SUMMER DANCE FEST

August 8-9, 2026

Center Stage Theater | Santa Barbara, California
A Celebration of Dance, Choreography, and Creative Community

Selah Dance Collective is proud to present Summer Dance Fest 2026, an evening dedicated to showcasing innovative dance artists and choreographers from across California and beyond.

Taking place at Santa Barbara's Center Stage Theater on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9, 2026, Summer Dance Fest brings together emerging and established artists for a professionally produced performance featuring contemporary dance, ballet, modern dance, dance-theater, interdisciplinary performance, and experimental movement practices.

Created as a platform for artistic exchange and choreographic exploration, the festival celebrates the diversity of today's dance landscape while fostering meaningful connections between artists, audiences, and the broader community.

Whether presenting a new work, sharing an excerpt from a larger project, or premiering a completed piece, participating artists will have the opportunity to share their work in an intimate theatrical setting with engaged audiences and fellow creators.

Questions?

For questions regarding submissions, sponsorship opportunities, or festival participation, please contact:

Meredith Ventura
Artistic Director, Selah Dance Collective
info@selah.dance

Call for Choreographers

Applications are now open for Summer Dance Fest 2026.

We invite submissions from:

  • Independent choreographers

  • Dance companies

  • Collaborative artist collectives

  • Emerging artists

  • Established professionals

  • University and conservatory students

Works may be:

  • Contemporary dance

  • Ballet

  • Modern dance

  • Jazz

  • Dance-theater

  • Interdisciplinary performance

  • Cultural dance forms

  • Experimental movement work

Submission Guidelines

  • Works must be between 5 and 15 minutes

  • Solos, duets, and group works are welcome

  • Finished works and works-in-progress will be considered

  • Artists must be 18 years or older

  • Applications are reviewed through a curated selection process

Key Dates

Application Deadline: June 30, 2026
Notification of Acceptance: July 10, 2026
Festival Performances: August 8-9, 2026

Apply

Festival Awards

Curator's Award for Artistic Excellence

$500 Prize

Selected by a panel consisting of Selah Dance Collective's Artistic Director and guest adjudicators, this award recognizes exceptional artistic achievement, choreographic vision, and performance excellence.

Audience Choice
Award

$250 Prize

Determined entirely by audience vote, this award celebrates the work that most strongly resonates with festival attendees.

Emerging Choreographer Award

$250 Prize

Awarded to an early-career choreographer demonstrating outstanding creativity, artistic promise, and originality.

Why Summer Dance Fest?

Santa Barbara is home to a vibrant and growing dance community, yet opportunities for choreographers to share new work remain limited. Summer Dance Fest was created to provide a professional platform where artists can experiment, connect, and contribute to a larger conversation about the future of dance.

At Selah Dance Collective, we believe that dance thrives when artists support one another, audiences engage deeply with new ideas, and creative risk-taking is encouraged. Summer Dance Fest is an invitation to be part of that process.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Support the future of dance in Santa Barbara.

Summer Dance Fest sponsorships help provide artist awards, production support, marketing, and accessible ticket opportunities while connecting local businesses and community members to one of the region's newest cultural events.

Sponsorship levels begin at $250.