ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

BRANDON WHITED (Artistic Director) is an Associate Professor of Dance, and Chair of the Department of Theater & Dance at UCSB. He received both his High School diploma and BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and his MFA as a Distinguished University Fellow from The Ohio State University. In addition to his formative conservatory training based in the Cunningham, Limón and Nikolais techniques and Classical Ballet, Brandon trained in release techniques, somatic dance forms, and a diverse range of contemporary styles which informed his eclectic approach to contemporary technique grounded in traditional modern dance.

Working professionally in New York City following undergraduate studies, Brandon freelanced with Steeledance (Teri and Oliver Steele), Randy James Dance Works, Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company, danscores by Ofelia Loret de Mola, and as a specialized supernumerary with the Metropolitan Opera. In 2008 he joined Shen Wei Dance Arts as an apprentice and became a core member from 2009-2014. During that period, Brandon toured Shen Wei’s rich repertory domestically and internationally, and originated roles in four works— Re-III (2009), Limited States (2010), Undivided/Divided (2011) and Collective Measures (2013). Following his professional performance career, Brandon returned to graduate studies at The Ohio State University. His research there considered the intersection of masculinities studies/queer theory, dance studies and contemporary dance.

Brandon’s choreographic research has been presented domestically in New York, Maryland, Ohio, Washington, Texas and California domestically, and internationally in Italy with a collaborative site-specific installation Loro Sono Loro/they are them (2017), with collaborator Sarah Lisette Chiesa. Mr. Whited created a duet, Petit Pas (2017), for Santa Barbara Dance Theater as a guest performer and choreographer, and premiered 95 North (2019) for SBDT’s spring season at the Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara. In Summer of 2021, Brandon took over the creative helm of Santa Barbara Dance Theater as Artistic Director following the retirement of his predecessor Christopher Pilafian. This post is both a duty and an honor, and serves as a source of excitement and possibility for Brandon as he forges the next chapter for SBDT.