLET (The Joyce in NYC)

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by Tony Frankel on July 11, 2024

in Dance,Theater-New York,Theater-San Francisco / Bay Area,Tours

SMUIN IS A SHOO-IN

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, San Francisco-based Smuin Contemporary Ballet returns to The Joyce with a triple bill of original commissions each making their New York premiere through Sunday. The engagement will be the Company’s ninth at the Joyce and first since 2012. The program will include the New York premiere of Val Caniparoli’s Tutto Eccetto il Lavandino (“everything but the kitchen sink”); Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Tupelo Tornado; and Renaissance, choreographed by Company Associate Artistic Director Amy Seiwert. Seiwert will succeed current Artistic Director Celia Fushille, who steps away from her position following this engagement.

This repertoire is a microcosm of a group which, since its inception in 1994, has become a company of international notoriety. Fushille has both preserved and escalated the company’s standing for presenting accessible and ground-breaking repertoire while nurturing newer choreographic voices, and we’re certain Amy Seiwert will do the same. Most important is that Smuin continues to attract new audiences of all ages to the medium, and the diversity of classical ballet and contemporary dance at The Joyce is also a perfect way to introduce your youngsters to the world of dance.

Tutto Eccetto Il Lavandino
(everything but the kitchen sink)
World Premiere: May 2, 2014, Smuin Contemporary Ballet
Choreography: Val Caniparoli
Music: Antonio Vivaldi
Costume Design: Sandra Woodall
Lighting Design: Michael Oesch

Smuin Contemporary Ballet performing Val Caniparoli’s Tutto Eccetto il Lavandino
Brennan Wall and Brandon Alexander in Val Caniparoli’s Tutto Eccetto il Lavandino
Cassidy Isaacson and Ian Buchanan in Val Caniparoli’s Tutto Eccetto il Lavandino
Brandon Alexander and Brennan Wall in Val Caniparoli’s Tutto Eccetto il Lavandino

Tupelo Tornado
World Premiere: May 3, 2024, Smuin Contemporary Ballet
Choreography: Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
Sound Design: Jake Rodriguez
Scenic & Lighting Design: Alexander V. Nichols 
Costume Design: Susan Roemer

Cassidy Isaacson and Ricardo Dyer with Brandon Alexander, right,
in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Tupelo Tornado
Brandon Alexander, center, and the dancers of Smuin Contemporary Ballet
performing Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Tupelo Tornado

Renaissance
World Premiere: April 26, 2019, Smuin Contemporary Ballet
Choreography: Amy Seiwert
Music: Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble
Costume Design: Kaori Higashiyama
Lighting & Scenic Design: Brian Jones
Lighting Adaptation: Michael Oesch

Terez Dean Orr, center, and the women of Smuin Contemporary Ballet
performing Amy Seiwert’s Renaissance
Smuin Contemporary Ballet performing Amy Seiwert’s Renaissance
Terez Dean Orr and Ricardo Dyer in Amy Seiwert’s Renaissance

photos by Chris Hardy

Smuin Contemporary Ballet
The Joyce Theater in Chelsea, 175 Eighth Avenue at West 19th Street
ends on July 14, 2024
for tickets ($27-$72), visit Joyce

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