The executive director of the Sacramento Ballet has resigned. Kerri Warner quietly left the troubled organization about a week ago, according to sources within the organization who asked to remain anonymous.

The reason for Warner's resignation remains unclear. An employee said that there was a "difference of opinion on how to handle the financial situation, and Kerri decided to respectfully step away." 

The Sacramento Press was unable to reach Warner, and Ron Cunningham, the organization's artistic director and public face did not return calls. 

The Sacramento Ballet, which has gone through recent struggles with ticket sales, now needs major corporate funding in order to return to a fully-staffed, fully functional state.

Amidst slow December sales for the Nutcracker, the Sacramento Ballet has been appealing to the community for financial help. On December 19th, dancers took to the streets with signs such as "Save the Nutcracker" and sold tickets to raise awareness about the Ballet's financial problems. In a three-week promotion set to start next Saturday, Jan. 17, $25 dollars will buy you a beer, provided by Brew It Up!, as well as a ticket to the ballet. 

Ticket sales, which make up nearly 80% of the Ballet's earnings, increased near the end of December. "We did better than we thought, and had a number of sold out shows," said one employee.

However, that was not enough to keep Warner. 

A press release will be made public soon, but right now the resignation is a private matter, the Press was told; thus all sources declined to comment further. For now, Kerri Warner's Sacramento Ballet voice mail redirects to Executive Assistant Shannon Peach.