Sacramento Ballet Brings Holiday Performance to Kids at Shriners Hospitals for Children

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Dancers from the Sac Ballet

Patients and families at Shriners Hospitals for Children enjoyed a dose of holiday magic when dancers from the Sacramento Ballet performed scenes from the Nutcracker on Monday, Dec. 9. The 12
ballerinas who performed at the hospital will dance in the annual holiday performance of the Nutcracker Dec. 12 – 22 at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. The ballerinas are with The Sacramento Ballet
School, where they are completing their training to become professional dancers.

School Director Cynthia Drayer said the visit to Shriners Hospitals was an opportunity to celebrate the magic of performing arts and lift spirits during the holiday season. “The purpose of performing arts is to
bring joy, happiness and moments of inspiration to others,” she said.

According to Michele O’Hara, manager of the therapeutic recreation and child life program at the Northern California Shriners Hospital, those moments of inspiration are vital to the healing process. “Our goal is to help children explore new things and identify activities they enjoy once they leave the hospital. The Sacramento Ballet’s performance filled kids with awe and allowed them to imagine themselves trying something new,” said O’Hara.

After performing in the hospital’s central activity area, the dancers helped kids color pictures of ballerinas they brought to share. Those pictures surely will hang in the patient rooms as a reminder of a
special day.

Someone holding up a picture of a ballerina with the sac ballet dancers in the background

Sac Ballerina coloring with a young girl

Members of the Sac Ballet dancing

A member of the sac ballet smiling at a young girl coloring

Dancers from the Sac Ballet

About Shriners Hospitals for Children

Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. Our health care system provides advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. All care and services are provided regardless of the families’ ability to pay. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Northern California Shriners Hospital is located at 2425 Stockton Blvd., in Sacramento.

Media Contact: Catherine Curran | Director, Public Relations | 916-453-2218 | ccurran@shrinenet.org