Winter Arts Dance Preview

Just because the weather is cooling down doesn’t mean the dance scene is following suit. This winter promises innovative choreography and world-class dance performances from all over the globe, including some from right here in Santa Barbara.

New Works

Santa Barbara Dance Alliance once again rings in the New Year with fresh new works choreographed by Santa Barbara dance artists. The spectrum of styles is always vast and exciting, and this year features the choreography of Nicole Helton, Valerie Huston, Stephanie Nugent, and Misa Kelly, among others.

Fri., Jan. 11-Sun., Jan. 13, 8pm. Center Stage Theater, 751 Paseo Nuevo. Call 963-0408 or visit sbdancealliance.org.

Santa Barbara Dance Theatre

Santa Barbara’s only professional modern dance company holds its annual January concert at UCSB. Fresh from a tour of China, they’re back from the Far East and ready to go.

Thu., Jan. 17-Sat., Jan. 19, 8pm and Sun., Jan. 20, 2pm. UCSB’s Hatlen Theatre. Call 893-7221 or visit theaterdance.ucsb.edu.

Daughter of Zion Dance Company

In collaboration with DramaDogs, Santa Ynez-based dance company Daughter of Zion returns to California to present its latest work, The Time in Between, after the show’s debut in Paros, Greece. The dance for which the performance is named was inspired by a visit to the Acropolis in 2007. The company specializes in low-flying aerial dance theater and explores the connections between words, sound, and movement, as well as between performers and audience members.

Fri., Jan. 18 and Sat., Jan. 19, 8pm. Studio DoZ, 3630-G Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. Call 698-9188 or visit daughterofzion.net.

Company Ea Sola

Arts & Lectures brings Hanoi’s celebrated choreographer Ea Sola to Santa Barbara with a show dedicated to portraying peace from the perspective of modern youth. Dancers from the National Ballet of Vietnam will mark Sola’s Santa Barbara debut in Volume 2, exploring cross-generational memories of war. The show will feature live music performed by a traditional Vietnamese ensemble. As part of its Santa Barbara residency, the company will also offer a ballet masterclass. Performance: Wed., Jan. 30, 8pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Call 893-3535 or visit www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.Masterclass: Mon., Jan. 28, 7:30-9:30pm. SBCC, 721 Cliff Dr. Call 966-6950 or visit sbdancealliance.org.

Rubberbandance Group

Combining classical and street dance, Rubberbandance Group makes its Santa Barbara debut after an exciting run at Jacob’s Pillow in 2006. Artistic director and choreographer Victor Quijada unites world-class dancers and combines the innovation of urban hip-hop and the control of contemporary classicism in one exciting show. The company will also offer two public masterclasses as part of its Santa Barbara residency.

Performance: Tue., Feb. 5, 8pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Call 893-3535 or visit artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Masterclasses: Sun., Feb. 3, 5:30-7:30pm teen creative workshop, 7:30-9:30pm adult modern dance class. Santa Barbara Jazz Dance Academy, 1 N. Calle Cesar Ch¡vez, Ste. 100. Call 966-6950 or visit sbdancealliance.org.

State Street Ballet

Santa Barbara’s own State Street Ballet will perform Ballroom, a synthesis of classical ballet and swing dance set to the music of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Glenn Miller, and others. The professional company combines the elegance of ballroom with the passion of tango to present an innovative look at the similarities of seemingly different dance styles.

Sat., Feb. 9, 8pm and Sun., Feb. 10, 2pm. Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. Call 963-0761 or visit statestreetballet.com.

State Ballet of Georgia

Nina Ananiashvili of American Ballet Theatre and Bolshoi will perform with the State Ballet of Georgia and a cast of more than 50 dancers in its highly acclaimed, full-length Giselle. Ananiashvili, one of the greatest prima ballerinas of our time, will interpret the title role, debuting in Santa Barbara a technique and expression that the New York Post calls “emotionally, technically, and stylistically absolutely marvelous.” As a rare treat, Ananiashvili will also give a public ballet masterclass.

Performance: Tue., Feb. 19, 8pm. Arlington Theatre. Call 893-3535 or visit artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Masterclass: Mon., Feb. 18, 7:30-9:30pm. Gustafson Dance Studio, 322 State St. Call 966-6950 or visit sbdancealliance.org.

Per° Negro

Afro-Peruvian music and dance troupe Per° Negro brings its high-energy and traditional art form to the stage with more than 20 dancers, singers, and musicians. With a history rooted in African slavery, the folkloric songs and dance of black Per° vary from theatrical to comic, but are always lively and intoxicating. With two recent Grammy nominations, Per° Negro’s combination of Andean, Spanish, and African musical elements has been called “unadulterated fun” by the Boston Globe.

Wed., Mar. 12, 8pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Call 893-3535 or visit artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Ballet Santa Barbara’s Spring 2008 Season

Santa Barbara’s newest contemporary ballet company has proved its staying power, and the dancers and artistic director, Carrie Diamond, show no signs of slowing down. For its fifth season, the company will perform Premonition, choreographed by the late Benjamin Harkarvy, former Juilliard dance director. The company will also perform pieces by Diamond as well as by N.Y.C. choreographers Carlos Fittante and Liz Skalski.

Sat., Mar. 15, 8pm and Sun., Mar. 16, 2 and 8pm. Center Stage Theater, 751 Paseo Nuevo. Call 963-0408 or visit balletsantabarbara.org.