Sacramento Ballet's Nutcracker at SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center

SACRAMENTO BALLET’S SPELLBINDING NUTCRACKER HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL FAMILY TRADITIONS WITH 200-PLUS CHILDREN CAST AS MICE, MUSHROOMS, PEPPERMINTS & SHOOTING STARS

Presenting Sponsor, California Walnuts, To Engage Audiences With Nutcracker Holiday Hashtag: #ANuttyHolidayTradition

WHAT:  SacBallet’s family-favorite Nutcracker (December 9-23, 2023) promises to excite, engage and electrify Northern Californian audiences this year with a three-week run of evening and matinee performances. Last year’s staging of the Tchaikovsky classic performed for sold-out and capacity houses. This year the dynamic, locally-crafted hometown choreography is by SacBallet’s Company alumni Colby Damon, Julia Feldman and Nicole Haskins. SacBallet’s Nutcracker 2023 Presenting Sponsor California Walnuts returns! Festive lobby experiences are planned including walnut-counting contests, tasty free samples, family photo opportunities, and the once-a-year pop-up souvenir shop, “Clara’s Attic.”  

“We are thrilled to welcome California Walnuts returning as our presenting Nutcracker sponsor,” said Sacramento Ballet’s Artistic/Executive Director, Anthony Krutzkamp. “Staging our spellbinding production requires an enormous amount of magic from the cast, crew and staff to bring it to life. Pairing California Walnuts with SacBallet is ideal as they will again bring their Nutty Holiday Tradition theme to our family-oriented festivities this year. We greatly appreciate our sponsors’ support in addition to our beloved patrons who help everything come together.”

SacBallet’s professional Company and Second Company dancers provide real-time inspiration for the 200-plus local Sacramento youth performers who will take to the stage this year — many for the first time! Fans can expect to see youth cast members dance the roles of beloved Nutcracker characters including Shooting Stars, Mother Ginger’s Children, Peppermints, Mice, Mushrooms, Party Boys and Girls as well as the ever-popular Baby Bunny.  
Every Nutcracker performance this year will feature a live orchestra by Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera.

“California walnut growers are proud to again support Sacramento Ballet's beloved, annual Nutcracker holiday tradition,” said Robert Verloop, CEO of California Walnuts. “Like walnuts, Nutcracker is synonymous with the holiday season and with Sacramento and its surrounding area being home to many walnut growers, we’re delighted to provide continued support for the Sacramento Ballet’s family-friendly, time-honored tradition.”  

SacBallet’s Nutcracker 2023 will feature: 

• Original choreography from three, nationally-recognized, hometown SacBallet artists (Colby Damon, Julia Feldman and Nicole Haskins)

• International dance professionals 

• Classic sets by designer Alain Vaes; lighting design by Trad Burns 

• Live orchestra every night from Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera

• Multiple lobby photo opportunities including giant-sized, larger-than-life 12-foot-tall Nutcracker soldier statue as well as strolling costumed ballerinas 

Coinciding with SacBallet’s Nutcracker performances, attendees can expect special lobby activities on-site courtesy of presenting sponsor California Walnuts including:

• Contests: Guess the number of California walnuts in a display

• Free California Walnuts snack packs for all patrons at select performances including three Saturdays: 12/9 opening night, 12/16 evening, and 12/23 final performance. 

• Nutcracker & Cinderella ticket giveaways on California Walnuts & SacBallet social pages, hashtags #ANuttyHolidayTradition, #SacBalletNutcracker, #SacBallet, and #CaWalnuts:

• Facebook: @cawalnuts, @SacBallet
• Instagram: @cawalnuts, @SacBallet
• YouTube: @CaWalnuts, @SacBallet

WHEN: December 9-23, 2023

WHERE: Nutcracker will be presented at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center, 1301 L Street, Sacramento, CA. For more information:  https://safecreditunionconventioncenter.com/Facility/PerformingArtsCenter

HOW: Tickets are selling fast for SacBallet’s Nutcracker performances, December 9-23, 2023. Season & Individual tickets available now.  

For details call the SacBallet box office (916-552-5810):
Box office hours: Monday - Friday, 3:30 - 7:00 p.m.
https://www.sacballet.org/performances/season-performances/

WHY THIS MATTERS   
Sacramento Ballet delivers high-quality, world stage-worthy ballet, dance, education, and outreach initiatives. A modern, forward-leaning organization which respects its past while welcoming the future, Sacramento Ballet aims to unite, include and inspire diverse audiences. Connecting cultures with the positive power of live dance performance, SacBallet expands its audiences through regional programming, community connections and educational activities. Guided by Artistic/Executive Director Anthony Krutzkamp — an innovative artist/choreographer who raised the image and reputation of the Kansas City Dance Festival, Moving Arts Kansas City and Moving Arts Cincinnati — Sacramento Ballet’s 2023/24 season theme is “Escape.”   

ABOUT SACRAMENTO BALLET
A highly regarded cultural asset renowned for artistic quality, Sacramento Ballet attracts approximately 100,000 people to performances annually. Deeply committed to the Capitol region for nearly 70 years, it conducts extensive outreach, educational and public engagement projects. It is the only local arts organization to maintain a residency of professional artists attached to a respected conservatory of dance: School of Sacramento Ballet. SacBallet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, funded by ticket sales, individual donations, corporate, foundation, and government support. SacBallet’s world class programming demonstrates its agility, commitment and dedication to the arts. For more information visit www.sacballet.org.

ABOUT SACRAMENTO BALLET’S SECOND COMPANY
Under the direction of acclaimed dancer and respected instructor Jill Krutzkamp, Sacramento Ballet’s newly formed Second Company celebrates its second season this year. Second Company is the umbrella company for Trainee Project and its select group of six featured dancers: SB2. A proving ground for pre-professional training, distinctive programming and repertoire is specially selected and choreographed for them. Twenty classically trained, aspiring artists who auditioned to join Second Company regularly perform with the company, while they train and hone their skills for careers with major dance companies. Sacramento Ballet’s respected reputation for professional career development is attracting young dancers from across the U.S. and California. Second Company has already inspired expanded audiences with the passion and drive of these young dancers as they grow and gain the skills and confidence necessary for a life career in dance.

ABOUT CALIFORNIA WALNUTS
More than 99% of the walnuts grown in the United States are from California, produced by multi-generational farmers encompassing 4,000 family orchards. California walnuts, known for their excellent nutritional value and quality, are shipped around the world all year long. With the focus on plant-forward eating, walnuts are enjoyed in a variety of innovative and delicious ways, such as a plant-based meat alternative, walnut milk and walnut butter. They are recognized as a versatile and nutritious snack, a topper for yogurt and oatmeal, and the perfect nut to pair with salads and vegetables. To explore recipes and learn more about California walnut growers, industry information and health research, visit walnuts.org.

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