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Smuin's The Christmas Ballet - LGBTQ+ Night

On Friday, December 20, MAX members and their guests gathered for an unforgettable evening of community, culture, and celebration at Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet LGBTQ+ Night.

The evening began with 18 of us enjoying a fabulous pre-show dinner at Amber India. The restaurant’s classy ambiance set the tone for the night as we shared a delicious meal filled with laughter and connection.

Afterward, we strolled over to Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, where we were joined by another nine members. Together, we experienced the magic of Smuin Ballet’s dazzling 2024 edition of The Christmas Ballet. The show’s unique blend of ballet, contemporary, Broadway jazz, and tap captivated the audience. The one-night-only LGBTQ+ Night was MC’d by Lady Camden, who was a dancer with Smuin Ballet before becoming a choreographer and a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet always leaves the audience with a joyful smile, but their LGBTQ+ performance was particularly fun. Lady Camden joined the dancers during several of the dances, to great effect, both comedic and artistic. In addition, for the LGBTQ+ performance, several of the roles were gender reversed and several of the dances featured same sex dance partners.

During the intermission and after the performance, the social buzz continued in the lobby as MAX members mingled and celebrated the festive spirit of the season. Portions of the ticket sales benefited charities serving the local LGBTQ+ community, making the night even more meaningful.