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8.01.08 | Statewide sponsorship of the Smuin Ballet supports pioneering medical research at the McLaughlin Research Institute.
Medical research in a state without a medical school and an internationally renowned dance company with strong Montana ties the two may seem an unlikely pair, but in fact they are more connected than they first appear. For 10 years, the San Francisco-based Smuin Ballet has made Montana its bi-annual touring destination to raise money for the McLaughlin Research Institute of Biomedical Sciences in Great Falls.
In 1954, the McLaughlin Institute, known then as the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine, accepted its first student intern. A young man by the name of Irv Weissman went on to become one of the nation’s top scientists and the Director of Stanford University’s Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Weissman had his humble beginnings working with lab mice in a converted Great Falls grocery store. Over the past half century, the McLaughlin Institute has grown to be one of the leading research institutions focusing on Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, prion disease (chronic wasting disease, mad cow disease, and Crueutzfeld-Jakob diseases), multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, diabetes and hearing loss. To this day, Dr. Weissman owes much of his career to these formative years at McLaughlin.
Meanwhile, a Missoula native and Hellgate High School graduate named Michael Smuin was innovating the dance world, as a dancer and director of several San Francisco ballet companies, then as the founder of his own non-profit ballet. In 1998 Smuin was celebrating his 60th birthday and wanted to return to Missoula with his company for its first Montana performance. Dr. Weissman and his wife and Smuin Ballet board member, Allie Knight Weissman, offered to sponsor the tour if the dance company would also perform in Great Falls as a fundraising event for the McLaughlin Research Institute.
Both the Great Falls and the Missoula performances were such a success that Michael Smuin offered to do a statewide tour, partnering with the Weissmans to continue their fundraising efforts for McLaughlin. Every two years since, the Smuin Ballet has performed in Great Falls, Missoula and an additional Montana city. Completely funded by the Weissmans, all additional sponsorship and ticket sales go to the McLaughlin Research Institute.
This year, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation are statewide sponsors of the Smuin Ballet. Not a traditional grant, the Foundation’s sponsorship helps further the cutting edge research and education efforts at the Institute and supports the arts in Montana. Dave Crum, McLaughlin’s Assistant Director of Operations and Development, approached Mike Halligan, the Foundation’s Executive Director, to help sponsor the ballet.
This is the first year the Washington Foundation has been a statewide sponsor. Their support is wonderful," said Crum. The Foundation has, in the past, awarded grants to the McLaughlin Research Institute to provide stipends to high school and college student interns. “Theses stipends have allowed low to moderate-income students to apply to the program. They are able to study with the Institute for 10 weeks without worrying about bills, rent and other expenses," said Crum. “We want to make sure the experience is open to all and the stipends help make this possible."
The Washington Foundation’s current sponsorship of the ballet and support of educational access through McLaughlin’s internship program reflect its continued mission to further cultural experience and learning in Montana. “McLaughlin is a pioneering institution in the state. We are proud to support its efforts," said Halligan.
Just as Dr. Weissman went on to pioneer stem cell research to develop cancer treatment, many of today’s student interns from McLaughlin further their education and experience to become leaders in medicine and biomedical research.
Just as Smuin brought creativity and innovation to ballet with over 60 originally choreographed performances and countless accolades, his work has inspired Montanans for 10 years. Sadly, Michael Smuin passed away last year, but his spirit lives on in his art. He has brought more than ballet to his home state. The decade-long partnership with the McLaughlin Institute has brought continued vigor and passion for inspiring life.
