What Smuin Contemporary Ballet does

Smuin Contemporary Ballet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1994 by choreographer Michael Smuin in San Francisco. The company produces and presents contemporary ballet performances that combine classical ballet technique with modern movement, distinguishing itself by what its materials describe as an approach that infuses ballet with the rhythm, speed, and syncopation of American popular culture. Its core programming includes an annual Christmas Ballet tradition (performed since the company's founding), world-premiere showcases (Future Forward), early-career choreographer development (Spring Point), and themed seasonal productions (French Kiss, Choreography Showcase, What's Going On). Performances are staged across three core Bay Area venues — Cowell Theater at Fort Mason, Blue Shield of California Theater at Yerba Buena, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, and Lesher Center in Walnut Creek — plus Carmel Sunset Center.

The company operates Smuin Center for Dance, a wholly-owned core subsidiary located at 1830 17th Street in San Francisco's Potrero Hill neighborhood. This facility provides renovated studios with sprung floors and individually climate-controlled spaces, supporting daily dance classes for children and adults, studio rentals to external choreographers, creative residencies, and community programs including ConfiDANCE! (free weekly children's movement classes ages 6-9) and Class for a Cause (charitable dance events that have raised nearly $5,000 for local nonprofits). Digital streaming was added in July 2026 via the Summertime Screenings program, offering Digital Replays of productions for $20 each or bundled at a 15% discount, streamed through VBOTickets.com for 10-day viewing windows.

Smuin's business model combines earned revenue with charitable contributions. Earned streams include single tickets, season subscriptions, digital replay sales, drop-in dance class fees, and studio rental income. Contributed revenue comes from individual donations, corporate sponsorships and matching gifts, planned giving (Legacy Circle), in-kind gifts, and institutional grants from sources including SF Grants for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Lesher Foundation, the Fleishhacker Foundation, the Shubert Foundation, and the Osher Foundation. The organization holds a Charity Navigator Four-Star rating and is governed by a Board of Trustees, led artistically by Artistic Director Amy Seiwert (who succeeded Artistic Director Emerita Celia Fushille) and developmentally by Development Director Bonnie Fisk.

Name

Smuin Contemporary Ballet

Legal name

Smuin Contemporary Ballet

Website

https://smuinballet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Smuin Contemporary Ballet is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1994 that produces contemporary ballet performances across Bay Area venues and digitally, operates the Smuin Center for Dance education facility, and serves regional audiences, donors, and emerging choreographers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts - Contemporary Ballet

NAICS

Dance Companies (71112), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Dance Companies (711120)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classical Ballet (Full-Length & Repertoire) (MPAGADAA), Dance Performances (THAJAFAD), Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Contemporary ballet performances
• Dance education classes
• Ballet season subscriptions
• Performing arts nonprofit
• Dance studio rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Performance Tickets: Single tickets and season subscriptions for ballet performances across multiple Bay Area venues including San Francisco, Mountain View, and Walnut Creek
2. Digital Content Sales: Digital Replay streaming access sold for individual performances ($20 each) or bundled packages with 15% savings
3. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted online, by check, stocks/bonds, planned giving (Legacy Circle), and in-kind gifts. EIN 94-3197247
4. Dance Classes: Drop-in dance classes for adults and children at Smuin Center for Dance, offered daily
5. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate grants, sponsorships, and matching gift programs from business donors
6. Studio Rentals: Rental income from Smuin Center for Dance studios to external dance groups and choreographers
7. Ticket Donations: Donated tickets to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations for fundraising events

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Smuin Contemporary Ballet produces and presents live contemporary ballet performances across multiple Bay Area venues, with an annual season subscription model and a year-round repertoire that blends classical technique with modern movement. The company also operates the Smuin Center for Dance, which delivers adult and children's dance classes, studio rentals, retreats, and community programs, and sells digital streaming access to recorded performances. Revenue is supplemented by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and ticket donation programs for nonprofit fundraisers.

