Classes and Workshops
Selah classes are open to a range of experience levels and are held in Santa Barbara year-round. We welcome dancers from diverse backgrounds and believe in building an inclusive artistic community where movement becomes a space for connection, risk-taking, and discovery. Most of our classes take place at our new shared studio space with Elemental Aerial Arts located at 22 W Mission St Unit B, Santa Barbara, CA.
Weekly Class Schedule
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Beginning Contemporary
TUESDAYS
7:30-8:30 PM✺
Elemental Aerial Arts
22 W Mission St Unit B
Santa Barbara, CA
The chiller version of our signature contemporary class, which focuses on fluidity, musicality, and creative movement exploration. Dancers will learn contemporary technique, floorwork basics, and phrase material in a supportive environment designed to build confidence, strength, and artistic expression for newer or returning movers. -
Advanced Contemporary
WEDNESDAYS
7:30-8:30 PM✺
Santa Barbara Festival Ballet
127 W Canon Perdido St
Santa Barbara, CA
A high-energy contemporary class for experienced dancers emphasizing dynamic movement, artistry, floorwork, and performance quality. Classes draw from contemporary, modern, and release-based practices while encouraging individual expression and risk-taking through challenging phrasework and choreographic exploration in our signature “choreolab” style. -
Jazz (All Levels)
THURSDAYS
6:30-7:30 PM✺
Elemental Aerial Arts
22 W Mission St Unit B
Santa Barbara, CA
An energetic and welcoming class exploring jazz technique, musicality, dynamics, and performance quality. Dancers will build coordination, strength, and confidence through across-the-floor progressions and choreography inspired by contemporary and theatrical jazz styles. Open to all experience levels with modifications and challenges provided throughout class. -
Advanced Ballet
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY
10:00-11:30 AM✺
Elemental Aerial Arts
22 W Mission St Unit B
Santa Barbara, CA
Our open company ballet class is an advanced ballet class designed for pre-professional and professional dancers seeking strong technical training and refinement. Class emphasizes alignment, musicality, coordination, and dynamic movement quality through traditional barre and center work.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP TEACHERS
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MEREDITH VENTURA
Meredith Ventura is a choreographer, educator, and scholar whose work bridges concert dance, theater, and performance studies. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she also earned her M.A. and B.F.A. in Dance (cum laude). She holds an M.F.A. in Dance from Hollins University. Ventura is the Artistic Director of Selah Dance Collective and Novus Contemporary Ballet, two Santa Barbara–based companies merging high-level artistry with critical inquiry and community engagement.
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JESSICA BROWN
Jess Brown is a thoughtful, curious creative. She grew up moving in the hills of the Santa Ynez Valley, and is a recent graduate of George Mason University. With a BFA in dance and minor in well-being, she is passionate about interdisciplinary arts research, mindfulness based teaching practices, and dancing outside. She is continuously inspired by her time spent with Christina Robson, Lewis Cooke, Kendra Portier, Joy Davis, David Dorfman, Doug Varone, David Zambrano and Charlie Slender-White. Her work is earnest yet slightly tongue in cheek, as she believes everything deserves to be questioned.
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AVERY TRASK
Avery Trask started dancing at 11 and trained under the direction of Kirsten Oakley and Laurin Boland at Oakley Ballet Center in Ventura, California. Predominately trained in ballet and modern dance, she was a part of Footworks Youth Ballet from 2017-2023 as a dancer and rehearsal assistant. She has been featured in soloist and principal roles in the company’s repertoire, including The Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker, and Snow White in the production by the same name. She is pursuing her BFA in Dance at the University of California of Santa Barbara.
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MOLLY GRAY
Molly Gray started dancing when she was 3 years old in an Allen Hancock performance of The Nutcracker. She went on to study ballet and jazz at the Los Olivos Dance Gallery, and later attended UC Irvine where she majored in dance performance and dance choreography. Molly supplemented her training through workshops and intensives with Alonzo King Lines Ballet, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and RUBBERBAND Dance. In 2018, Molly moved to New York City and is now excited to be working with Selah Dance Collective.
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FAYE ZINK
Bio coming soon.
✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
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It really means all! When we use this language to describe a class, it means that is meant for any skill level or ability. Generally, our contemporary classes are called "all levels" because they are suitable for the absolute beginner but still offer something for the seasoned dancer. These classes are also easily modifiable and will contain different "options" within the phrasework that allow dancers to choose their own adventure.
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Any class labeled with "donation based" are our sliding scale classes that are part of our efforts to provide classes to our community at an affordable rate. Any donations made towards these classes go directly to our Selah Dance Collective General Fund which helps to offset the cost of our community events and productions.
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We're sorry about that! Our method and kinds of classes are not for everyone. We don't do refunds (especially for donation-based classes) but we are happy to suggest other classes or studios that might be a better fit for what you want!
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Here's some of our favorite community partners and friends!
- Evoke Motion Society
- Synrgy Dance Collective
- The Dance Networks
- The Dance Hub SB
- State Street Ballet Academy
- CSD School of Performing Arts -
Currently, we are only offering our Wednesday all levels class throughout the year. There are great adult classes through our above community partners!