Founded and directed by former New York City dancer, choreographer, and educator, Carrie Diamond, Ballet Santa Barbara is a world-class contemporary ballet company whose educational and artistic programs foster artistic, creative, and personal growth. In addition to five critically acclaimed concert series of contemporary ballet since 2006, the company has offered conservatory-style training for kids every summer since 2005.

We are dedicated to expanding the knowledge, breadth, and creativity of young dancers and BSB has a strong commitment to mentor tomorrow’s local talent in the Santa Barbara community. Scholarships are available to committed students with financial need. Ballet classes are offered for adults year-round.

The company presents original ballets and contemporary works performed by local resident dancers who have performed with such companies as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, and Santa Barbara Dance Theater, and also incorporates performances by exceptional guest artists from New York City, San Francisco, and the Los Angeles area. Tickets to matinee performances are offered at greatly reduced-prices for seniors and students.

According to the Santa Barbara Independent dance critic, Elizabeth Schwyzer, "That [Ballet Santa Barbara] has brought its significant history and its continuing artistic connections to our city is quite a gift—that their vision for the future encompasses all of Santa Barbara’s children is reason to rejoice."

Our Current Focus

Having wowed audiences and critics alike in five concerts of contemporary ballet over the last three years, Ballet Santa Barbara is now focusing on serving the community by collaborating with the Carrillo Recreation Center, the Chidren's Creative Project, local schools, and other child- and youth-centered organizations. Ms. Diamond has this to say about the present focus of the company:

"This is the year we begin to build a presence in the community by collaborating with youth-oriented organizations as well as local schools. We are an artistically and educationally diverse organization and have the ability to impact children strongly. In our upcoming workshop and demonstration at the Carrillo Recreation Center, we will explore the ways energy, feelings, and story, are transmitted through dance. The audience will take away the idea that while movement vocabularies vary greatly, the dancer's role is to communicate through the languages of dance. Audience members will have the chance to try ballet, an improvisation, Balinese Dance and Afro-Brazilian Dance! As always we have exceptionally skilled and terrific dancers, both local and New York City guest artists. School performance programs weave contemporary ballet with world dance in a specially designed concert to get kids thinking about how dance fits into our culture."

With an Organizational Development grant from the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara Arts Commission, as well as support from the Carrillo Recreation Center, Ballet Santa Barbara is reaching out to children and youth from lower income families. Diamond notes, "As we all know, exposure to the arts is crucial for kids and can change and re-direct their lives as dance did for me. We are committed to serving the community by reaching out to children through dance. Further, BSB is looking forward to having a home studio from which to offer its wide ranging dance programming for the broader community and in particular to underserved children regardless of ability to pay."