Celia Fushille-Burke retires a star at Smuin, where she polished a sparkling career 2nd act

Michael Wade Simpson, Special to The Chronicle

Friday, May 12, 2006

Celia Fushille-Burke had basically washed out at San Francisco Ballet. She stopped dancing, had major knee surgery, got married and had two children. Then in 1993, when Michael Smuin asked her to join his fledging dance group, she jumped at the chance. "Michael made me who I am," she says.

Now, 13 years and 113 roles later, Fushille-Burke, 43, is finally, absolutely, hanging up her toe shoes. For her final performance, she will be dancing her favorite role, "Lola-Lola" in "The Blue Angel," in Smuin Ballet's spring performances at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, beginning today. Smuin may be losing her as a muse, but Fushille-Burke will continue as associate director of the company.