For ballet enthusiasts and those new to the experience, this is one presentation that should not be missed. Ron Cunningham’s “The Nutcracker” is a traditional interpretation of the ballet he’s been directing for 24 years in Sacramento. Visually stunning sets create the scene for a ballet performance that will delight young and old alike. Accompanied by the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra, this holiday classic boasts performers of all ages, with over 500 children, including Molly O’Dell,10, playing Clara. O’Dell’s enthusiasm is infectious as she, along with her Nutcracker Prince, takes the journey from a joyous Christmas Eve into an enchanting dreamland. The first act is charming and

Sacramento’s young professionals are invited to attend United Way’s unique twist on a networking event. Sacramentans can enjoy drinks and appetizers while learning about the origin of ballet at United Way’s Emerging Leaders Fall Event on Nov. 10. Pamela Hayes Classical Ballet will present a costumed Ballet 101 demonstration at the event as well as a sneak peek at the group’s production of “The Nutcracker.” The event will take place 5:30-7 p.m. at Lounge ON20, 1050 20th Street in Sacramento. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at www.yourlocalunitedway.org. Proceeds will benefit United Way California Capital Region and its nonprofit partners working on high school graduation rates,

The Sacramento Ballet can never be accused of élitism.  Not when it dresses up as zombies and arranges a "Thriller" flashmob dance and encourages everyone to join in! Last week we attended a 'performance rehearsal' at the Sac Ballet studios for the work-in-progress of the upcoming performance of 'Dracula'.  The news is that it looks great! - Lots of exposed necks and flashing fangs and swirling velvet capes, even if Vincent Price won't be in it. Smart patrons have already got their tickets booked (we have). Spooky haloween-themed fun, but without the high fructrose corn syrup! But, after the rehearsal, there was a rehearsal of another kind  - As the audience filed out, another group was

Local dance instructor Lena Logan has opened her first studio, the Contemporary Dance Conservatory, in a warehouse once used for raves. The studio opened May 2 at 213 26th St., in a renovated 6,300-square-foot warehouse whose neighbors include a community garden, bicycle repair shop, an independent building contractor's shop area and homes.  From 4 - 10 p.m. Saturday, the studio will hold a grand opening that mixes dance performance and live art. Her students will give short dance performances each hour, while muralists and graffiti artists will create paintings on the front of the building. Logan's focus is to train teens and pre-teens who want to move on to professional dance companie

Here are some of the many music events happening in the Sacramento area this week. For more detailed information on these events and many more go to www.eMusiConnect.com. Sacramento Area Concerts & Music Events Through Sunday, March 20th: 9 to 5 The Musical at The Sacramento Community Center Theatre on 1301 L Street in Sacramento. Shows at 8PM, 2PM, and 7:30PM depending on date. Tickets are $18.00 - $70.00. A Grand Night For Singing at Cosmopolitan Cabaret on 1000 K Street in Sacramento. Continues WED-SUN. Show times are at 8PM or 7:30PM with some 2PM matinees. Tickets are $33.00 - $48.00. Friday, March 18th - Saturday, March 19th: Sacramento Ballet In-Studio Celtic Experience at 1631

written by Sam Ainley-Zoll, 12 years old I remember the first year I auditioned for Ron Cunningham’s, “The Nutcracker.” There were a lot of kids outside of the Sacramento Ballet studio. I didn’t know at the time that almost 500 children would receive roles to dance and perform in one of Sacramento’s greatest Christmas traditions. That day, I auditioned to be one of Mother Ginger’s Children. I was 7 years old and remember entering the building filled with people. I thought about how my mom told me that I had to be well-behaved to be chosen by Mr. Cunningham. I remember a nice lady measured how tall I was. I hoped I was the right height. For what? I didn’t know. I didn t know if I should

Discover Dance was the theme for the Sacramento Ballet’s Family Fun performances at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento this weekend. Hundreds of kids brought their parents and friends to the Crest Theatre to experience marvelous performances by the Sacramento Ballet. (After performance autograph session) The laughter and cheers of children filled the theatre as they enjoyed many dance performances. Dances with Alice in Wonderland characters pranced around the stage to the delight of the audience. Performances were geared for children ages 4 and older. Some kids took advantage and showed up dressed in their ballet outfits. The evening’s performance started off with an energetic dance intro

The chatter from the near-capacity audience was silenced as soft footsteps took the stage of the Crest Theatre Friday. Recognized as one of the most renowned small ballet companies in the nation, the Sacramento Ballet hosted the second annual Capital Choreography Competition with world premiers from choreographers Melissa Barak, Yannis Adoniou and Darrel Grand Moultrie, each of whom was competing for two grand prizes: one from the seasoned judges and one from the breathless audience. Each choreographer presented a ballet of 20 minutes, practiced and rehearsed over a period of only 30 hours since tthe choreographer met the dancers of the Sacramento Ballet. Video introductions of the chor

Approximately 500 dance lovers filled the beautiful, historic Crest Theatre on Friday, Oct. 15, 2010 for the premiere of the Sacramento Ballet’s 2nd Annual Capital Choreography Competition. The event unveiled performances by three of the world’s top emerging modern ballet choreographers: Melissa Barak, Yannis Adoniou and Darrell Grand Moultrie. Arriving from varying backgrounds and sources of inspiration, the choreographers, who had a week each to work with the Sacramento Ballet dancers, offered a diverse and dynamic flow of expression. A panel of judges chose the “Grand Prize” winner, while the final say was up to the audience with the “People’s Choice Award.” Both awards were given to t

