Sacramento Ballet facts for kids

Sacramento Ballet is a performing arts group in Sacramento, California. It is the biggest ballet company in California’s capital city.

History of Sacramento Ballet

The Sacramento Ballet started in 1954. It was founded by Barbara Crockett and Deane Crockett. While Ms. Crockett was the Company Director, Sacramento Ballet became known across the country. It was seen as one of the best regional ballet companies. A regional company is a professional ballet group that is not one of the very largest, most famous ones.

With help from the community, the Ballet Guild, and grants, the Ballet grew. It became a group of full-time professional dancers. In 1986, Ms. Crockett retired. She had achieved her goal of making Sacramento Ballet a professional company.

Ron Cunningham's Time as Director

In 1988, Ron Cunningham became the Artistic Director. His wife, Carinne Binda, joined him the next year. They became Co-Artistic Directors in 1991. Sacramento Ballet is famous for new ballets created by Cunningham. These include Carmina Burana, The Rite of Spring, and Bolero. He also created classic ballets like The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and Cinderella.

Audiences in Sacramento have seen many different types of ballets. These include works by famous choreographers like Septime Webre, David Parsons, and Twyla Tharp. During 18 seasons, the Ballet added many new full-length ballets and masterworks.

Supporting the Ballet

Sacramento Ballet has been an important part of Sacramento's art scene for almost 70 years. It is the only art group in Sacramento with its own resident company of artists. This means they have dancers who work for them full-time.

The Sacramento Ballet gets money each year from businesses, foundations, and government groups. This money helps them grow and create new art. Some of their supporters include the California Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. The company's budget has grown steadily. More people are also coming to see their shows. Attendance has grown from 15,000 to over 100,000 people.

Recent Performances and Leaders

Amy Seiwert, a former Sacramento Ballet dancer, was the Artistic Director from 2018 to 2020. During her time, she brought a good mix of classic and new ballets. This included her own full-length version of Nutcracker.

In July 2021, Anthony Krutzkamp became the Artistic/Executive Director. Under his leadership, Nutcracker ticket sales broke records. In 2023, he directed a world-class production of Swan Lake. He also brought back dances by George Balanchine. The company continues to perform popular modern works. These are by choreographers like Alejandro Cerrudo and Penny Saunders.

In 2024, the company plans to perform a new ballet by Marika Brussel. They will also perform State of Matter by Ihsan Rustem and Carry Me Anew by Ma Cong. Other upcoming shows include Val Caniparoli’s Ibsen’s House and a new work by Andrea Schermoly.

Meet the Artists (May 2023)

The Sacramento Ballet has many talented dancers and leaders.

Rehearsal Directors

• Stefan Calka
• Elise Elliott

Dancers

Apprentices

Past Performances

The Sacramento Ballet performs many different ballets each season. Here are some examples of their past shows:

2008-2009 Season

• Alice in Wonderland - October 23–26, 2008
• The Nutcracker - December 6–23, 2008
• Noches Calientes - February 12–15, 2009
• Icons & Innovators - March 26–29, 2009
• Beer & Ballet - April–May, 2009
• Modern Masters - May 22–24, 2009

2007-2008 Season

• A Woman's Journey: The Tamsen Donner Story - October 25–28, 2007
• The Nutcracker - December 7–23, 2007
• A Streetcar Named Desire - February 7–10, 2008
• The Sleeping Beauty - March 20–22, 2008
• A Celebration of Ron Cunningham's 20th Anniversary - April 25, 2008
• Modern Masters - April 26-May 4, 2008
• Beer & Ballet - May 7–17, 2008