Santa Barbara is home to a unique modern dance residency program, which has given some of the leading young choreographers from around the county the support to develop new works. DANCEworks is celebrating its 10th anniversary, with two weekend performances at the Lobero Theater.
Dianne Vapnick is the Executive Director of Summerdance Santa Barbara, one of the parents of DANCEworks, and she is the Artistic Director for the residency program. She says it's like a big reunion, with choreographers from around the country returning for the weekend events.
Larry Kegwin is a DANCEworks grad who’s done not just one, but two residencies during the event’s ten year history. Kegwin says the residency allowed him to develop modern dance works which have been performed all over the country.
Choreographer Mark Dendy is going to perform part of one of his works. He’s in a chair, wearing a gas mask, and a military uniform, as you hear the voice of former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld telling a story. Dendy uses the chair as a platform for a dancer centered around the dialogue.
The tenth anniversary program starts with a performance by choreographer Doug Elkins. Vapnick says the second part of the program features of the DANCEworks choreographers. She says as exciting as it has been for choreographers to get the support to develop new works in Santa Barbara, it’s even better for local audiences who are the first to experience the new works.
The DANCEworks 10th anniversary celebration includes performances Friday and Saturday nights at Santa Barbara’s Lobero Theater. Showtime is 8 p.m. both nights.
