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Sacramento
ballet
O
utstanding repertory,
renowned dancers, successful
dance school, launch pad for
talent, and delighted audiences – all
facets of the Sacramento Ballet thanks
to the skills and passion of co-artistic
directors, Ron Cunningham and
Carinne Binda.
Ron and Carinne brought world-
class credentials to the Sacramento
Ballet in the late 1980s. Ron had
been a principal dancer and resident
choreographer for the Boston Ballet and
Carinne a soloist and ballet mistress. A
prolific choreographer, Ron’s work has
been acclaimed throughout America,
Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Carinne was the personal assistant to
artistic director and legendary ballerina,
Violette Verdy, and ballet mistress for
Rudolf Nureyev’s Don Quixote and
Swan Lake. Sharing a common vision,
the husband and wife team have built a
company of national recognition. Their
extensive repertory, which includes 18
masterworks from George Balanchine
and cutting edge works from the most
sought-after choreographers today,
attracts dancers from all over the world.
Ron has created or re-staged more than
50 of his works such as Carmina Burana,
Romeo & Juliet, The Great Gatsby, Peter
Pan, Etosha, The Rite of Spring and
many others that regularly command
standing ovations. Highly regarded as
a master teacher and coach, Carinne’s
brilliant eye brings excellence and
vibrancy to every production. Boasting
more than 400 students, the School of
the Sacramento Ballet was founded and
developed under her watchful eye.
Ron Cunningham's Nutcracker, the
“Crown Jewel of Holiday Tradition,”
boasts more than 500 children from
a wide diversity of backgrounds
throughout the greater Sacramento
area. The pair’s savvy creation of Beer
& Ballet – informal, experimental
SACBALLET.ORG
THREE DECADES
OF ARTISTIC
SUCCESS
performances in their studio – helped
demystify ballet for uninitiated
audiences. The duo’s passion for
community engagement, outreach,
and a constant reinvention of itself
through innovative programing and
community inclusion is a tribute to
their phenomenal success over the past
three decades.
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