SACRAMENTO BALLET MAKING HISTORY 2017-18 2017–2018 PRESIDENT’S LETTER SEASON OVERVIEW Beer & Ballet Dear Supporters, October 13–15, 20–22, & 27–29, 2017 For 63 years the Sacramento Ballet has been an Sacramento Ballet’s talented artists integral part of Sacramento’s history. This season create off-the-charts entertainment will build upon our many successes. Artistic Directors, with untamed imagination. Ron Cunningham and Carinne Binda, have crafted a The Nutcracker remarkable season and, as a fellow aesthete, I wait in December 9–10, 15–17, & 22–23, 2017 eager anticipation. The most beloved of all Sacramento Join us this season to celebrate Ron and Carinne’s traditions, Ron Cunningham’s delightful 30 years of dedicated passion to the Sacramento The Nutcracker is the “Crown Jewel” of Ballet, the arts community, and the furtherance of holiday entertainment. this treasured art form. Giselle February 16–18, 2018 Although it will be their final season as our company’s artistic directors, they will be honored as the The universal message of trust, Sacramento Ballet’s first Artistic Directors Emeritus commitment, forgiveness, and the upon the conclusion of this season. Their impact, their cleansing transcendence of selfless legacy has changed the face of this community and we love are values as timely today as in will always be grateful. the 19th century. Before we reach this next chapter, witness the Carmina Burana / Serenade March 23–25, 2018 masterworks of George Balanchine, say hello to old friends, Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy, revisit Ron Cunningham’s epic, larger-than-life some of Ron Cunningham’s classics, and warm up in spectacle set to the soaring live music of the spring with our Red Hot productions. Carl Orff is the signature masterwork of the Sacramento Ballet. George As a subscriber, you will receive premium pricing Balanchine’s famous quote, “see the and priority seating to provide you with the very music, hear the dance,” is eloquently best experience. illustrated in his first great masterpiece created on American soil. Witness the magic. Celebrate our history. Become a part of our future. Modern Masters: Red Hot Blood Rush / Bolero / Fluctuating Hemlines May 11–13, 2018 Ma Cong’s visceral Blood Rush set to the sizzling music of Latin composer Astor Piazzola, defines the word hot! Ron Nancy Garton Cunningham’s Bolero perfectly captures Sacramento Ballet Board President the relentless drive of Ravel’s pulsating score. Witty, urbane, sophisticated, and deliciously irreverent, Fluctuating Hemlines’ 1960s fashion collides with 21st century morés. The Genius of Balanchine June 1–3, 7–10, & 16–17, 2018 SEASON SPONSORS: Experience a wealth of brilliant excerpts from George Balanchine in the intimate setting of the Sacramento Ballet studios. SUPPORTED BY “Dance is music made visible.” JIM HARGROVE —George Balanchine ARTISTIC DIRECTORS’ MESSAGE Dear Friends, Most of all, we are proud of our dancers who we have had the privilege to teach, coach, and mentor Carinne and I came to Sacramento three decades over the last 30 years. Time and time again, visiting ago with a vision to create excellence in art that choreographers have told us the aesthetic culture we was accessible to the entire community. Our vision have nurtured among our dancers is extraordinary embraced an eclectic and diverse repertory that and provided them with artists completely engaged entertained, educated, and inspired through my in the creative process. We are proud of all we have original choreography, our staging of classical accomplished and are grateful for the support and love masterpieces, the genius of Balanchine, and the very the community has given back to us. best and most gifted contemporary choreographers working in the nation today. Thank you for 30 years of support and beautiful memories. Our community outreach programs have provided children and underserved communities with access to the beauty and power of dance, engaging their hopes, dreams, and aspirations to reach beyond to the stars. The many thousands of children from a wide diversity of backgrounds and ethnicities who have graced our stage in our annual productions of The Nutcracker, have inspired us as they have inspired audiences. Ron & Carinne Artistic Directors ARTISTIC DIRECTORS’ LETTER (CONTINUED) Ron Cunningham and Carinne Binda Original Choreography and Staging “THANK YOU The Nutcracker, Nutty Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Romeo & Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, The Tempest, Giselle, Don Quixote, La Fille Mal Gardée, Dracula, FOR 30 YEARS The Great Gatsby, Peter Pan, Coppélia, Alice in Wonderland, A Streetcar Named Desire, Medea, The Firebird, Carmen, Les Noces, Carmina Burana, OF SUPPORT Etosha, Rite of Spring, Boléro, By George, Estuary, Barber’s Adigo, Requiem, A Woman’s Journey; the Tamsen Donner Story, Jeu de Cartes, Incident AND BEAUTIFUL at Blackbriar, Can-Can, Songs of the Auvergne, Winter Fragments, Summerset, Peter & The Wolf, Rough Draft, Tangos, Graduation