Press Release
Contact: Carrie Diamond 805/450-7535

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ballet Santa Barbara presents a retrospective and two west coast premieres in a concert entitled A New York Perspective. 

Two worlds come together in a program of seven striking and original ballets—all works that premiered in New York City over the last 20 years. Five of the ballets were created for Artistic Director Carrie Diamond’s first company, the New American Ballet Ensemble, between the years 1989 and 1991. New York City guest artist Robin Gilbert, who was a member of NABE, will reunite with BSB for these performances as will Artistic Associate and permanent guest artist Carlos Fittante, also a member of Diamond’s first company.

BSB is thrilled to bring back Benjamin Harkarvy’s enigmatic and evocative Premonition, last seen in BSB’s debut performance in 2006. Mr. Fittante will again dance the lead role created for him by Mr. Harkarvy, and Ms. Gilbert will dance the role originally created for Diamond. Mr. Harkarvy’s ballet was commissioned by NABE in 1990, one of his two last works both of which were choreographed for the company. The strikingly beautiful work is set to Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro.

After 17 years, Ms. Gilbert will recreate her role in Sueños Castellanos, a ballet choreographed in 1991 by Diamond to music by Manuel De Falla and last seen with BSB in 2006. Diamond comments, “This is a significant reunion for us. Ms. Gilbert’s presence creates  continuity, connecting our dancers to an extremely fertile and productive time in New York. She is a top notch professional and a gorgeous dancer.”

Continuing BSB’s quest for diverse programming, the performances will include two west coast premieres. Opening the program is Diamond's exuberant and classical group work Concerto Allegro, set to Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3—a ballet also originally created for NABE. Fittante's Eden, a hypnotic and sensual pas de deux performed in mask by Fittante and Gilbert, will follow.

Other works on the program include Amantes, a solo choreographed and performed by Mr. Fittante again in mask, last seen on BSB’s 2006 debut concert and referred to as a “gender-bender” by the Santa Barbara Independent. Lizabeth Skalski’s Midnight Tangle also last seen on BSB’s debut concert, is a contemporary pas de deux set to music of Kurt Weill from The Threepenny Opera and danced in a theatrical style reminiscent of that work. Diamond’s highly romantic yet contemporary Serenade, set to the music of Dohnanyi, will also be danced again.

While many of the works on this concert were created over 15 years ago in New York, BSB’s unique repertory continues to be rewarding for dancers and audiences alike. This concert will give the public an opportunity to gain an understanding of the roots of Ballet Santa Barbara. Ms. Diamond believes that, “Ballet Santa Barbara’s older works as well as our premieres are nurturing and sustaining both young and seasoned dancers and the interesting variety and quality of the dancing this March will undoubtedly have a positive impact on our Santa Barbara audience.”

Founded and directed by former New York City dance professional Carrie Diamond, Ballet Santa Barbara is a world-class contemporary ballet company devoted to fostering artistic, creative, and personal growth. The company presents original ballets and contemporary works performed by local resident dancers who have performed with such companies as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, and Santa Barbara Dance Theater, and also incorporates performances by exceptional guest artists from New York City, San Francisco, and the Los Angeles area. BSB has a strong commitment to mentor tomorrow’s local talent and serve the Santa Barbara community. In addition to matinee performances at greatly reduced-price for seniors and students, the company currently offers ballet classes as well as its annual summer dance intensive, dedicated to expanding the knowledge, breadth, and creativity of young dancers. Scholarships are available to committed students in financial need.

Artistic Director Carrie Diamond returned to California in 2002 after many years as dance professional in New York City. She founded Ballet Santa Barbara in 2005, a professional ballet company and training venue for local dancers including an annual summer intensive program for young dancers. She began her career in Los Angeles, dancing with the Storie-Crawford Dance Theatre and studying ballet with Don Hewitt. In New York City, she studied with such luminaries as Margaret Craske, Benjamin Harkarvy and Jacque D’amboise and performed and toured extensively with the New York Theatre Ballet. She has particularly enjoyed dancing principal and soloist roles in the works of such choreographers as José Limón, Kurt Joos, Ohad Nahirin, and Benjamin Harkarvy. In 1990, she founded the New American Ballet Ensemble, a New York City company that promoted new music and choreography, commissioning two ballets by Harkarvy as well as choreographing many of her own. She has taught ballet for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and for the 92nd St Y and was the Co-Director for the Harkness Youth Ballet. Ms. Diamond holds an MFA in Dance from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and is a certified teacher for children through DEL (Dance Education Laboratory). She has choreographed locally for several musical productions at Dos Pueblos High School, the Crane School, and Santa Barbara City College.