It wasn't your mama's "Nutcracker" at the Crest Theatre Friday evening, when Pamela Hayes Classical Ballet Theatre collaborated with a quartet of contemporary Northern California bands for "Ballet + Live Local Music," a Concerts 4 Charity-produced event designed to "showcase Sacramento's diverse arts community while raising money to keep children involved in the performing arts." Sequestered stage left on floor level, bands DoomBird, Exquisite Corps, Drifting Shapes and Sister Crayon offered a moody, rhythmic mix of indie, electronica, world music (think big, big drums)  and trance-flavored numbers that provided the inspiration for the amazing, mind-bending work by choreographer Zara Haye

More than $30,000 was recently awarded to six local arts organizations for their innovative ways of staying afloat in the wake of reduced funding and and audiences as the economy took its toll. The grants were awarded as part of a public/private partnership through the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission and the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. “When the economic crisis hit, we had these organizations calling us and saying their doors were going to shut, but they survived,” said Priscilla Enriquez, chief giving officer for the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. “We wanted to acknowledge that fact and learn how they survived.” The six organizations receiving the grants we

  The 34th Street Dance company put on another high energy performance last Saturday at the Guild Theater. The theme was Fiat Lux, which is Latin for "let there be light.  The show wrapped up with a tribute of dance routines to the late Michael Jackson, along with a heart felt and tearful ceremony to the seniors graduating from the company. “Our mission is to use dance as a tool to build community and develop each dancer as a creative thinker, dance technician, and a leader” said Sheila Coleman, the founder and director of the company.  The company trains in modern, hip-hop, and contemporary movement forms and for seven years, has shared its passion for dance with audiences all over Cali

A México with bundles of tassels. A Mexico that is tame, quiet, wild, incongruous, strident, lighthearted.-Amalia Hernandez A Mexico that is a pure expression of roots, that convert themselves into reality though emotional sentiment Ballet Folklorico de Amalia Hernandez

Dancer Amanda Peet stretches before her performance. Peet has spent 8 of her 9 years as a professional ballerina with the Sacramento Ballet Company. She has big dreams and is willing to sacrifice much of her social life and family time to rehearse. Her advice to young dancers: “do it because you and only you love it, take it one step at a time.” Ensemble cast Melissa Sandvig has been a dancer for 25 years. Her dance career sky rocketed after her appearance on Fox’s, So you think you can dance(season 5) and was the first ever classically trained ballerina to appear on the show. Melissa’s advice to young dancers: “Aim for perfection, but never expect it.” Director/Choreographer Ron Cu

Get an inside glimpse of what's to come in the Sacramento Ballet's season by attending one of the company's "Red Hot Valentine Nights," featuring excerpts from Second Before the Ground, Nine Sinatra Songs and Frankie & Johnny. You'll enjoy a studio show experience more intimate than on the stage followed by tango lessons with the help of the dancers themselves. Friday night, two movements were showcased from Trey McIntyre's Second Before the Ground (a lighthearted energetic dance set to the music of the Kronos Quartet). In excerpts from Michael Smuin's Frankie and Johnny, dancers performed a mambo, incorporating a makeshift bar to give the audience a sense of the party. The dancers esp

The Sacramento Ballet opened its 55th season with the First Annual Capital Choreography Competition at the Crest Theatre Oct. 17 and 24. Both days consisted of three dances choreographed by Viktor Kabaniaev, Amy Seiwert and Matthew Neenan, who competed for a cash prize as well as a Tiffany & Co. star. Neenan’s dance, The Ration, took the judges award, while Seiwert’s On Frail Wings won the peoples choice award during both showings. Pepper Von, international fitness instructor and choreographer and a judge for the Oct. 24 performance, said Neenan and Seiwert used the theater beautifully. “The two who exhibited (the use of space) best, in my perspective, were Amy and Matthew,” Von said. 

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

"The 2009-10 season is a dream come true," said dancer Alexandra Cunningham. A financial crisis in the 2008-09 season has given the 24 dancers a new perspective on their dancing career. Relocating from the 2,398-seat Community Center Theater to the studio with only two rows of seats was perhaps the biggest eye-opener. For the in-studio shows, only the bare minimum -- chairs, curtains and lights -- separated the dancers from the audience. Both the community and the dancers loved it. "Performing to sold-out audiences in our studios was exhilarating!" Cunningham said. "I felt that I could share so much more with audience members because I could see their every reaction." Cunningham praise

Sacramento Ballet has narrowly survived its budget crisis. After canceling the remainder of the 2008-2009 season last January, the ballet will dance on another season. "We're excited and thrilled to have made it through the crisis, and we've put together a program!" said Mimi Kent, the ballet's marketing director. Credit the work ethic of the dancers. After the season was canceled, they organized and executed their own fundraising campaign while continuing with a number of in-studio performances. On top of that, they took a 10 percent pay cut last season which has now been restored. In one silent auction, they raised about $20,000 for the organization. For the 2009-2010 season, Sacrame

Although many of the events this weekend do not really reflect the true meaning of the foundation of this holiday, there are still some great things to do! Whatever your plan is this weekend, do take a moment to reflect on what Memorial Day is about and be thankful for our fellow Americans who put their lives on the line for the sake of our country. Just in case you aren't sure as to what Memorial Day is all about and why it is a National Holiday, here is the definition from Wikipedia: "Formerly known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near