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

History

The Sacramento Ballet was founded in 1954 by Barbara Crockett and Deane Crockett. During Ms. Crockett’s tenure as Company Director, Sacramento Ballet gained national recognition as one of the finest regional ballet companies. Through community support, the formation of the Ballet Guild, and grants from the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, California Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ballet grew to become a resident company of professional dancers.

In 1986, having accomplished her goal of making Sacramento Ballet a professional company, Ms. Crockett retired as Company Director.

Tenure of Ron Cunningham

In 1988 Ron Cunningham was engaged as Artistic Director, and was joined by his wife Carinne Binda the following year. They became Co-Artistic Directors in 1991. Sacramento Ballet is known for Cunningham’s world premieres including Carmina Burana, The Rite of Spring and Bolero and his classic ballets, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and Cinderella. Sacramento audiences have experienced a vast repertoire, including works by Septime Webre, David Parsons, Kathryn Posin, Agnes de Mille, Glen Tetley, Val Caniparoli, Trey McIntyre and Twyla Tharp. During 18 seasons, SacBallet added 13 full-length ballets, 18 Balanchine masterworks, 36 Sacramento premieres, and 34 world premieres.

Funding and community status

Sacramento Ballet has been an integral member of the Sacramento arts community for nearly seven decades and remains the only Sacramento arts organization with a resident company of artists. Sacramento Ballet receives annual funding from corporations, foundations and government agencies to support its operational and artistic growth, including: California Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Sacramento Regional Community Foundation, City of Sacramento Office of Arts & Culture, The James Irvine Foundation, California Walnuts, Target Stores, Raley’s Stores, Kaiser Permanente, and Western Health Advantage. The company’s operating budget has grown steadily and audience attendance has increased from 15,000 to more than 100,000 people representing diverse populations of every age.

Recent activities

Former Sacramento Ballet company dancer Amy Seiwert served in the role of Artistic Director from 2018-2020 and during her tenure provided audiences with an inspiring balance of repertoire and fresh new works including her full-length Nutcracker.

In July 2021 Anthony Krutzkamp was named Artistic/Executive Director of Sacramento Ballet. Krutzkamp has led the company with record breaking ticket sales for Nutcracker and in 2023, directed the world-stage worthy production of Swan Lake. He reintroduced choreography by George Balanchine and continues to program acclaimed contemporary works by Alejandro Cerrudo, Penny Saunders, Caili Quan, Jennifer Martinez, Adam Hougland, and Jermaine Maurice Spivey. In 2024 the company performs a world premiere from Marika Brussel, known for visually stunning contemporary works, State of Matter by Ihsan Rustem and Carry Me Anew, created by Ma Cong; as well as Val Caniparoli’s Ibsen’s House ballet and a world premiere from Louisville Ballet’s resident choreographer Andrea Schermoly.

Artists as of May 2023 ^[1]

• Rehearsal Directors: Stefan Calka, Elise Elliott

Dancers

Apprentices

Artists as of August 2019

Dancers

Apprentices

Artists as of August 2015 ^[2]

Dancers

Apprentices

Trainees

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

2007-2008 (Season 53)

• 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

2006-2007 (Season 52)

• Where The Wild Things Are - October 26–29, 2006
• The Nutty Nutcracker - December 2, 2006
• The Nutcracker - December 8–23, 2006
• The Taming of the Shrew- February 8–11, 2007
• Nine Sinatra Songs - March 22–25, 2007
• Beer & Ballet - February 24 - April 6, 2007
• Tour to China - May 1–13, 2007

2005-2006 (Season 51)

• Dracula - October 27–30, 2005
• The Nutcracker - December 10–24, 2005
• Carmina Burana - February 9–12, 2006
• Scheherezade - March 30-April 2, 2006
• Modern Masters - April 28-May 7, 2006
• Beer & Ballet

2004-2005 (Season 50)

• Dracula - October 28–31, 2004
• The Nutcracker - December 10–24, 2004
• Romeo and Juliet - February 10–13, 2005
• The Firebird - March 24–27, 2005
• Modern Masters - May 5–8, 2005
• Beer & Ballet

References