With their chandeliers polished and their velvet curtains steamed, Santa Barbara theaters have kicked off a dazzling new season packed with an impressively diverse roster of international headliners, community showcases, and an onslaught of formidable talent. Equally exciting among the high profile and homegrown is the increasing popularity of what can best be described as hybrid programming — curated forums that reach past performance to delve deep into the creative process. Read on as we highlight two area dance presenters who are trading in mystique for insight, tearing down the fourth wall and making a strong case for the art of the intimate encounter.

Christina Sanchez Dance

“Ballet is a wonderful dance foundation, but it’s not the oldest or the first,” said Christina Sanchez, artistic director of the newly launched presenting company Christina Sanchez Dance (CSD). “African and Indian influences are just as significant, and it’s so important to understand the why of dance just as much as the how.”