SANTA BARBARA DANCE ALLAINCE PRESENTS
NEW WORKS:
9 Santa Barbara Choreographers
Robin Bisio, Nancy Colahan, Valerie Huston, Heather Glabe, Christine Loizeaux, Thomas McDonnell, Ilana Morgan, Susan Shaberman, Rina van de Kamp

Santa Barbara Dance Alliance will kick-off the 2004 season with its annual NEW WORKS: 9 Santa Barbara Choreographers, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, Jan. 23-25, at 8 p.m. at Center Stage Theater. The concerts will showcase engaging and unique performances with new works in dance, performance art and film by nine select local choreographers.

In November, these nine choreographers (see below) were selected to showcase their work at the NEW WORKS concerts by an adjudication panel comprised of Alice Condodina, Susan Frascella, Cathy Oliverson, Arlene Satterlee, and Alana Tillim (Production Director). Pat Frank serves as lighting designer. Opening night will be followed by the presentation of the 7th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award for contribution to dance in Santa Barbara.

When witnessing a dance performance, most people are unaware of the hours of preparation, practice and discipline involved for the artists. Each choreographer must delve into their history, personality, observations and perceptions to craft a new work. Body movements are designed to suit the unique character of each piece. Sometimes the creative process comes quickly and spontaneously while at other times dancer's block sets in and the choreographer agonizes over a passage until suddenly it feels like the door opens! When the missing piece of the puzzle has been discovered, dancing through that door is exhilarating!

Don't miss these special performances where the choreographers express the diversity of their imaginations through a variety of dance styles and innovations. BOX OFFICE

7th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award

Local dance instructor, performer, and youth mentor Steven Lovelace has been selected as Santa Barbara Dance Alliance's 7th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award winner for contribution to dance in Santa Barbara. SBDA members serve as the nominating body for the award and the SBDA Board of Directors and Advisory Board have the final vote. Lovelace will be honored after the opening night (Jan 23) of SBDA's NEW WORKS concert. The award, a "Martha" statuette, designed by Ellen Riedel, will be presented by Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson. The audience is invited to join in the evening's celebration with a glass of wine.

9 Santa Barbara Choreographers

Robin Bisio created "About Jupiter into the Swan" earlier this year for the New Music Festival at UCSB and later re-developed the piece into a work on the beach. The title refers to the "Duino Elegies" by Rilke and transformations both personal and celestial. We will see the work's third incarnation with dancers from Santa Barbara Dance Theatre. Bisio co-created the Coastal Dance Project, which she plans to resurrect this year, and has turned her eye towards dance/film making. Her films have been seen internationally.

Nancy Colahan, a member of the dance faculty at UCSB, Colahan has created "Sweet Summer Suite in the Winter" for six dancers from UCSB to contemporary music by Ed Meyers and Bela Fleck. The first section is slow and sweet while the second, a quartet, is edgy and sexy. Currently with LA-based American Repertory Dance Company, Colahan has also performed with Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, Joyce Tristler Danscompany, the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, and Mikhail Baryshnikov's White Oak Dance Project.

Heather Glabe is a student at UCSB and her work "E:Y>O" was originally created with fellow students. The work was chosen as an outstanding choreography by the University to be re-set on the 7 dancers of the UCSB Dance Company. The original, eclectic music was composed by Martin O'Donell and Michael Salvatori. Glabe has taken her inspiration from layers of movement inherent in all chemical reactions resulting in fascinating dance motion and energy.

Valerie Huston has created a playful duet for Summer Lederer, a fifth year returning senior at UCSB, and Catherine Cole, a UCSB professor of African Theater as rhythmic game on a piano bench. After losing a leg to cancer, Cole produced two theater pieces: "Out on a Limb" and "Five Foot Feet" in collaboration with Christopher Pilafian. Huston has received 3 National Endowment Fellowships in choreography, has taught Ballet at UCSB since 1983 and directed her own company, the Valerie Huston Dance Theater. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Ensemble Theatre Company and was awarded an Independent Artist Award for choreography by the Arts Fund and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Santa Barbara Dance Alliance.

Christine Loizeaux uses personal life issues in her performance art/dance work "In Passing". Loizeaux has a BA in Dance and Graphic art from Bennington College, has directed her own dance company and studied with Martha Graham, Jose Limon and Mary Anthony. She chaired the Dance Department at Grand Valley State University in Michigan for 14 years, has produced over 79 original dance works and received many awards for her work in dance and prints.

Thomas McDonnell's contemporary ballet trio with Anna Williams and Leila Drake is titled "There is a way which seems right" After studying commercial art and playing basketball, dance beckoned. He has danced professionally with Santa Barbara Dance Theatre, The Empire State Ballet Co., Minnesota Dance Theatre, Santa Barbara Festival Ballet and the Oakland Ballet.

Ilana Morgan has created a solo to Emmylou Harris' rendition of "Bright Morning Stars," based on meditation and stillness. Ilana has a BFA in dance from Ohio University and teaches dance in the public schools in Santa Barbara.

Susan Shaberman's new piece "Under the Apple Tree" is a playful look at a relationship between friends, juxtaposing mature dancers with children's songs. The piece, in three sections, has a sweet, sassy feel. Shaberman is a graduate of Tisch University in New York and has choreographed for many Santa Barbara Dance Alliance concerts.

Rina van de Kamp, President of Santa Barbara Dance Alliance and UCLA dance graduate, has collaborated with many artists and has danced with Improv, Inc. and Diavolo Dance Theater, as well as directing her own company. In her duet, "Between the Ages," she examines the dualities of a personality and will dance within a large rectangular frame. (Rina is a resident of Santa Ynez Valley.)

Santa Barbara Dance Alliance

Santa Barbara Dance Alliance celebrates 25 years of service to the dance community this year!

SBDA is a non-profit arts service organization whose mission is to foster, promote, and increase the awareness and quality of dance and other performing arts in Santa Barbara, and to bring the dance/arts community and its resources together.

SBDA annually presents NEW WORKS: Santa Barbara Choreographers, BASSH: Ballroom, Argentine Tango, Swing, Salsa & Hip-Hop (April 9 & 10), ON THE VERGE: Teen Choreographer's Showcase (May 15), The Multicultural Dance & Music Festival (August 14 & 15) and a variety of Master Classes with special guest artists throughout the year. SBDA also publishes DanceScene, a tri-annual newsletter, serves as a clearinghouse for dance events in the community and provides scholarships for under-served young dancers.

Visit our web site at www.sbdancealliance.org.

Tickets for 9 Santa Barbara Choreographers are available from the Center Stage Theater box office, by phone at 805-963-0408 or online (see below).

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.