Smuin Ballet: "Dance Series One"

Smuin Ballet's "Dance Series One": Four Stunningly Original Dance Works

Smuin Ballet kicks off its new season with "Dance Series One", an eclectic evening of fearless, innovative dance that includes two world premieres: a new piece inspired by Russian composer and pianist Dmitri Shostakovich's 1938 "Suite for Jazz Orchestra" by Smuin Ballet's choreographer-in-residence Amy Seiwert, and "Maslow", a short piece by Smuin dancer Ben Needham-Wood set to an original score from cellist-composer Ben Sollee. The series also includes the return of Ma Cong's fast 'n' flirty "French Twist", a critically acclaimed work inspired by the American cartoon "Tom and Jerry" that uses contemporary movement set to five musical selections by French composer Hugues Le Bars. The lyrical "Bouquet" -- created by the company's late, great founder Michael Smuin and set to a pair of Shostakovich piano concerti -- rounds out this gorgeous evening of dance at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.