Merde! It was the spirited exclamation bestowed upon dancers in the days leading up to a performance, a tradition derived from the horse-and-carriage days when a healthy procession of dung outside of the theater ensured the house seats inside would be filled with paying patrons. In her book The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton described the cavalcade in more pragmatic terms: “Carriages waited at the curb for the entire performance. It was widely known in New York, but never acknowledged, that Americans wanted to get away from amusement even more quickly than they wanted to get to it.” And so, as the 1800s gave way to a new era, Americans adopted less formal introductions to art and culture, and the salon made its Western debut.
Described as “a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host,” salons gained notoriety among European intellectuals in the 17th century as a way to expose themselves to art and ideas in a more expedient setting. Hidden from high society’s watchful glare, women, especially, benefited from the relaxed environment, where wine and discussion could easily flow well into the witching hour and in the absence of judgment. The format was simple enough: A salonnière, or hostess, would select the evening’s theme, invite an eclectic selection of artists and scholars into her home, and moderate a lively post-presentation discussion. Centuries later, it would seem fitting that Dianne Vapnek, Santa Barbara’s own venerable hostess of dance, would bring the historical tradition back for a new generation to experience.
Best known for presenting emerging choreographers through her DANCEworks program, Vapnek has spent the last 19 years curating innovative ways to bridge the gap between East and West Coast dance, injecting the tranquil Santa Barbara landscape with big-city vigor. “Maybe it’s because of the broad exposure they get while living there, but New York dancers seem more ambitious in their pursuit of a career, hungrier and more curious about experiencing dance than their counterparts here,” Vapnek said. Exposing the community to a New York state of mind has become her lifework, and when she began searching for a way to continue DANCEworks off-season, the salon format seemed like a fitting approach. “It allows audiences to feel connected to the dancers by bringing it up close. The intimate and informal format encourages accessibility with the performers and the choreographers following the performance," she said.