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