Up Close at the Dance Hub 2026

The Dance Hub Community in Performance

After a one-year hiatus, Up Close returns to The Dance Hub to kick off American Dance & Music’s 20th Anniversary Year! The hour-long performance features members of The Dance Hub Community as well as guest artists, ranging in experience from professionals to our promising young dancers. The performance features:

• The Dance Hub Performance Group, including students Monica Chang, Ava Demmon, Lisa Fukunaga, Devon James, Erin Jensen, Arielle Kent, Sandi Lester, Lisa Lim, and Mackenzy Nolan and guest dancer Evelyn Mills performing choreography by AD&M Director Carrie Diamond with music by Eric Valinsky
• Hilary Olivera performing a new ballet solo by TDH instructor Aimee Lopez
• Cris! Basimah with the BellyDance Land Dance Company (2:00 show only)
• Jazz by Mel McGary performed by singer Eje Lynn-Jacobs and TDH Music Director Eric Valinsky (4:00 show only)
• Performance by The Dance Hub Youth Ballet

As always, refreshments will be served after each performance.

Up Close at the Dance Hub will present two shows, at 2:00pm and 4:00pm. Seating is limited so audience members will need to reserve their spots online in advance. To help fund this event and future performances, AD&M will be collecting donations online. Suggested donation is $25 per seat with a minimum donation of $10.

*The Dance Hub is a non-profit program of American Dance and Music, Inc., a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public benefit corporation. All contributions are tax deductible to the extent the law provides. Tax ID #20-5657230.

The Dance Hub Performance Group is open to anyone who has a strong desire and interest in taking technique classes, developing their artistry, and performing, even if for the first time. The program offers our students a valuable opportunity to delve into the process of working with a choreographer and performing the work in an informal setting. This May, the DHPG numbers nine dancers, performing new choreography in its fifth season with Up Close at The Dance Hub.

Chris! Basimah and BellyDance Land (2:00 show) Cris! Basimah is an award-winning belly dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in Santa Barbara, CA. Recently cast as Alice in Bellydance Superstar Jillina Carlano’s Alice in Wonderland, and with over 20 years devoted to the UCSB Middle East Ensemble, including 12 as Dance and Artistic Director, she has built a legacy of artistry and leadership. Cris! leads her BellyDance Land (BDL) Performance Team and shares her passion through her online studio and in-person classes, welcoming both dancers and beginners into the art of belly dance.

The Music of Mel McGary (4:00 show) Mel McGary started his life-long musical journey in Ohio and currently teaches private piano lessons in Santa Barbara, California, where he has lived since the early ’90s. A graduate of the University of Pacific Music Conservatory (Dave Brubeck Institute) he is a gifted teacher, pianist, and composer. He has many years of experience as a performer both in concert and as a studio musician.

Aimee Lopez was one of the founding members of AD&M Performance Group (then known as Ballet Santa Barbara). She went on to become artistic director of the Santa Barbara Festival Ballet’s pre-professional dance company for five years. She currently teaches ballet at The Dance Hub and co-directs the Dance Hub Youth Ballet program. She has choreographed a new solo ballet in honor of AD&M’s 20th Anniversary, danced by Hilary Olivera (at right).

The Dance Hub Youth Ballet is designed to train students with careful consideration for their unique capabilities. Ingrained, outdated attitudes about body weight, type, and skin color are left at the door. We are dedicated to teaching students in a welcoming and non-competitive environment where every student feels seen and valued. Our Dance Hub instructor, Aimee Lopez and director, Carrie Diamond, have over 40 years of combined teaching experience to ensure your child learns safely and correctly.