JAD Experience proudly presents ANIMALIS, the twelfth installment of its immersive, multisensory experience taking place over two weekends, July 11–13 and 18–20. Set atop the rolling terrain of Tara Firma Farms in Petaluma with sweeping views of surrounding hills, the open-air performance and dining venture draws thematic inspiration from George Orwell's Animal Farm.
Each evening starts with a family-style multi-course, farm-to-table feast utilizing transparently sourced food from the local bounty of Sonoma and Marin Counties. Then, guests will gather with steaming cups of sipping chocolate and bone broth at the outdoor stage for the world premiere of the ballet by renowned choreographer and former San Francisco Ballet principal Julia Adam and her corps of elite dancers.
JAD Experience is the creative partnership between Adam and her husband, Aaron Lucich, a producer, farmer/rancher, and agricultural activist. The two have cultivated a rich team of talented artists and artisans to create a transformational experience under the stars. ANIMALIS is the twelfth installment of JAD's series designed to spark the wisdom of what ties us together through community, art, food, and the natural world. The project has evolved an in-situ approach to cuisine (Lucich produces the proteins on site).
Join JAD for an evening of dance and dinner high upon the hills of Northern California, where literary allegory meets physical landscape in a powerful performance experience.
Drawing on George Orwell's Animal Farm and the raven's haunting vision of Sugarcandy Mountain—a promised paradise where "it was Sunday seven days a week"—ANIMALIS reimagines the hilltop as both a sanctuary and stage. As visitors gather on this elevated ground, they'll explore the seductive pull of utopian dreams and the cautionary truths Orwell embedded in his timeless fable. Through movement, meal, and the natural amphitheater of the Northern California landscape, this performance examines the corrupting nature of power and the eternal human longing for paradise. The hill becomes Sugarcandy Mountain—a place of beauty and promise and a reminder of how easily hope can be manipulated and dreams can mask harsh realities.
An evening of art, sustenance, and reflection awaits those ready to ascend the mountain and confront the questions Orwell dared us to ask.
This year marks a new collaboration with local restaurant Pearl. Owners Chef Brian Leitner and Manager Front of House Annette Yang will lead the culinary adventure. "I feel really fortunate about the great evolving food scene in Petaluma, and Pearl is my favorite lunch spot," said Lucich. "Chatting with Annette at the counter, I learned the two met while working at Gordon's House of Fine Eats in San Francisco in the '90s, where I spent many evenings eating at the bar. Knowing I wanted to reboot the kitchen this year, it seemed like a perfect collaboration opportunity. I was thrilled when they said yes, they fit the ethos of what we're doing."
Leitner will lead a diverse, talented team through the six-night, nose-to-tail culinary adventure. The menu also includes robust alternatives for vegetarians and vegans. Local purveyors include Tara Firma Farms, Umbel Roots, Feed Sonoma, True Grass Farms, and Holistic Ag, among others. Beverages include Enkidu and Shokrian wines, Hen House and Moonlight beers, and house-made non-alcoholic offerings.
Julia shares the choreographic helm with Oliver Halkowich, who has delighted audiences dancing in all but two of the company's projects. JAD's ever-evolving team of dancers will interpret the unique brand of storytelling as it continues to morph with spoken word, song, and broad exploration beyond the fourth wall, moving and inspiring a deeper connection to each other and the world around us.
A limited number of tickets are now on sale for the six gatherings of ANIMALIS during the weekends of July 11–13 and July 18–20, from 5:30 pm – 10 pm, at Tara Firma Farms in Petaluma. Tickets are $200, $250, and $300, and they are available at JADexperience.com.
WHAT: JAD Experience presents ANIMALIS
The twelfth installment of the renowned series that immerses the audience
in a new cultural experience for all the senses.
WHERE: Tara Firma Farms, 3796 I Street, Petaluma
See website for directions
WHEN: July 11 – 13; July 18 – 20; 5:30 pm – 10 pm
TICKETS: The all-inclusive tickets are
• $200 for Opening Night on Friday, July 11, and Sunday, July 13;
• $250 for Friday, July 18, and Sunday, July 20;
• $300 for Saturday, July 12, and July 19
Available at JADexperience.com
INFO: JADexperience.com
