BASSH celebrated its 20th year at the Marjorie Luke Theater! ✨
Since 1998, BASSH has set the stage as one of Santa Barbara’s largest dance events, spreading awareness and newfound love of dances spanning the world and time periods. In 2020, however, tragedy struck: Not only did the show have to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but renowned BASSH producer, Derrick Curtis, was moving away, and not long after, had to have his leg amputated due to what started as a minor toenail injury.
Largely because of the efforts of this year’s co-producers Roxana Bonderson, Alexandra King, and Jatila van der Veen, all of whom worked strenuously to revive the show upon hearing about Curtis’s roadblocks, BASSH clapped back at the unfortunate circumstances and returned this year on November 5 and 6 at the Marjorie Luke Theater with its most diverse program yet, showcasing everything from classical, folk, social, sacred, environmental, and more. Curtis, who now wears a prosthetic leg, even danced a number in the show to “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” by Pitbull, proving that one’s love for art always wins in the end.