Product overview

Smuin Contemporary Ballet is a performing arts organization offering a portfolio of ballet productions and dance education programs. The core product consists of live ballet performances across multiple Bay Area venues, including signature productions like The Christmas Ballet (annual holiday tradition since 1994), Future Forward (featuring world premieres and legacy works), Spring Point (early-career choreographer platform), French Kiss, Choreography Showcase, and What's Going On. The company also operates Smuin Center for Dance, providing dance education through classes for children and adults, community programs like ConfiDANCE! (free children's classes) and Class for a Cause (charitable dance events). Digital offerings include Summertime Screenings (streaming ballet performances) and Digital Replay versions of productions. The company was founded in 1994 by Michael Smuin and is currently led by Artistic Director Amy Seiwert.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smuin Center for Dance: Dance education center offering classes for children and adults, located at 1830 17th Street in San Francisco's Potrero Hill neighborhood
• Smuin in Frame
• Future Forward
• Spring Point
• The Christmas Ballet
• ConfiDANCE!
• Legacy Circle

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 performances per season across 3 Bay Area venues
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Dance USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational service organization for dance. Smuin is listed as a member/partner on Dance USA's website.
• Project Open HandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit providing medically tailored nutrition. Partner for LGBTQ+ Night with 25% of ticket sales donated.
• Imperial Council of San FranciscominorGTM or Marketing PartnerLGBTQ+ nonprofit organization. Partner for annual LGBTQ+ Night at The Christmas Ballet.
• Bay Area Rainbow SymphonyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLGBTQ+ orchestra and music organization. Partner for LGBTQ+ Night event.
• Oasis ArtsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization supporting LGBTQ+ and BIPOC artists. Partner for LGBTQ+ Night celebrations.
• Fire Island Dance FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual dance festival benefiting Dancers Responding to AIDS. Smuin contributed to the festival, which has raised over $10 million.
• Dancers Responding to AIDSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS providing assistance to those in need. Supported by Fire Island Dance Festival participation.
• VetTixminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization providing tickets for veterans and active duty service members. Provided tickets for Future Forward performances.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Ballet West: Salt Lake City-based ballet company of comparable size and repertoire breadth. Operates as a regional peer producing mixed classical and contemporary seasons with subscription models similar to Smuin's.

Others

• Dancers' Group: Bay Area dance service and presenting organization. Functions as an ecosystem peer supporting the regional dance community in which Smuin operates, including shared audience-development and venue relationships.

Emerging players

• Pilobolus: Innovative contemporary dance company with a comparable focus on creative movement, touring, and digital/media extensions. Useful comparable for Smuin's digital streaming and creative residency strategy.

Direct peers

• Mark Morris Dance Group: Major American contemporary dance company that blends classical rigor with modern innovation, similar to Smuin's artistic positioning. Comparable in producing mixed-repertoire seasons and operating a dance center with classes.
• Alonzo King LINES Ballet: San Francisco-based contemporary ballet company with a comparable artistic profile (classical foundation fused with contemporary movement) and overlapping Bay Area audience. Directly competes with Smuin for contemporary ballet subscribers and donor support.
• Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: Nationally touring contemporary dance company with a comparable repertoire model mixing established and emerging choreographers. Comparable scale and multi-program season structure to Smuin.
• San Francisco Ballet: America's oldest professional ballet company and Smuin's primary Bay Area competitor. Both produce full seasons of classical and contemporary ballet for overlapping San Francisco audiences, compete for the same donor dollars, and draw from the same regional talent pool.
• Pacific Northwest Ballet: Regional ballet company combining classical and contemporary work with comparable season size and educational outreach programming. Similar organizational structure as a mid-size nonprofit ballet institution.
• ODC/Dance: San Francisco contemporary dance company operating its own venue (ODC Theater) and school. Comparable in mission, scale, and Bay Area footprint to Smuin, with overlapping audience for contemporary performance and dance education.

Broad incumbents

• American Ballet Theatre: One of America's largest and most prominent ballet companies, headquartered in New York with national touring. Sets the broader artistic and competitive context for mid-size companies like Smuin and competes for top choreographic talent and donor attention.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/smuinballet
• Xx.com/smuinballet
• Facebookfacebook.com/smuinballet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smuin-ballet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smuin Contemporary Ballet