Shoreline Steps
Written by Elizabeth Varnell
Photography by Josh S. Rose
L.A. DANCE PROJECT, the boundary-pushing company founded by Benjamin Millepied, is ushering in a new era of modern dance in Santa Barbara. Following appearances on June 12 and 13, set to Luciano Berio’s Sequenza series at the Esa-Pekka Salonen–led Ojai Music Festival, the company will stage a free public performance on June 16 at Stearns Wharf as part of its City of Dance series. And now a new initiative—the Santa Barbara Fund for New Choreography, founded by Millepied and Jennifer Smith—brings the dancers back to the tranquil coast in July. The fund will support new compositions intended to be presented by the company locally and also to be viewed by audiences further afield. “We’ve created this exciting initiative to support the development of original dance works in Santa Barbara that will ultimately tour internationally,” Smith says. A celebratory private seated dinner at a historic estate, including a performance, is slated for July 16 to kick off the new venture. Philanthropists and longtime supporters of the company Belle Hahn and Lily Hahn Shining are cohosting the evening, as is Cindy Robinson Mullen. ladanceproject.org
