Smuin kicks off the holidays with the welcome return of The Christmas Ballet, a program featuring two acts packed to the brim with both breathtaking classical ballet and festive contemporary numbers. The beloved Bay Area tradition will bring back time-honored favorites, in addition to unveiling brand new surprises—set to holiday tunes and incorporating a variety of popular dance styles including ballet, tap, jazz, and swing. The first act, Classical Christmas, features dancers costumed in snow-white ensembles performing flawless ballets celebrating the holiday season. The Cool Christmas second act brings a red-hot costume change along with a medley of charming modern numbers, including the iconic “Santa Baby” featuring a 42-foot long feather boa. “Sheer joy…the finest toast to the season,” declared the San Francisco Chronicle. The annual run of The Christmas Ballet will tour the Bay Area, beginning with shows in Walnut Creek, continuing in Mountain View, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, and finishing up after Christmas in Carmel.