Sacramento Ballet facts for kids
Sacramento Ballet is a dance group in Sacramento, California. It is the biggest ballet company in California's capital city. They perform beautiful ballet shows for everyone to enjoy.
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History of Sacramento Ballet
The Sacramento Ballet started in 1954. It was founded by Barbara Crockett and Deane Crockett. Under Ms. Crockett's leadership, the Sacramento Ballet became known across the country. People saw it as one of the best local ballet companies.
The ballet grew with help from the community. Groups like the Ballet Guild and grants from arts councils also helped. This allowed the ballet to become a home for professional dancers. In 1986, Ms. Crockett retired after reaching her goal. She had made Sacramento Ballet a professional dance 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 Ron 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. Some of these are Septime Webre, David Parsons, and Twyla Tharp. During 18 seasons, the ballet added many new shows. This included 13 full-length ballets and 34 world premieres.
How Sacramento Ballet is Supported
Sacramento Ballet has been a key part of the Sacramento arts scene for almost 70 years. It is the only arts group in Sacramento with its own team of dancers. The ballet gets money each year from companies, foundations, and government groups. This money helps the ballet grow and put on shows.
Some of the supporters include the California Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Local groups like the Sacramento Regional Community Foundation also help. Big companies like Target Stores and Kaiser Permanente also provide support. The ballet's budget has grown steadily over time. More people are also coming to see the shows. Attendance has grown from 15,000 to over 100,000 people. These audiences come from all ages and backgrounds.
Recent Performances and Activities
Former Sacramento Ballet dancer Amy Seiwert was the Artistic Director from 2018 to 2020. During her time, she brought a good mix of old 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 show of Swan Lake. He also brought back dances by George Balanchine. The company continues to perform new and exciting works. These are by choreographers like Alejandro Cerrudo and Penny Saunders. In 2024, the company performed new ballets. These included a world premiere from Marika Brussel and State of Matter by Ihsan Rustem. They also performed Carry Me Anew by Ma Cong. Other shows included Val Caniparoli's Ibsen's House and a new work by Andrea Schermoly.
Artists as of May 2023
- Rehearsal Directors: Stefan Calka, Elise Elliott
Dancers
Mesa Burdick Ava Chatterson Matisse D'Aloisio Julia Feldman Ugo Frediani Kaori Higashiyama Michelle Katcher Dylan Keane Daniel Kubr Victor Maguad Wyatt McConville-McCoy Eugene Obille Wen Na Robertson Sarah Joan Smith Richard Smith Isabella Velasquez Dominique Wendt Enrico Hipolito Maxence Devaux
Apprentices
Erika Patterson Maia Lee Julia Payne
Past Performances
2008-2009 (Season 54)
- 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
