The Sacramento Ballet’s annual Beer & Ballet opened on May 29, 2025 and will run through June 1st at the Sofia in Sacramento. Last year when a friend mentioned that she attends Sacramento Ballet Beer & Ballet performances each year, I thought to myself “What a concept – I’d like to go, too”. This year another friend and I attended the opening night performance and we were blown away. This is a show for everyone and you can still get tickets.
I was pleased to sweep into the special celebrations for this 70th birthday of the ballet company, even as the year comes to a close. For the first time, this company is performing Beer & Ballet at the Sofia. Contact the Box Office for tickets
ANTHONY KRUTZKAMP, Artistic/Executive Director shares, “For the first time, we are performing Beer & Ballet at The Sofia Theater. I selected this venue in celebration of our anniversary and to honor Kaori Higashiyama and Ava Chatterson as they retire from the stage. Both have dedicated their artistic lives to Sacramento Ballet and our community, leaving a lasting impact. Kaori and Ava, you will be deeply missed, but I know you’ll remain a part of the Ballet in many ways.”
In an article in the Sacrament Bee by Mitchel Bobo dated January 29, 2020, I learned that Sacramento Ballet company’s inaugural Beer and Ballet event in 1994 was a chance for the troupe’s dancers to step from the back of the class to the front of the room, a rare opportunity. This show has 15 choreographers from the company, and one guest choreographer for the second company.
This performance feates new choreographic creations by Sacramento Ballet Company Dancers. Each ticket includes a complimentary glass of beer, wine, or non-alcoholic beverage, creating a less formal atmosphere. (The evening is sponsored by Bike Dog Brewing Company, and Old Sugar Mill Wineries.)
The combination of beer and ballet seems to bring ballet “to the people”, making it more popular and accessible. Of the people we spoke with, two women were adult ballet dancers, coming to this event for the first time with curiosity and a young couple who have regularly attended all of the Sacramento Ballet productions. for more than seven years. Come for the beer and stay for the ballet? It seems to work that way.
The Sofia, is a 49,000-square-foot facility that opened in 2018. It is a perfect setting for dance, not too large with excellent sight lines all around. It feels intimate and allows the viewer to connect with the dancers differently than a huge auditorium. Everything about the evening was superb, the high-level skill of the dancers, the choreography of each number, the lighting, costumes and even the music, though recorded was seamless. Except for one number, which included stools and a TV, there were no props – there was only lighting costuming and the amazing bodies moving differently in each number. As each number was performed I thought “This is the best one yet” and then then next and the next were shown and I thought the same thing. And they all were the best, differently.
The range of the dancing was breathtaking, from shoeless feet to a male in pointe shoes, from hip-hop to classical ballet, from the Pre-show, “With A Smile, A Song and A Dance” by Juliana Godlewski danced by artists from Sacramento Ballet Second Company to the final number, “Nakama” by Julia Feldman, danced by departing company members, Ava Chatterson and Kaori Higashiyama, the evening was remarkable.
Adding to the interest of the evening were the dancer-choreographers telling us how long they have been with the company and how many time they have choreographed for Beer & Ballet. And I can’t resist one shout out for “Cell Block Tango” by Julia Payne. This is not to be missed!
All photos are by Marissa Gearhart.
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