About American Dance & Music

History of the Organization

Founded and directed by former New York City dance professional Carrie Diamond, American Dance & Music is a professional dance organization devoted to fostering dance as an art form in Santa Barbara. It was founded in 2005 as Ballet Santa Barbara and incorporated as American Dance and Music, Inc. Ballet Santa Barbara gave their first performance at the Marjorie Luke Theater in Santa Barbara in March of 2006. The organization then presented five concert series, three free community events, and a residency at the Lobero Theater.

In 2012, the performing company was renamed American Dance & Music Performance Group because AD&M realized that its programming evolved away from some of the conventions of classical ballet. Over the years, the programming broadened to encompass a greater diversity of choreographic visions reflecting AD&M’s values as an arts organization. The Performance Group has presented contemporary works performed by local resident dancers who have performed with such companies as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, and Santa Barbara Dance Theater. AD&M presents the choreography of its artistic director, Carrie Diamond, of other local choreographers, and of guest artists from New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. It has a strong commitment to mentor tomorrow’s local talent and to make dance performance accessible to the local community.

At the same time, AD&M has presented classes in ballet and modern dance for adults of all levels from beginner to aspiring young professionals. In November 2017, AD&M opened The Dance Hub on 22 East Victoria Street as a venue for classes and performance. Since opening, class offerings have expanded to include children and teens. In addition, for a number of years, AD&M presented Moving To Learn, an in-school curricular dance program for Title I schools in the Santa Barbara School District. The Lobero residency was an offshoot of this program.

AD&M Performance Group

AD&M’s critically acclaimed professional performing ensemble began presenting contemporary ballet performances in Santa Barbara in March, 2006. Since then, they have presented several concert series including a residency at the Lobero Theater in 2010, free community outreach concerts, and performances at community organizations and schools. Since the opening of The Dance Hub, the free community outreach concerts have been revived under the title “Up Close at The Dance Hub.” Find Out More…

Education at The Dance Hub

After renting studio space for about 11 years, as of November 2017, AD&M Studio moved to its current home, The Dance Hub on Victoria Street. At The Dance Hub, AD&M offers technique classes in ballet, modern dance, and flamenco to adults and teens of all levels as well as master classes throughout the year. Many classes are taught both in-studio and virtually on Zoom. The Adult Student Performance Group is open to all dedicated adult dance students to deepen and expand their learning through immersion in choreographic processes and performance. Our renters offer classes in ethnic dance forms from Polynesia, Ireland, Central Asia, and the Middle East as well as acting classes for children and adults. Find Out More…

Dance: Up Close and Cultural

Since 2008, AD&M has produced Dance: Up Close and Cultural, an annual, free community dance performance in a venue accessible to broad sectors of the community who might not otherwise have the opportunity or means to see a live dance performance. The program moved to The Dance Hub in April, 2019, as Up Close at The Dance Hub. This performance marked a change in programming in that it showcased four works that were created at The Dance Hub during its rent subsidy program for choreographers. Find Out More…

Moving To Learn

Between 2009 and 2013, AD&M’s program, Moving To Learn, empowered Santa Barbara elementary school students through curricular dance instruction that promoted academic learning, social and emotional development, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts. Over the span of several years, this program reached approximately 1,500 kindergarten through third grade students. Find Out More…