Ball, Raggedy Ann & Andy, Ebony Concerto, Tubby the Tuba, Ten to MEMORIES.” One, A Tale of Peter Rabbit, Hoe Down, Symphonic Variations, Mozart Divertimento, In Search of, American Salute, Tchaikovsky Variations, Innovative Programming Seven Deadly Sins. Beer & Ballet, Modern Masters, Second Saturdays, Genius I & II, Red Hot Dance, Capital Choreography Masterworks of George Balanchine Competition, Snap Shots I & II, Inside the Directors Apollo, Agon, Allegro Brilliante, Concerto Barocco, Studio, Women Speak, Living Sculpture. Donizetti Variations, The Four Temperaments, La Sonnambula, Prodigal Son, Rubies, Scotch Community Engagement & Education Symphony, Serenade, Stars and Stripes, Tarantella, Nutcracker School Matinee performances, Magic of Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Theme and Variations, The Nutcracker, Community Event Performances, Valse Fantaisie, Who Cares?, Western Symphony. Dance Power, Discover Dance, Davis Arts Center Outreach, Shriners Hospital Visits, C.K. McClatchy & Guest Choreographers Hiram Johnson High School Residencies, In-Studio Ma Cong, Twyla Tharp, Septime Webre, Trey Elementary School Visits, Barbara Crockett “Send McIntyre, Amy Seiwert, Val Canaparoli, Arthur a Child to the Ballet” Legacy Fund, Any Given Child Mitchell, John Clifford, Stoner Winslett, Dwight Assemblies, Leaps & Bounds, Boys & Girls Clubs, Rhoden, Agnes de Mille, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Mustard Seed, Sutter Health Hospital visits, Ashley Walton, Matthew Neenan, Glen Tetley, Pre-Performance lectures, Post Performances Q & A’s. Lambros Lambrou, Nolan T’Sani, Jared Nelson, Brian Reeder, John Selya, Molly Lynch, Parrish School of the Sacramento Ballet Maynard, Robert Kelley, David Fernandez, Viktor Founder of the School of Sacramento Ballet, Kabaniaev, Stephanie Martinez, Gina Patterson, Sacramento Ballet Youth Ensemble, Regional Steven Mills, Gabrielle Lamb, Ron De Jesus, Dance America/Pacific, Annual School KT Nelson, Alan Hineline, Melissa Barak, Demonstration, Summer Intensive, Summer Lila York, Sidra Bell. Workshop, Coaching Session, Dance Camps, In Residence at Davis Arts Center. Tours International tour to the People’s Republic of China, Awards Canada, Hawaii, annual tours to Fresno. Recipient of the 2012 “Lifetime Achievement” award from the Sacramento Arts & Business Council, Mayor’s Award, multiple awards for arts excellence, Jerome Robbins New Essential Works Program. #GRITANDGRACE Ballet—it’s not as easy as it looks! Ballet has been ranked as one of the most difficult art forms and athletic feats to master. Our dancers have been training for decades to make it look graceful. Collectively, our company dancers have put in over one million hours of training, which manifests in the master works we put on stage. Each dancer and each production is a true expression of grit and grace. Behind the scenes, our production, operations, administration, wardrobe and community partners are dedicated to do the same—make these events seem effortless. Much like the art itself, each production involves hundreds of hours of work by talented designers, technicians and staff. That’s a lot of heavy lifting! The final lift? That comes from YOU! You put us in motion; you allow us to live our dreams. Please consider making a donation in support of our season and enjoy what you have made possible. We will be thanking you all along the way and offer you the benefits that come with being a donor. For more information, please visit www.sacballet.org/support or contact Erica Kobbe at (916) 732-3670 or [email protected]. ALIGN YOUR LIFT The Company Fund the Excellence. Donate to support our dancers, choreographers and productions. The School Fund the Future. Donate to support the next generation of ballet. The Outreach Fund the Inspiration. Donate today to gift a child with education and the experience of ballet. THE SACRAMENTO BALLET IS A REGISTERED 501(c)(3). GIFTS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE. EIN #94-1674349 AM & AM & GH CA GH CA N R N R I I I I N N N N N 1987 N N 1987 N M & C U E M & C U E A A A A H C H R C R B B G I N G I N N I N I N N N I 87 N I 987 N N 9 O N 1 N 1 E E O D D N N R R A B B A U · U · I I C N A C N A · · D D R R N N A A T 2017 S T 2017 S O O I S R I S R R R T O T O · I T · I T C C · C C · E D I R D I R E A S A S R 2017 R R 2017 R T O T O I T I T S T C S T C I C D I R E I C D I R E RON CUNNINGHAM CARMINA ’S BURANA BEER & BALLET CELEBRATE THE SEASON GISELLE CAST OFF RESTRAINT RAISE YOUR GLASS TRUE LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDS BEER & BALLET THE NUTCRACKER GISELLE October 13–15, December 9–10, February 16–18, 2018 20–22, 27–29, 2017 15–17, 22–23, 2017 Community Center Theater Fry-Paoletti Stage at Community Center Theater The Paris premiere of Giselle in Sacramento Ballet The most beloved of all 1841 stands as the undisputed Think ballet is formal and stuffy? Sacramento traditions, Ron masterpiece of 19th century Think again! Beer & Ballet, with Cunningham’s delightful The romantic ballet.