DANCEworks is a uniquely designed residency for professional early to mid-career choreographers and their dancers. Each year, a select choreographer is given four weeks on the Lobero stage to create a new work in the supportive environment of a fully-equipped theatre. Creative residencies for dancers in our country are currently extremely limited, and the NEA has recognized a need for programs of this kind. The Santa Barbara community also benefits from this residency by participating in workshops, rehearsals and performances with the artists in residence. The works created during each residency become a part of the company’s repertoire, touring nationally and internationally.

In its inaugural year, DANCEworks hosted the amazing ASZURE BARTON with her company, Aszure and Artists. Barton created Busk while in Santa Barbara, to wide acclaim.  She completed the work at later residencies and has gone on to successfully tour the work internationally in ’09-’10.

In 2010, we presented  LARRY KEIGWIN and his company, Keigwin + Company. Keigwin worked with the Santa Barbara community to create Bolero Santa Barbara, a work that included almost 50 local residents.  He also premiered a new work for his company, Exit.

The announcement of our 2011 choreographer will be made during the summer of 2010.