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Lights inside the Crest Theatre were dim, the spotlight was bright and nothing could be heard besides the feathery footsteps of the Sacramento Ballet dancers during the first annual Capitol Choreography Competition Friday night.

A crowd of about 600 experienced the talent of three choreographers from around the world who created 18-minute dances in six days. The choreographers, chosen by Ron Cunningham and his wife, Carinne Binda, artistic directors for the ballet, were Viktor Kabaniaev, resident choreographer of Diablo Ballet; Amy Seiwart, artistic  director of Im'ij-re and choreographer in residence for the Smuin Ballet in San Francisco; and Matthew Neenan, artistic director of BalletX and choreographer in residence for the Pennsylvania Ballet.

"I love the Sacramento Ballet, their dancers are so talented," said spectator Tina Suarez-Murias.  "So I wanted to see what different choreographers would work up for them."Audience members received a wooden chip that would be used to determine the People's Choice Award.

And a panel of five judges, chosen by Cunningham and Binda, named the top choreographer.Cunningham, who has been with the Sacramento Ballet for 20 years, started the competition to generate more audience participation.

The event was modeled after several television competitions, including "So You Think You Can Dance" and "American Idol", in which audience participation is crucial."We came through a very difficult time last year with the ballet," Cunningham said.  "It was pretty challenging financially. So we wanted to do something different this year to show that we are different and that we have reinvented ourselves."

The panel consisted of Buck Busfield, artistic director of B Street Theatre; Jeremy Ganter, associate executive director and director of programming for the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts; Linda Goodrich, chairwoman of the Sacramento State Dance Department; Molly Lynch, University of California at Irvine dance faculty member and artistic director of the National Choreography Institute; and Ruth Rosenberg, former artistic director of the Ruth Rosenberg Dance Company.

Seiwarts piece wowed the crowed and won the People's Choice Award, but stealing the show was Neenan with his interactive piece. Busfield praised Matthew Neenan's great use of space.

"I think (Matt's piece was) very economical and had great whimsey and fun to it," Busfield said.  "And the use of space was incredible, you know, I thought they were going to pop up behind me."

The choreography of Neenan's piece, The Ratio, was tailored to the Crest Theatre. At one point in the performance, some of the male dancers leapt from the stage and stood next to the wall.

The dancers were off the stage as much as they were on.

Dancer Alexandra Cunningham said she enjoyed bringing to life the diversity of Neenan's piece.

"I really liked how Matt used the space. I really enjoyed how he utilized the curtains and the stage," she said. "And the movement is a little more of my style."

The winner of the competition was to receive a cash prize and a Tiffany's and Co. piece, courtesy of the jeweler in the Roseville Galleria.

The People's Choice Award, On The Frail Wings by Seiwarts, consisted of two movements.  The first consisted of pairs showcasing modern moves, such as arabesque (leg extended back, with one arm extended forward and the other backward) and penchee (an extreme arabesque, with the dancer close to the ground).

In the second movement, dancer Roberto Cisneros dominated the stage, with other dancers in supporting roles.Panel judge Ruth Rosenberg said she appreciated the detail in Seiwart's piece.

"I did really like the look of Amy's piece, specially the lighting." she said. "I thought it was very strong for that dance, it really created a mood."

Ballet subscriber Paul LeBeouf said he enjoyed Seiwart's use of male dancers."It seems like the guys have really taken on a new level," he said.  "My wife and I love modern ballet and modern dance, and we really liked her kind of format."

Seiwarts was a dancer with the Sacramento Ballet from 1991-99, and also danced with the Smuin Ballet and Los Angeles Chamber Ballet.  She also has danced in a Kabaniaev ballet. 

"I'm just so proud to be on a stage with both Viktor and Matt," she said. "I've known them both for so long and I respect them both so much."

Even though Kabaniaev didn't win an award, his piece, Almost a Story Ballet, was not overlooked. It involved many group grand jetes (long, horizontal jumps).  Dancer Roy Gan praised the dance's freedom.

 "Each piece had its own feeling and the dynamic and movement were very, very different in each," he said. "In Viktor's piece, I guess it expresses more freedom of movement for me."

Before each performance, the choreographers explained their dance background in a three-minute video interview that included short clips of the dancers during rehearsals.  

The Oct. 24 performance will have a different panel of judges.

 More than 1,500 people are expected to attend the competitions.

For more information on Saturday's competition, visit www.sacballet.org/index.php/upcoming_events.Photos by: Nallelie Vega