Tag archives: State Street Ballet

Strings and Things
By Richard Mineards   |   September 20, 2018

Santa Barbara Symphony’s 65th anniversary season, which kicks off at the Granada on October 20, promises to be a real humdinger. It includes a Stravinsky double bill, including The Rite of Spring, directed by the Ensemble Theatre Company’s Jonathan Fox with the State Street Ballet, and, for the first time on November 24, a Thanksgiving […]

Foot of the Vine
By Richard Mineards   |   June 7, 2018

It was certainly a performance with a difference when State Street Ballet danced in the Funk Zone. The talented dancers, normally used to the Granada or the Lobero, used choreography to interpret wines at the Valley Project. The entertaining program consisted of four different works depicting Merlot, two different Syrahs, and a Sangiovese. The event […]

Road Trip with a Reluctant Raconteur
By Steven Libowitz   |   May 31, 2018

It would be sheer folly to expect a linear conversation when interviewing Nellie McKay. The British-American singer-songwriter and actress may be sharp as a tack in creating diverse albums that range from her brilliant 2004 debut Get Away from Me – a double-album from a 21-year-old that was full of clever and original pop songs […]

Stepping Up
By Richard Mineards   |   May 17, 2018

State Street Ballet hosted its third annual showcase of contemporary choreography, Modern Masters, in the intimate setting of the New Vic. The highly entertaining show featured a diverse mix of dance movement featuring works by seven choreographers, including pieces by New York’s William Soleau, the new co-artistic director, Montreal’s Edgar Zendejas, Autumn Eckman from Tucson, […]

Stewards of Modern Movement
By Steven Libowitz   |   May 10, 2018

State Street Ballet (SSB) was just a little bit ahead of the curve when it premiered an evening of modern dance called Women’s Work just two years ago, shortly before the marches began following the presidential election and the revelations of rampant sexual harassment leading to the #MeToo movement. But by last year, it had […]

Toe the Line
By Richard Mineards   |   March 29, 2018

State Street Ballet was in fine form at the Lobero with its sold-out production of Romeo & Juliet to the classic music of Sergei Prokofiev. Deise Mendonca was a delight as Juliet while Australian Aaron Smyth, a former member of ABT II in New York and London’s Royal Ballet, played the dashing beau, with choreography […]

Something is Afoot
By Richard Mineards   |   March 22, 2018

State Street Ballet has named prolific New York choreographer William Soleau as co-artistic director. Founder of the 23-year-old troupe Rodney Gustafson says the new partnership will propel the already acclaimed company to new heights. “After working with him for the past 18 years, I feel excited he is coming on board. His dedication, artistic integrity, […]

BASSH One Giant Dance Party for All
By Steven Libowitz   |   March 22, 2018

Hector Sanchez appeared in so many of the pieces performed at last year’s BASSH – the theatrical showcase for local dance professionals and their protégés to show off their choreography in a wide variety of social dance genres – that one was thinking they might have to change the name of the two-decades old production […]

On Their Toes
By Richard Mineards   |   February 15, 2018

State Street Ballet gave a sneak-peek with a wide variety of new dances by its choreographers and dancers at its newly relaunched Evenings at its headquarters, the Gail Towbes Dance Center. The series was launched in 2005 and has evolved into an actual performance series with lighting, live music, and, in the words of Leila […]

Good as Gould
By Richard Mineards   |   December 21, 2017

Santa Barbara author Elizabeth Gould writes from experience in her first book, Your Best Health by Friday: How to Overcome Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Trauma, PTSD and Chronic Illness. “It is not the first book I started, but it is the first one I’ve finished,” she told me a bijou book bash at Tecolote, the lively […]