The Santa Barbara Festival Ballet has evolved with ballet and modern dance training as well as conditioning classes

The Nutcracker at Arlington (photo by Santa Barbara Festival Ballet)

With the start of the 2022 school year, Noozhawk has put together our annual ParentNooz Extracurricular Activity Guide. We’ve made sure to make it easy when planning your child’s school year and have compiled a list of local organizations that offer after-school programs.

To help give parents more information about afterschool programs in Santa Barbara County, Noozhawk conducted a series of interviews with local program representatives for this year’s Afterschool Activities Guide.

In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Valerie Huston, Acting Executive Director of Santa Barbara Festival Ballet, to learn more about their after-school programs here in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Festival Ballet

Question: What is the name of your extracurricular activity/program? What is his mission ?

Answer: Santa Barbara Festival Ballet Dance Conservatory. We aim to provide the highest level of dance training in a stimulating and creative environment.

Q: When was your program launched and what was the inspiration for creating your program?

A: Our program was launched in 1968 with former directors Robert and Carol Hanlin. The organization has evolved with training in ballet and modern dance as well as conditioning classes. We have a teen performance company that participates in The Nutcracker at Arlington every year and a youth ensemble for younger students.

(photo of Santa Barbara Festival Ballet)

Q: What is the age range for children to participate in your after-school activity or program?

A: The youngest is 3 years old for creative movement and up to adult level.

Q: Describe a typical day or schedule of your extracurricular activity.

A: Most students take 2-3.5 hour classes per week. More advanced students train daily and on some days take two technique classes.

Q: What is the average program or class size for your business? Teacher/student ratio?

A: 7 to 10 students in a class with an instructor.

Q: What is the protocol for hiring a new employee or teacher? How are employees vetted before joining your program?

A: Teachers are carefully screened before teaching at our school. Teachers have extensive dance careers, including dance degrees and years of performance and teaching experience. Potential applicants teach a class and are screened by our conservatory director. Resumes are required and references are required.

Q: How is your program educational?

A: In addition to dance techniques, our students learn basic musical skills, creative dance work, and the ability to work well with others. In each class, they are able to express emotion and quality through movement, which eventually allows them to honor their individuality.

Q: Describe what makes your extracurricular program unique and interesting?

A: Intensity and professionalism of the program. It is comparable to training programs at centers such as the San Francisco Ballet and the American Ballet Theater.

Q: How do you communicate with parents in an emergency?

A: Our school receptionist has contact details for all students and would contact parents by phone or text in the event of an emergency.

Q: What is the date range and times of your extracurricular activity or program?

A: Our courses are available throughout the academic year.

Q: What is the cost? Are scholarships available?

A: Creative Movement and Primary class fees: 10 classes for $110.00 5 classes for $65.00 Single class for $15.00 Open class fees for teens and adults: 8 classes for $115.00 Single class for 20, $00 Single class rate for SBFB alumni, UCSB and SBCC students $15.00 per class. Scholarships are available for our programs.

Click here to learn more about Santa Barbara Festival Ballet and its after-school programs!