Sacramento Ballet’s in-studio previews for “Cinderella” sold out, and these performances created a delightful show for children and adults. The in-studio performances were held at the Sacramento Ballet Studios on Thursday and Friday. The preview shows gave guests an opportunity to see an up-close and personal view of the wonderful talent the Sacramento Ballet has to offer. This unique perspective allows viewers to appreciate the effort that goes into each movement. On Thursday afternoon, artistic director Ron Cunningham welcomed ballet enthusiasts to the event held at their studio at 1631 K St. Cunningham introduced several of the dancers performing in “Cinderella.” Richard Smith an

There are many holiday traditions that we all have and share. A tradition held by many around the world is listening to, participating in or performing “The Nutcracker.” Friday night the Sacramento Ballet hosted “Inside the Director’s Studio, Through the Dancer's Eye: The Nutcracker,” where dancers talked about “The Nutcracker” and shared their personal points of view. Artistic director Ron Cunningham welcomed guests to the event, saying the dancers would talk about their experiences and how they prepare for shows. Cunningham also called the audience’s attention to a Sacramento Ballet calendar featuring the photography of resident photographer Keith Sutter. Cunningham noted that the cal

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. Have a  Happy Halloween!! Sacramento Area Concerts & Music Events Running through January 2012: Bingo The Winning Musical at Cosmopolitan Cabaret at 10th & K street in Sacramento. Show at 7:30 PM.. Tickets are $32.00 - $48.00. Friday, October 28th: Sacramento Ballet presents Dracula at Sacramento Community Center Theatre. Tickets are $17.00 - $68.00. Friday, October 28th: Midnight Star - A Taste of Honey at Thunder Valley Casino. Concert at 8PM. Tickets are $20.00 - $30.00. Saturday, October 29th: Exotic Hallowe

Few children and older guests dressed up in Halloween costumes for Saturday night’s “Dracula” performance at the Community Center Theatre, which included two other performances: “Second Before the Ground” and “Serenade.” “Second Before the Ground” is a fun, light performance with simple backdrop colors and costumes. The dancers perform controlled and comical ballet movements with creative contortions choreographed by Trey McIntyre. As a united family of wildlife dancing to bongo drums and African-inspired music by the Kronos Quartet, their performance was something like out of “The Lion King,” with dancers running across the stage like a stampede of smiling, prancing antelope. Intermissi

  Several hundred people showed up to this weekend's Midtown Modern Arts Festival. The event took place on 20th Street between J & K and was enjoyed by children and adults. Various performances included the Sacramento Ballet, Capital Stage Company, The Sacramento Philharmonic, B Street Theatre, Sacramento Comedy Spot, the Harley White Jr. Orchestra and other acts. Over a dozen arts and performing organizations had stations set up to give those in attendance information about the many art programs offered in Sacramento and surrounding areas. Several demonstration tables also allowed visitors, mostly children, the opportunity to participate in arts, music and crafts set up by various o

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

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 Running through January 2012: Bingo The Winning Musical at Cosmopolitan Cabaret at 10th & K street in Sacramento. Shows at various times. Tickets are $32.00- $48.00. Friday, October 14th: Journey with Foreigner & Night Ranger at Sleeptrain Amphitehatre. Concert at 7PM. Tickets are $30.00 - $280.00. Saturday, october 15th & Sunday, October 16th: Sacramento Philharmonic presents Rachmaninoff featuring pianist Olga Kern. SAT at Sacramento Communit Center Theatre at 8PM. SUN at Thr

Summer has come and gone but crowds at Second Saturday still remain large. Second Saturday events have grown in popularity and other communities participate in Second and Third Saturday art events. During fall several cities stop their art walks. Folsom and El Dorado Hills had their last Second Saturday of the year in September and October respectively. Popularity of similar events in smaller towns continues to grow. Attendance and art displays expand in the smaller venues but none of these can compare to the popularity of Midtown’s event. This Saturday I attended a handful of galleries and events. Since there are so many places to view and experience art I made a list of places I was i

Saturday night, Sacramento Ballet invited guests to enjoy beer and a variety of appetizing performances choreographed by the dancers. Pairing beer with a highbrow type of entertainment is a welcoming event for theater lovers and beer drinkers. Brew It Up provided the beer that the dancers brewed themselves. The dancers mixed specialty blends to create a Heffeweisen, “Stumble-ina” and a Märzen Dark Beer, “Black Out Swan”. The gentlemen I sat next to would not put his cup down, at the end of each short performance he would clap for the dancers while holding his cup with his teeth. In the casual setting of their studio, seating was limited. Guests were stacked in the three rows of seating

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 Friday, April 29th: Sacramento Ballet presents Beer & Ballet "Black Out Swan" at Sacramento Ballet Studios on 1631 K Street in Sacramento. Event begins at 7PM. Tickets are $35.00. 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, April 29th: Pablo Zeigler: Beyond Tango at Mondavi Center Jackson Hall on UC Davis Campus. Concert at 8PM. Ti

