{"id":338180,"date":"2026-05-29T22:20:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T22:20:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/338180\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T22:20:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T22:20:14","slug":"sacramento-ballets-popular-beer-ballet-spectacular","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/338180\/","title":{"rendered":"Sacramento Ballet\u2019s Popular “Beer & Ballet”\u00a0– Spectacular!"},"content":{"rendered":"

I had the delight of attending the Sacramento Ballet\u2019s popular Beer & Ballet\u00a0on opening night, May 28 with two friends on May 28at The Sofia. The program of\u00a017 world premiere works\u00a0choreographed and performed by Sacramento Ballet\u2019s own company was varied and fascinating. Because each ticket includes a complimentary beverage\u00a0\u2014 beer, wine, or a non-alcoholic option \u2014 (with craft beer provided by\u00a0Bike Dog Brewing Company), patrons are drawn into a relaxed atmosphere that allows audiences to experience dance in a new way.<\/p>\n

Still buoyed by the energy of the performance the next day, I shared with a friend that the show was fantastic.\u00a0 She said she used to see these shows thirty years ago and \u201cAre they still going on?\u201d\u00a0 You bet, and I\u2019m sure better than ever. \u201cBeer & Ballet\u201d began in\u00a01994 as an informal opportunity for the troupe\u2019s dancers to step from the back of the class and showcase their own choreography, sharing their original works and reflecting their individual voices, and perspectives.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Courtesy of the Sacramento Ballet<\/p>\n

As a first-time viewer, one of my guests was simply blown away \u2013 we all were. Each new dance was surprising and compelling. \u00a0The 17 original premieres offered a wide spectrum of choreographic styles ranging from bold contemporary explorations to intimate, narrative-driven works. We observed a remarkable level of skill, creativity, energy and a sense of joy. Beloved company artist Enrico Hipolito will be missed as this is the last performance with the Sacramento Ballet before a new chapter in nursing school begins.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"ZoartPhotography.Sacramento Ballet Company Artists in Isabella Velasquez\u2019s \u201cThe Bodies We Borrow\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeer & Ballet is where our dancers\u2019 voices come fully to life,\u201d said Elise Elliott, Rehearsal Director. \u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity for them to take creative ownership, experiment, and share something deeply personal with our audiences.\u201d \u201cThere\u2019s an incredible sense of energy and discovery in this program,\u201d added Stefan Calka, Rehearsal Director. \u201cEach piece o\ufb00ers a di\ufb00erent perspective, and together they create an evening that is as diverse and exciting as the artists themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Photo:ZoartPhotography<\/p>\n

While this entire show was amazing, a few aspects stood out. Between some of the numbers a few of the choreographers stepped out to share who they are.\u00a0 This drew me in as I learned how long the person was with the company, how many pieces they had choreographed and what inspired the work being performed. The lighting was an important element in the dances, sometimes multicolor, sometimes sharp and bright and other times soft and gentle.\u00a0 Some of the numbers began with a silhouette. The music ranged from Chopin accompanying a gorgeous classical work, \u201cValse Courante\u201d, to the powerful drum beat of \u201cKwento\u201d, uniquely moving dance forward.<\/p>\n

I never expected tap, but some of the dance troupe have tap in their background and the choreography in \u201cTap and Tequila\u201d moved seamlessly, from tap back to ballet. <\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"ZoartPhotography.James Griffen in James Griffen\u2019s \u201cNot Me\u201d<\/p>\n

And there was humor and much laughter as we enjoyed \u201cAny Way the Wind Blows\u201d set to \u201cBohemian Rhapsody\u201d by Queen. \u201cPogi\u201d ended the evening, gentle and lovely, danced by Sarah Joan Smith and Enrico Hipolito as a farewell. There was one solo, \u201cNot Me\u201d contrasted to the large number of dancers in several works, \u201cThe Bodies we Borrow\u201d and \u201cVicis\u201d.\u00a0 The costumes are managed by the choreographers, one brought costumes from afar and others have access to the company\u2019s costume maker.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Photo:ZoartPhotography<\/p>\n

Sacramento Ballet has been a beacon of artistic excellence since it was founded in 1954, bringing world-class dance performances, education, and community outreach programs.to the California Capital Region. Sacramento Ballet\u2019s mission is to enhance the human condition through dance, making this transformative art form accessible to all. Beer & Ballet contribute to Sacramento\u2019s cultural vibrancy by presenting bold, contemporary work alongside the classical canon. This commitment to innovation strengthens the region\u2019s artistic identity, supports the local creative economy, and reinforces Sacramento\u2019s standing as a city where world-class art is both created and celebrated.<\/p>\n

What are you waiting for?\u00a0 There are performances still: \u2022 Friday, May 29 at 7:30 PM\u2022 Saturday, May 30 at 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM\u2022 Sunday, May 31 at 2:00 PM<\/p>\n

Get tickets<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I had the delight of attending the Sacramento Ballet\u2019s popular Beer & Ballet\u00a0on opening night, May 28 with…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":338181,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[7974,12853,10239,121,123,122,52878],"class_list":["post-338180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sacramento","tag-classical-music","tag-jazz","tag-opera","tag-sacramento","tag-sacramento-headlines","tag-sacramento-news","tag-splash-magazines-worldwide-is-your-destination-for-in-depth-culture-coverage-including-theatre"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/338180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=338180"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/338180\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/338181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=338180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=338180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=338180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}