Selah Dance Collective Presents “Winter Suite”

Selah Dance Collective and Novus Contemporary Ballet announce a one-night-only performance on Saturday, December 6 at 7:30 PM at Center Stage Theater in Santa Barbara. The program was conceived in rapid response to an unexpected cancellation of the companies’ originally scheduled performance, and has since developed into an intimate, powerful new evening of contemporary dance.

Led by Artistic Director Meredith Ventura, Selah Dance Collective has long been known for its emotionally charged movement, collaborative process, and boundary-pushing approach to contemporary dance and she has expanded her reach to ballet with Novus Contemporary Ballet, which launched this fall. This performance embraces those qualities fully – bringing audiences original work that is both immediate and deeply expressive, shaped by the urgency and creative momentum of the moment.

Set inside the intimate black box of Center Stage Theater, the evening will feature a mix of ensemble work and smaller pieces performed by the dancers of both Selah Dance Collective and Novus Contemporary Ballet. The program reflects Ventura’s signature approach – athletic, human, reflective, and grounded in personal and collective storytelling.

Audiences can expect a performance that highlights:

• New original choreography created specifically for this event
• Athletic, emotionally rich movement from the renowned Selah/Novus ensemble
• A behind-the-scenes immediacy, as the work emerged from a fast-turnaround creative process
• A celebration of community and resilience within Santa Barbara’s contemporary dance ecosystem

The December 6 performance marks an opportunity for local audiences to experience the companies’ distinctive artistry up close. For emerging dancers, students, families, and longtime supporters of Santa Barbara’s performing arts, this event offers a rare chance to witness a program shaped directly by collaboration, adaptability, and the spirit of creation.