Alexandra Cunningham Sensory Friendly Dance Founder and Director
Alexandra trained locally at Deane Dance Center under Barbara Crockett, and joined the Sacramento Ballet in 2005. During her 14 years with the Company, career highlights included performing the title role in Giselle, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, the title roles in Ron Cunningham’s Romeo & Juliet, Cinderella, and Alice in Wonderland, as well as Daisy in Cunningham’s The Great Gatsby. Alexandra was honored to perform principal and soloist roles in 14 fourteen works by George Balanchine, as well as in works by contemporary ballet choreographers including Twyla Tharp, Edwaard Liang, Septime Webre, Ma Cong, Trey McIntyre, Amy Siewert, and Darrell Grand Moultrie. Ron Cunningham’s The Nutcracker also held a special place in Alexandra’s heart as she performed in the production for 25 consecutive years, from student to professional. Alexandra overcame three ACL reconstructions during her performing career and partnered with Kaiser Permanente as a featured athlete.
During her performing career, Alexandra served as the Sacramento Ballet’s Social Media Manager for four years, and as the Summer Intensive Coordinator from 2012-2017. Alexandra co-founded Capital Dance Project in 2015 with fellow Sacramento Ballet dancers and was instrumental in growing the organization.
Alexandra launched a Sensory Friendly Dance Program in 2017 in partnership with Capital Dance Project, the Sacramento Kings Foundation, and Kulture City, giving individuals with autism in Sacramento unprecedented access to dance. She expanded this program in 2018 and 2019 to include dance classes, thanks to a California Arts Council Local Impact grant. Alexandra has fostered community partnerships with the Sacramento Republic FC, Kaiser Permanente, The Crocker Art Museum, and B Street Theatre to enhance access to the arts in Sacramento.
Alexandra taught dance at Hawkins School of Performing Arts and Step One Dance and Fitness from 2018 - 2021. In 2022, she attained her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley in Interdisciplinary Studies Field with a Minor in Education. Alexandra was awarded a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship for her research and thesis on dance programs for individuals with autism. In her senior year at UC Berkeley, Alexandra completed an internship at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as part of the University of California Washington DC Program, and she currently works for the Kennedy Center's International Programming Department.
