SANTA BARBARA DANCE ALLAINCE PRESENTS
NEW WORKS:
13 Santa Barbara Choreographers
Sidnie Charnaw, Marcos Duran, Maria Frantz, Misa Kelly, Valerie Huston, Andriana Mitchell, Ilana Morgan, Stephanie Nugent, Open Dance Collective, Christopher Pilafian, Carol Press, Kerstin Stuart, Erlyne Whiteman

Santa Barbara Dance Alliance will kick-off the 2005 season with its annual NEW WORKS: 13 Santa Barbara Choreographers, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, Jan. 21-23 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 thirteen select local choreographers.

In November, the thirteen choreographers [see above] were selected to showcase their work at the NEW WORKS concerts by an adjudication panel comprised of Carrie Diamond, Rina van de Kamp, Steven Lovelace, Cecilia Martini-Müth, and Albert Reid. Pat Frank serves as lighting designer. Opening night will be followed by the presentation of the 8th 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. Choreographers 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

8th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award

Tonia Shimin has been selected as Santa Barbara Dance Alliance's 8th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award winner for contribution to dance in Santa Barbara. Tonia has trained hundreds of dancers as a professor of dance at UCSB. She has choreographed and performed for SBDA and mentored budding teen choreographers. She has danced with Martha Graham, Jose Limon, and Asokolow Companies and her recent work is in film dance. Her recent documentary "Mary Anthony: A Life in Modern Dance" and films "Passage" and "Who Called Me to This Dance?" have garnered many awards. SBDA members nominate and vote for the awardee. Tonia will be honored after the opening night (Jan 21) of SBDA's NEW WORKS concert. The award, a "Martha" statuette, designed by Ellen Riedel, will be presented by House Representative Lois Capps. The audience is invited to join in the evening's celebration with a glass of wine.

9 Santa Barbara Choreographers

Sidnie Charnaw, a UCSB senior dance major, has created a modern piece called "Psy'des" for three couples.

Marcos Duran, a third year UCSB dance student, has delved into his family relations and Nancy Colahan, who has danced with Baryshnikov, portrays his mother.

Maria Frantz's "Rain" explores the endless possibilities of ritualized rain movements in contemporary movement with four women. Maria is a modern dance and yoga instructor and has choreographed and danced in many concerts.

Misa Kelly playfully introduces us to Oscar the Grouch-type character that lives in a garbage can. Misa's dance work is constantly reaching out, on the cutting edge of contemporary dance.

Valerie Huston has created a playful duet for 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.

Andriana Mitchell

Ilana Morgan Ilana has a BFA in dance from Ohio University and teaches dance in the public schools in Santa Barbara.

Stephanie Nugent

Open Dance Space Collective

Christopher Pilafian

Carol Press

Kerstin Stuart

Erlyne Whiteman

Santa Barbara Dance Alliance

Santa Barbara Dance Alliance celebrates 26 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 (March 25 &26), ON THE VERGE: Teen Choreographer's Showcase (May 14), The Multicultural Dance & Music Festival (August 21 & 22) 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.

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.