Preview: Peter Pan

Despite some uncomfortable times at the Sacramento Ballet—an unhappy board has moved to replace its current co-artistic directors, Ron Cunningham and Carinne Binda, effective after next season (see “Bread and ballet roses”)—the dance company perseveres.

“We, the dancers, everybody is committed to put on the same great product as ever,” Cunningham said in a recent interview.

This week, the company is flying high. Literally, because the ballet company is set to present Peter Pan this weekend. And Peter—Anthony Cannarella—is the guy who will soar. It’s his first time airborne, and he only just recently got fitted for the harness.

Cunningham created this ballet—his 25th world-premiere dance for the company—and first presented it in 2015. That year’s title character hadn’t flown before, either, but the effect was magical.

“The first time I flew anybody, I decided to make it as simple as possible,” Cunningham said. “Once you’ve flown Peter through the window, you’ve established that he can fly, so how much more flying do you really need?”

Well, a bit more. Still … piece of cake.