The Santa Barbara Ballet Center opened in 1972 as the
Goleta School of Ballet in old Town Goleta. The
owners, Bob and Carol Hanlin, had retired from
American Ballet Theater and began their new career as
teachers. Within a few years they began a partnership
with the Santa Barbara Symphony and added a non-profit
performing company, the Goleta Civic Ballet, to produce the
Nutcracker. They also joined the National Association
of Regional Ballet to give their dancers more opportunities
to be exposed to other dancers and performances.
Following their retirement, the school was sold to Michele
Andersen and Denise Rinaldi. Ms. Rinaldi had been a
student in the school and performed with the company for
several years before leaving to pursue other performance
oopportunities and to study the Cecchetti method. They
built on the traditions started by the Hanlins and
continued to provide excellent training and performing
opportunities for aspiring dancers.
In 2006, Ms. Rinaldi purchased the Santa Barbara Ballet
Center as the sole owner. The school uses the
Cecchetti method as its base of training and enters
students annually in exams. In addition, Ms. Rinaldi
has brought in other fine teachers in the community,
including Valerie Huston and Christina McCarthy to provide
a broader perspective and a diversity of approaches to the
program. The school is working to provide more
opportunities Including classes in pas de deux, variations
and work with masters teachers. Plans include an
expansion of the Board of Directors for the company, a
re-joining of Regional Ballet and an expanded performance
season. A teachers training program is now available
for students or professional dancers that are interested in
considering teaching as a future career. The Center
continues to grow and expand and looks toward a bright
future.