26/27
SEASON
Bold New Works. Immersive Experiences. Reimagined Classics.
Novus Contemporary Ballet is thrilled to unveil its 2026–2027 season – a dynamic lineup of performances that blend classical foundations with daring contemporary vision. This season invites audiences into worlds of myth, memory, fantasy, and psychological transformation, brought to life through innovative choreography and immersive theatrical design.
Sorcière / Carmilla
OCTOBER 30–31, 2026
Center Stage Theater, Santa Barbara
The season opens with a powerful double bill exploring the feminine, the supernatural, and the subversive.
Chloe Roberts’ Sorcière conjures a haunting physical world shaped by ritual, transformation, and the charged energy of the unknown. Paired with this is the premiere of Carmilla, a new one-act ballet by Meredith Ventura inspired by Sheridan Le Fanu’s gothic, female-centric novella that predates the well-known story of Dracula. Seductive and unsettling, Carmilla reimagines the female vampire as a figure of desire, danger, and defiance, weaving themes of intimacy, power, and the monstrous feminine.Tickets coming soon →
The Nutcracker Suite
Novus returns with its signature holiday offering: an immersive reimagining of The Nutcracker Suite. Audiences are invited to step inside the story, moving through a dreamlike world where dance unfolds all around them. Blurring the boundaries between performer and spectator, this intimate and interactive production transforms a beloved classic into a magical, multi-sensory journey perfect for audiences of all ages.DECEMBER 3–13, 2026
Tickets coming soon →
The Lab
The spring season highlights the creative voices within the company itself. The Lab features original works choreographed by Novus dancers, offering a vibrant, eclectic program that reflects the company's individuality, experimentation, and artistic curiosity. This annual showcase provides a platform for emerging choreographic talent and invites audiences to experience the future of dance-making in real time.APRIL 2–4, 2027
Tickets coming soon →
Circe
MAY 21-23, 2027
The season culminates in the world premiere of Circe, an ambitious new two-act ballet by Meredith Ventura. Drawing from the myth of Circe in The Odyssey and the hallucinatory “Nighttown” episode of James Joyce’s Ulysses, this work plunges into a surreal landscape of transformation, illusion, and psychological unraveling.
Blending classical mythology with modernist experimentation, Circe explores themes of power, identity, and the subconscious through a richly layered choreographic language. As reality fractures into dream and nightmare, the stage becomes a shifting terrain of desire, fear, and metamorphosis – offering a bold and immersive conclusion to the season.Tickets coming soon →