Now in its fourth season, the HH11 Festival gained accolades this past weekend for holding firm to its founding vision of inclusivity, seasoned and emerging artists alike intersecting across a fiercely diverse program that ran the gamut from physical theater to Indian classical dance. Over the course of four evenings, regional and international choreographers and dancers joined forces with area talent to flesh out narratives about the human experience, from Feledi Project’s hauntingly beautiful study of connection and intimacy in “Duality” to The Dance Network’s foot-stomping (and tap-dancing) love letter to Americana in the deliciously entertaining “Hold Me Down.”
Dance-film dream team Robin Bisio and Nik Blaskovich returned for a debut of their latest plein air short, What Green Altar, a luscious ode to Santa Barbara’s treasured landscape developed on the majestic grounds of Lotusland, while Lauren Chertudi’s satisfyingly silent “My arm a floating structure” illustrated the grace of moving through life with mindful presence.
In characteristic tradition, the festival also hosted a community presentation of the Apogee Awards, honoring a selection of esteemed Santa Barbara dance educators who have contributed to the city’s enduring dance-scape. This year’s recipients included Maria Rendina-Frantz, Alana Tillim, Tracy Kofford, Derrick Curtis, and lifetime achievement honoree Susan Alexander.