News: State Street Ballet Summer Intensive Performance July 22

As this year's State Street Ballet Summer Intensive wraps up, the students are busy preparing for their performance this coming Sunday, July 22, at the Lobero Theatre at 2PM. Tickets are $20 for adults and $16 for children 12 and under. Drop by the Lobero box office or call (805) 963-0761 for tickets. Be sure to check our theater guide for seating recommendations, too.

The performance is the culmination of their summer intensive experience, as 4 weeks of work is displayed on stage in both classical and contemporary pieces. In addition to a hefty excerpt from the classical ballet, Paquita, the students will also be dancing contemporary ballet pieces by SSB Artistic Director Rodney Gustafson, and SSB dancer Dana Young, jazz pieces by Alyson Mattoon, and modern choreography by Nancy Colahan.

The eclectic make-up of the program not only shows off the versatility of these young dancers, but also reflects the realities of today's dance world, where dancers are expected to know many different dance forms from classical ballet to modern dance. It's not unusual today to see a classical ballet company perform all in one night an avant-garde work that pushes the boundaries of theatricality and a classical ballet with strict classical lines dressed in tutus and white tights. Juxtaposing such far-flung opposites can better show what's great about each dance form, and helps the audience appreciate the unique qualities each dance form brings to the stage.

So be sure to join us on July 22 to see what these up-and-coming dancers have been doing for the last four weeks, as well as the choreography of SSB's own dancers as they show a little-seen side of themselves.