The Fusion Dance Company started in fall of 2004 and has been growing steadily ever since. We reside at Montecito School of Ballet in Santa Barbara, CA. We currently have 20 members and about 16 members on average at any given time. Fusion member’s are young adult dancers who go through a lengthy audition process to be part of Fusion Dance Company. The average age of our company is 22. We have recently started an apprentice program for younger dancers who have the drive, passion, and talent to eventually dance with Fusion. Part of the inspiration for the apprentice program has come out of the natural relationships that have been developing between the young adult Fusion members and younger aspiring dancers in Santa Barbara. These relationships have been cultivated over the last two years. Fusion member’s serve as mentors to our younger dancers both in their art as well as their personal lives.

Fusion is unique in that we are not only an artistic dance company, but a professional entertainment group as well. We strive to be creative and innovative in our work as well as being the best performer’s we can be. This can serve to be a juggling act sometimes for us. Fusion is challenging for our dancers, as they have to be well rounded performers in many styles of dance. Our range of dance styles include jazz, ballet, modern, lyrical, hip hop, musical theater, salsa and more. If you are familiar with dance styles at all and know how very different they can be, then you know that going from ballet to hip hop can be a very difficult task. It is hard to make them both look equally polished! Our dancers have been amazing at juggling multiple styles and learning new choreography every week.

Fusion has several theater performances through out the year as well as private parties and events. We are guests of other dance studio’s as well as having our own company show. Annually we have our own full length show at Center Stage Theater in Santa Barbara. We also perform every year with the Santa Barbara Dance Alliance at the Lobero Theater. We entertain for many benefits, fund-raises, private parties, community events, and much more. We love to give back to the community and share our art with others. 

*See our Credit Section for specific venues that we have performed at over the past two years.

Who We Are
Along with juggling classes and rehearsals, many of our members are full time students at local colleges, and some have full time jobs. A typical day for a Fusion member may be wake up at 7 a.m. after rehearsing until 11 p.m., going to school from 8-3 p.m. or later, going home to get all the homework and studying they can get done in that time and then off to the dance studio by 6:00 p.m. for 4 hours of class, training, and rehearsal. Many member’s juggle a job on top of their school and dance schedule just so they can do what they love. In some cases others work 9-5 p.m. and come straight to the dance studio afterwards for a full night of dance, turn around and work the next day 9-5. This isn’t to say that we are the only busy people around, but what makes us unique is that Fusion members do this purely out of a love and passion for dance. On top of that, member’s actually get to pay out of their own pocket to be part of Fusion. As a Fusion member your commitment is not only time and money, but heart and soul. The time commitment to 6-8 hours of dance a week and performances on average twice a month. There are some months that we perform every single weekend. We typically train year round, with only a few weeks off during the holidays. We work hard, but we play hard too, and our hard work and dedication is always worth it in the end!

Fusion is not only a platform for young adult dancers to train and perform their art; it is also a community of support in a sometimes lonely place. We are an extended family and a home away from home for the transition period when the young adult is away from home, sometimes for the first time. It is also a support for those going through their teens and getting ready for adulthood, it is a safe place where they can learn about commitment, accountability, responsibility, and discipline. Fusion provides a place of security and structure for a somewhat insecure time in life. We encourage teens and young adults to build healthy habits for the rest of their lives, while also providing a support group for our working adults.

Where We Want To Go
It can be difficult to maintain the finances needed to run Fusion Dance Company. We have many expenses like theater costs, costumes, lighting, music, advertising, administrative support, choreography, classes, rent, etc…having just started two years ago , we have formed this company from the ground up with no outside financial help. So we are looking for that financial support, especially on a continuing basis. It is our dream to become a professional dance company, with our own space, where all the financial support comes from generous people like you who share our vision in keeping Fusion Dance Company alive and thriving.

If you are interested in making that dream come true or want to book Fusion for a private party, special event, or fund-raiser, benefit etc., please contact Kara Stewart (Artistic Director) by phone at (805) 252-3753 or email kara@thefusiondancecompany.com

Fusion can make any occasion a one of a kind event!

Fusion CreditsPrivate Events

• Santa Barbara International Film festival at the Arlington theater
• Santa Barbara Fire Fighters Alliance annual Fire Ball
• “Dancing with the Star’s” gala with Santa Barbara’s Jewish Federation at the Bacara Resort
• UCSB Children’s Miracle Network Benefit Concert at Campbell Hall
• Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation Benefit, Santa Barbara Event Professionals
• “Cruise Around the World”, benefit for Diabetes at Ty Warner Center
• Bridal Fashion Show hosted by Scott Topper at the University Club (viewed on Santa Barbara Arts TV
• Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Women’s Board Fund-raiser for Art Programs for Housing Project Kids
• Bryan Lee Fashion Show AIDS Benefit

Community Events

• Santa Barbara Art and Jazz Festival
• Chalk for Peace
• Santa Barbara’s French Festival
• BASSH, Santa Barbara Dance Alliance show at the Lobero theater
• Project Dance in L.A.

….as well as many local schools, Hope School, Montecito Union, Cate School, and Crane Country Day School in Montecito.