The Performance Workshop

with Selah Dance Collective / Novus Contemporary Ballet

July 27-August 8, 2026 | Santa Barbara, California

Directed by Meredith Ventura with guest artist Chloé Roberts

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Create. Collaborate. Perform.

Step inside the artistic world of Selah Dance Collective and Novus Contemporary Ballet in this immersive two-week Summer Intensive and Performance Workshop. Designed for advanced and professional dancers, this program offers a rare opportunity to train, rehearse, and perform as part of a professional creation process led by Artistic Director Meredith Ventura.

Modeled after Selah’s celebrated 2019 performance workshop, dancers will collaborate on a brand-new ensemble work that will premiere at Center Stage Theater at the end of the intensive. This is more than training — it’s a deep dive into artistry, community, and the creative engine behind Selah and Novus.

Who Should Apply

This workshop is ideal for advanced and professional dancers who:

  • Thrive in collaborative, process-driven environments

  • Seek rigorous technical and creative training

  • Want performance experience with a professional company

  • Are interested in choreography, composition, or devised movement

  • Are curious about Selah/Novus’s movement language and artistic vision

What to Expect

A Professional Creation Lab

Each afternoon begins with rigorous, inspiring training in contemporary technique, improvisation, and composition. Afternoons are devoted to collaborative rehearsal, where dancers co-create a new work alongside Meredith Ventura, embodying the emotional clarity, theatrical nuance, and contemporary modernism that define Selah Dance Collective’s aesthetic.

A Fully Produced Performance

Week two transitions into theater rehearsals, staging, and lighting as the work moves toward performance. The program culminates in a public performance at Center Stage Theater — a chance to step into the spotlight and share the creative process with the Santa Barbara community.

A Supportive Artistic Community

The intensive offers a space where dancers are encouraged to take risks, explore new movement vocabularies, and develop their artistic voice. Participants join a vibrant network of Selah and Novus company members, guest artists, and fellow emerging dancers.

Program Details

Dates: July 27-August 8, 2026
Location: Santa Barbara Dance Arts & Center Stage Theater
Performance: August 8 at 2:00 and 7:30 PM
Ages: 16+ advanced/professional level
Tuition: $950 (or $750 early registration by May 1, 2026)
Application: Required via DanceApply
Scholarships: Limited, for Santa Barbara County residents. Some Work Study is available.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through DanceApply and include:

  • 1–2 minute video (solo, improvisation, or class footage)

  • Short written responses

  • Resume or training background

  • $20 application fee (waivers available, please email info@selahdancecollective.com for more info)

Admissions are rolling until the program is full. Early applications are strongly encouraged.

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