Sacramento’s Community Center Theater hosted an evening of brilliant ballet performances on Thursday night. The Sacramento Ballet presented The Four Temperaments, Boléro and Celts. This program will be featured at the Community Center Theatre on March 24 to March 27 and on April 9 at the Three Stages Performing Arts Center in Folsom. Thursday’s opening night started off the Icons and Innovators program with The Four Temperaments. Music by German composer Paul Hindemith and choreography by world-renowned George Balanchine proved very entertaining. The opening piece prepared the audience for a magnificent evening of music and dance. Superb lighting, costumes, choreography and great perform

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

Inside the Director’s Studio allowed ballet enthusiasts to experience an intimate performance by the Sacramento Ballet on Friday night. Inside the Director’s Studio: Ballet/Modern Fusion with Lila York was held at the Sacramento Ballet Studios on 1631 K Street. The event showcased Lila York’s choreography and the Sacramento Ballet’s immense talent and energy. There were close to 100 people who attended the event. Artistic Director, Ron Cunningham, served as master of ceremonies for the evening. Mr. Cunningham started by thanking several people in the audience. Jim Hargrove was acknowledged and it was also acknowledged that it was his birthday. The Sacramento Ballet had made some treats f

Carmina Burana was one of the most magical experiences I had ever encountered in my life. The performance by the Sacramento Ballet was not only stunning - it was disarming, provocative and transformative. The drama, the sexuality, the full chorus, the blending of art … it was … like nothing else I had ever seen before. And … it was performed last year. And won’t be performed for another three, four years. What to do between then? Founded in 1954, the Sacramento Ballet claims to be “the only Sacramento arts organization with a company of resident artists.” And yet their world remains such a mystery. With the popularity of The Black Swan, audiences around the world are groping for tidbits

Roberto Cisneros leaps into the air during the first moments of Sacramento Ballet's  in-studio presentation of short takes from their upcoming Romeo and Juliet production which runs Feb. 10, 11, 12 and 13 at the Community Center. Here are some other photos from the night: Dancers demonstrate the sword fight, using real swords. They were professionally trained how to do it ensuring everone's safety. Tender moments. Difficult overhead lifts.   Artistic Directors Ron and Carinne Binda Cunningham took turns explaining many of the segments of Romeo and Juliet. Read a blog about the making of Sac Ballet's Romeo & Juliet Sac Ballet website Sac Ballet on Facebook Dance Magaizi

Here are some of the concerts and music events happening in the Sacramento area this coming week. Get out and enjoy! For detailed information on these events and many more go to www.eMusiConnect.com Concerts, Music Events, and The Sacramento Music Scene This Week: Through February 20th: Sacramento Theatre Company presents The Musical of Musicals at Wells Fargo Pavilion Pollock Stage on 1419 H Street in Sacramento. WED-SUN Show times Vary. Tickets are $15.00 - $38.00. Rush tickets half off admission 1/2 hour prior to show times and are subject to availability. Friday, January 21st: Inside the Directors Studio with Ron Cunnigham and the male dancers of The Sacramento Ballet performing par

Here are some of the concerts and music events happening in the Sacramento area. This weekend a variety of musical holiday events are going on, so stay dry & warm at a venue near you! For more detailed information on these events and many more go to www.eMusiConnect.com Concerts, Music Events, and The Sacramento Music Scene This Week: Through Sunday, December 26th: Sacramento Theatre Company presents A Christmas Carol at 1419 H Street in Sacramento. Shows take place Thursday - Sunday at various times. Tickets are $20 - $40. Through Thursday, December 23rd: Sacramento Ballet presents The Nutcracker with music provided by the Sacramento Philharmonic at the Sacramento Community Center Thea

Photographs by Barry Wisdom   Whether you’re continuing a lifelong Christmastime tradition or you’re a new “Black Swan” fan who’s come late to the ballet-appreciation party, there is something for everyone in Sacramento Ballet’s alternatingly funny and passionate, but always mesmerizing and magical “The Nutcracker,” which opened Friday evening at the Sacramento Community Center Theater. Blessed with live accompaniment of Tchaikovsky’s familiar score by the spectacular Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra, there is much that can be considered divine about this delicious holiday chestnut. In addition to philharmonic director Henrik Jul Hansen’s sure baton, reasons to leap for joy include Sa

As daylight decreases during the day and temperatures drop during the night it begins to take its toll on the Second Saturday events. This past Second Saturday there was a drop in people attending art shows and music events. Once rainy weather comes upon us even less people will be out on Second Saturdays in Sacramento. Second Saturday in Folsom has seen similar drops in attendance. Cities where Third Saturdays are held will probably also see less people come out at night. Midtown sees the most people during its Second Saturday events and some have begun to go indoors. This will help with the cold weather and rain. One of these vendor events is the Midtown Bazaar that’s held on I Street

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