By Katie Posey
Santa Barbara Dance Theater has been bringing talented dancers to Santa Barbara stages for 45 years.
Earlier this month, the company began its 2022 season under the new artistic direction of Brandon Whited, marking a return to live performance after a pandemic-induced hiatus.
At Center Stage Theater in downtown Santa Barbara, the company presented a series of performances, curated by Whited. The performance included choreography by Whited, with guest choreography by fellow dance faculty member Nancy Colahan and UCSB Dance alumna Weslie Ching.
Dancers Calder White, left, and Nicole Powell rehearsing “To Harbor” by choreographer Brandon Whited.
Photo by Fritz Olenberger
The show began with “to Harbor,” a somber and powerful piece choreographed by Whited. Dancers Paige Amicon, Nicole Powell, and Riley Haley were among the dancers who performed on stage under a single light source meant to mimic moonlight.
The dance was set to orchestral music by contemporary composers Colin Stetson and Nico Muhly. Throughout the performance, Whited’s artistic vision came to life as the performance progressively reflected a gloomy landscape and the feeling of confusion that comes with arriving at a new place.
“The image I kept recalling was of a New England harbor on a stormy day,'' said Whited in a recent interview. “That’s the tonal atmosphere I was drawing from.”
Following “to Harbor” came four riveting dance routines, all of which were aesthetically different. “I Don’t Exist Anymore,” choreographed by Weslie Ching, offered a change of pace with upbeat music from Southeast Asia partnered with a vibrantly colored stage. Performers Paige Amicon and Nicole Powell danced to Fang Jai Viangjan by Thepporn Petchubon, making for an energetic performance.
The tone then changed again with two minimalistic, solo performances set to classical music. Artistic Director Brandon Whited purposely curated the performance to express a variety of atmospheres and tones.
Brandon Whited, Santa Barbara Dance Theater’s new artistic director and choreographer.
“As an artistic director you zoom out and think what’s the bigger experience, what's the experience within my own piece and then how does it fit within the bigger picture,” Whited said. “I like variation in a concert, not to present dances that are all similar.”
The solo performances were performed live by Calder White and Miche Wong. Each solo was choreographed by Nancy Colahan over Zoom due to restrictions in place during the pandemic. In both, the dancers’ movements were contained within an illuminated shape projected onto the stage.
“I wanted the duet and the solos to be a central section that offered a platform for each dancer to be seen on their own,” said Whited. “That was important to me as I continue to bring in amazing dancers to work with the company.”
Whited received his BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts before dancing professionally in New York. Brandon then received his MFA as a Distinguished University Fellow from Ohio State University where he studied dance theater, gender/queer theory, and contemporary dance.
Prior to becoming the Artistic Director for Santa Barbara Dance Theater last summer, Whited presented work locally through UC Santa Barbara and showcased his work as a guest choreographer with the Santa Barbara Dance Theater.
As the new Artistic Director, Whited plans to integrate his own particular approaches into the company’s performances. He specializes in bringing dance to non-traditional spaces, such as museums and outdoor spaces, and he plans to allow students to experience dance in similarly unconventional settings.
“Those traditions that are part of my background are what I hope to bring forward to give new perspectives [on dance] to the community.”
Katie Posey is a third year UC Santa Barbara student majoring in Communication. She is a Web and Social Media Intern for the Division of Humanities and Fine Arts.