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Sacramento Ballet

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

History

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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

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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

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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

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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]

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  • Rehearsal Directors: Stefan Calka, Elise Elliott

Dancers

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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

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Erika Patterson
Maia Lee
Julia Payne

Artists as of August 2019

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Dancers

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  • Isaac Bates-Vinueza
  • Alexander Cain Biber
  • Bobby Briscoe
  • Stefan Calka
  • Anthony Cannarella
  • Frances Chae
  • Ava Chatterson
  • Alexandra Cunningham
  • Regina DuPont
  • Julia Feldman
  • Kaori Higashiyama
  • Michelle Katcher
  • Dylan Keane
  • Richard Porter
  • Shania Rasmussen
  • Richard Smith
  • Sally Turkel
  • Isabella Velasquez
  • Dominique Wendt
  • Lauryn Winterhalder
  • Ben Youngstone

Apprentices

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  • Matisse D'Aloisio
  • Kristoffer Reyes
  • Wen Na Robertson

Artists as of August 2015[2]

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Dancers

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  • Alexander Cain Biber
  • Lauren Breen
  • Stefan Calka
  • Ava Chatterson
  • Alexandra Cunningham
  • Julia Feldman
  • Kaori Higashiyama
  • Iver Johnson
  • Dylan Keane
  • Larissa Kogut
  • Katie Miller
  • Christopher B. Nachtrab
  • Richard Porter
  • Karina Hagemeyer
  • Maggie Rupp
  • Richard Smith
  • Evelyn Turner
  • Rex Wheeler
  • John Whisler
  • Lauryn Winterhalder

Apprentices

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  • Anthony Cannarella
  • Colleen Kerwin
  • Shania Rasmussen
  • Isabella Velasquez
  • Laura Whitby

Trainees

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  • Brittney Almendariz
  • Audrey Mathias
  • Emily Tan
  • Solana Tanabe

Performances

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2008-2009 (Season 54)

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2007-2008 (Season 53)

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2006-2007 (Season 52)

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2005-2006 (Season 51)

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2004-2005 (Season 50)

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References

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  1. ^ "Artists". Sacramento Ballet. Archived from the original on 26 January 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  2. ^ "Artists - The Sacramento Ballet". Retrieved 2015-08-31.
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