SANTA BARBARA DANCE THEATER
PROFESSIONAL COMPANY IN RESIDENCE AT UCSB
DANCERS
SOPHIE BERLS (any pronouns) is a movement artist originally from New Jersey, now based in LA. A recent graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, she holds a BFA in dance and a BA in Global Studies. During her time at UCSB, she performed and choreographed for the Student Company across Europe and apprenticed with Santa Barbara Dance Theater. Her performance experience includes work by Ashley Lindsey, Joshua Manculich, Brandon Whited, Calder White, Dalya Modlin, and Meredith Ventura. She has blended her training with a 200 hour yoga certification from Ephemeral Artery, and workshops from Whim W’him, Yin Yue Dance Company, and more. This is Sophie’s first season with Santa Barbara Dance Theater.
photo: Jeff Liang
DALYA MODLIN (she/her) is a movement artist based in Los Angeles. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a BFA in Dance and BS in Psychology. Originally from Southern California, she honed her skills at the Orange County School of the Arts Commercial Dance Conservatory. At UCSB Dalya toured with the Student Company across Europe and apprenticed with Santa Barbara Dance Theater. In August 2023 she became a company member of Santa Barbara Dance Theater. Some of her Performance experience includes choreography by Hélèn Simoneau, Rosie Herrera, Brandon Whited, Brian Golden, Gianna Burright, and José Limón.
photo: Jeff Liang
CALDER WHITE (he/him) is a freelance dance artist based on the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations (so-called "Vancouver, British Columbia"). He is an alumnus of Tkaronto's Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre and holds a BFA in Dance from the Ohio State University. He has originated roles in work by Shay Kuebler, Joshua Beamish, Wen Wei Wang, Ziyian Kwan, Brandon Whited, Rachel Meyer, and Lesley Telford, amongst others. His own choreography has been presented by institutions across North America, including Santa Barbara Dance Theater, Dancing on the Edge Festival, Danceworks Toronto, Odd Meridian Arts, Ottawa Dance Directive, and Kinetic Studios Halifax. Calder is also a floorwork teacher, regularly sharing his workshops in communities across North America. He is the proud recipient of the 2022 Hnatyshyn Foundation's Ukraine - Heritage, Spirit, and Future award for Exceptional Talent in Contemporary Dance.
photo: Jeff Liang
26-27 SEASON APPRENTICES
CHARLOTTE BREIER
DREW CASWELL
LARA VAN DIGGELEN
KATE MONNEY
AVERY TRASK