Given this history, we are pleased and excited to sponsor two special Davis performances by the Sacramento Ballet that will give audiences a behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional dance. Performances take place Friday and Saturday at the Brunelle Performance Hall at Davis High School, 315 W. 14th St.

On Friday at 7 p.m., the ballet company will bring us “Inside the Directors’ Studio: The Men of the Sacramento Ballet.” Artistic directors Ron Cunningham and Carinne Binda will lead the audience through the process of bringing a full-length ballet to life. The focus will be on the athleticism and artistry of the company’s male dancers as they prepare for upcoming performances of “Romeo and Juliet.”

Since “Romeo and Juliet” features an abundance of sword play and stage combat in addition to the explosive virtuosity of the dancers’ leaps and bounds, this promises to be an especially exciting evening of dance. The dancers will remain onstage after the performance for an informal question-and-answer period, and there will be an opportunity after the show to speak personally with company members.

On Saturday at 1 p.m., the ballet company will present “Discover Dance,” an hourlong program designed to introduce children 4 and older and their families to the imaginative world of dance. The dancers themselves will narrate the program as they demonstrate short excerpts from a variety of ballets, and children will see some of their favorite fairy tale characters, among others, in action.

Tickets for “Inside the Directors’ Studio” are $15, and tickets for Discover Dance are $20 for adults and $10 for children. Tickets are available in person at the Davis Art Center, 1919 F St.; online at www.sacballet.org; or by calling 916-552-5800, ext. 2. Depending on availability, tickets also will be sold at the door. Proceeds benefit both the Davis Art Center and the Sacramento Ballet.

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In the Tsao Gallery, following on the heels of the summer’s dynamic Discovery Art Exhibit and the equally exciting Junk 2 Genius sculptures on display through Thursday, we are pleased to announce a new ceramics exhibit, “Stretching Function,” opening on Oct. 11. Showcasing ceramic art that redefines (and “stretches”) the meaning of function, the exhibit features work by Rebecca Bresnick Holmes, Linda S. Fitz Gibbon, Marc Lancet, Donna Lemongello, Jennifer Nachmanoff, Sara Post, Thomas Post and Jean Van Keuren, as well as collaborative works by Heidi Bekebrede, George Grant and Lillian Grant. The public is invited to meet the artists at an ArtAbout reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12.

“Stretching Function” artists will participate in Davis Downtown’s monthlong Artober events, with a workshop from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14. Participants can watch potters at work, ask questions and create their own mini teapot or tea cup. The workshop is free, with a donation of $5 to $10 encouraged for materials.

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Bekebrede and Dianna Craig, Art Center teachers, are also participating in Artober with their Voice of the Wood Family Halloween Show at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, and Sunday, Oct. 28. This hourlong show of “Spooky, Kooky Shenanigans, Skits and Stories” is a fun family favorite to add to your calendar. A  udience participation is encouraged, and so are costumes. General admission is $6 per person, but only $5 if you come in costume!

After the show on Sunday, Oct. 28, from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m., Voice of the Wood will host a mask-decorating event for all ages. Paperboard skull masks and myriad supplies will be on hand to spark creativity, spookiness and fun. Participation in the mask-making workshop is free, with a $2 to $3 donation suggested for materials. Mask-makers are invited to wear their creations to the city of Davis’ celebration of the Day of the Dead on the E Street Plaza on Oct. 31.

— Tiva Lasiter is the publicity and program intern for the Davis Art Center. Her column is published monthly.