A native Manhattanite, Music Director Eric Valinsky, has, for more years than he would like to admit, maintained dual careers in computer systems design and music. He was educated at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the University of Illinois, finally achieving his DMA in music composition from Columbia University. He studied composition with Walter Aschaffenburg, Salvatore Martirano, Jack Beeson, and Darius Milhaud; piano with Sara Crawford Drogheo and Emil Danenberg; and conducting with Harold Farberman. While living in Los Angeles, he became music director and composer-in-residence for The Storie-Crawford Dance Theatre Ensemble. Returning to New York, he served in a similar capacity for Danny Buraczeski’s Jazzdance, Uris Bahr and Dancers, and The New American Ballet Ensemble as well as composer-in-residence for The Rachel Harms Dance Company, Opera Uptown, and the Dance Department at City College of New York.

Benjamin Harkarvy, choreographer, is recognized as one of the major figures of international ballet. Founder of the Nederlands Dans Theater, he was also artistic director of the Dutch National, Pennsylvania, Royal Winnipeg, and Harkness Ballets. Mr. Harkarvy created works for the Joffrey Ballet as well as most of the companies with whom he was associated. Critic Clive Barnes wrote that he “possesses a rare quality of perceptiveness and taste that has made him one of the world’s greatest ballet masters.” At the time of his death in 2002, he was director of the Dance Division at the Juilliard School.

Carlos Fittante, Artistic Associate and Guest Artist first danced with Ms. Diamond as a member of the New York Theatre Ballet and Ms. Diamond’s New American Ballet Ensemble. A first generation American of Spanish and Italian descent, he is a graduate of the School of American Ballet, and has a BA in Dance from Empire State College (CUNY). One of his specialties is Balinese dance. Having studied in Bali, he has returned to Bali many times and has performed with the Sangga Semara Ratih in Ubud, Bali. He is currently Artistic Director of BALAM Dance Theatre in New York, which presents a fusion of classical Balinese and Western dance. Fittante also specializes in Baroque dance and has established himself as a leading figure and soloist for period opera and festivals throughout the world. Some of his Baroque performing credits include venues such as the Barbican Center, London, England; the Handel Festival, Göttingen, Germany; Suntory Hall, Tokyo, Japan; ABAO Opera, Bilbao, Spain; Jarvis Conservatory, Napa, California; Kennedy Center, Washington D.C., as well as guest appearances with Academy of Ancient Music, Boston Early Music Festival, Handel & Haydn Society, and, in 2006, Ballet Santa Barbara. He was a member of the New York Baroque Dance Company for fourteen years. As a free-lance choreographer his non Balinese inspired work has been presented by the New York Baroque Dance Company, Staten Island Ballet, Wanamaker Arts Productions, New Choreographers on Pointe, and Washington University, Queer Culture Festival (NYC) and others. Currently, he is on the faculty of the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and Peridance Center in New York where he teaches Balinese Dance and Mask and Gesture.

Robin Gilbert Campos, Guest Artist, first danced with Ms. Diamond as a member of the New American Ballet Ensemble. She began her dance training in Cleveland, Ohio and later graduated from North Carolina School of the Arts. Her career includes the ballet companies Connecticut Ballet Theatre, Dallas Ballet, Dance Theatre of Westchester, and Anglo-American Ballet where she was featured in the roles of Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, and the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. She has also danced in musical theatre, industrial shows, opera, commercials, videos, and has worked with Peter Pucci Plus Dancers, and choreographers Ann Reinking, Lila York, and Arthur Faria. In 1991 she became a company member of BALAM where she created many principal roles, helping to define BALAM’s fusion technique. In her non-dance life Robin is married to her wonderful husband Manny, and is a drummer/vocalist in his rock band, The Generators.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE
Click here for complete listing
Online purchases subject to $1 surcharge

BOX OFFICE INFORMATION
The Center Stage Theater Box Office is open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 5:00 P.M., and one hour before each performance. See below for location.

Tickets may also be purchased by telephone using Visa, Master Card, and American Express. Phone (805) 963-0408 (V / TDD).

LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS
Center Stage Theater is located in the Paseo Nuevo Center, upstairs at the intersection of Chapala and De la Guerra Streets, Santa Barbara, California.

Take Highway 101 to Carrillo Street, exit and turn toward the mountains (northbound turns right, southbound turns left). Proceed to Chapala Street (fourth light) and turn right. Proceed 1-1/2 blocks and turn left into either of two entrances to Paseo Nuevo. Park near the elevator, or proceed to roof-level parking.