SANTA BARBARA DANCE THEATER
PROFESSIONAL COMPANY IN RESIDENCE AT UCSB
DANCERS
SOPHIE BERLS (any pronouns) is a movement artist originally from New Jersey, now based in LA. A recent graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, she holds a BFA in dance and a BA in Global Studies. During her time at UCSB, she performed and choreographed for the Student Company across Europe and apprenticed with Santa Barbara Dance Theater. Her performance experience includes work by Ashley Lindsey, Joshua Manculich, Brandon Whited, Calder White, Dalya Modlin, and Meredith Ventura. She has blended her training with a 200 hour yoga certification from Ephemeral Artery, and workshops from Whim W’him, Yin Yue Dance Company, and more. This is Sophie’s first season with Santa Barbara Dance Theater.
photo: Jeff Liang
DALYA MODLIN (she/her) is a movement artist based in Los Angeles. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a BFA in Dance and BS in Psychology. Originally from Southern California, she honed her skills at the Orange County School of the Arts Commercial Dance Conservatory. At UCSB Dalya toured with the Student Company across Europe and apprenticed with Santa Barbara Dance Theater. In August 2023 she became a company member of Santa Barbara Dance Theater. Some of her Performance experience includes choreography by Hélèn Simoneau, Rosie Herrera, Brandon Whited, Brian Golden, Gianna Burright, and José Limón.
photo: Jeff Liang
CALDER WHITE (he/him) is a freelance dance artist based on the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations (so-called "Vancouver, British Columbia"). He is an alumnus of Tkaronto's Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre and holds a BFA in Dance from the Ohio State University. He has originated roles in work by Shay Kuebler, Joshua Beamish, Wen Wei Wang, Ziyian Kwan, Brandon Whited, Rachel Meyer, and Lesley Telford, amongst others. His own choreography has been presented by institutions across North America, including Santa Barbara Dance Theater, Dancing on the Edge Festival, Danceworks Toronto, Odd Meridian Arts, Ottawa Dance Directive, and Kinetic Studios Halifax. Calder is also a floorwork teacher, regularly sharing his workshops in communities across North America. He is the proud recipient of the 2022 Hnatyshyn Foundation's Ukraine - Heritage, Spirit, and Future award for Exceptional Talent in Contemporary Dance.
photo: Jeff Liang
26-27 SEASON APPRENTICES
About SBDT Apprenticeship:
CHARLOTTE BREIER (she/her) is from Escondido, California. Now a fourth year BFA Dance student at UCSB, she is honing her skills as a performer, choreographer, and artist, while training and performing as a returning apprentice with Santa Barbara Dance Theater. She is concurrently pursuing a Professional Writing minor. In 2025, Charlotte was an Arnhold Summer Fellow at Dance Education Laboratory in New York City, strengthening her experience in building curriculum and programming to bring dance education to all communities. Charlotte is currently a teacher at The Dance Network Goleta, and Creative Netwerk Santa Barbara. She is also excited to be a member of the 2026-2027 UCSB Dance Company!
photo: Jeff Liang
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DREW CASWELL (he/him) is a fourth year BFA dance major from Thousand Oaks, California. He began training in Hip Hop at the age of 10 at Thrive Dance Center. In high school, Drew started training in Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary, he also danced on the varsity dance team for three years. Additionally, Drew has been a member and choreographer on Untitled Dance Company for three years. He is a member of the UCSB Dance Company this year, and this is his third season as an apprentice with Santa Barbara Dance Theater.
photo: Jeff Liang
LARA VAN DIGGELEN (she/her)
has been dancing since the age of 3 in San Ramon, California. She has toured nationally as an assistant with the Dupree Dance Competition & Convention and worked as a choreographer and teacher for San Ramon Valley Dance Academy. To supplement her training, she has attended summer intensives with NYC Joffrey Jazz & Contemporary, Jacob Jonas The Company, and Bates Dance Festival. Lara is in her second year as an apprentice with Santa Barbara Dance Theater and is also a company member of Selah Dance Collective. She is pursuing her BFA in Dance at the University of California, Santa Barbara and is excited to continue developing as an artist with the UCSB Dance Company this year.
photo: Jeff Liang
KATE MONNEY(she/her) is originally from Santa Clarita, CA where she started dancing at the age of two. She is currently in her fourth year as a BFA Dance Major and Education Minor at the University of California, Santa Barbara. At UCSB Kate has had many opportunities to work with both student and faculty choreographers and has performed in numerous university productions. Kate is an Arnhold Summer Fellow and attended the Dance Education Laboratory Summer Intensive this year at 92NY in New York City where she was able to combine her two passions of dance and teaching while exploring collaborative movement practices and different approaches to inclusive dance education. Kate is also a member of the UCSB Dance Company and will be traveling and performing with them in Europe in Spring 2027. She is in her second year as an apprentice with the Santa Barbara Dance Theater where she has gained invaluable experience working with professional choreographers and dancers and has continued to develop her artistry.
photo: Jeff Liang
AVERY TRASK (she/her) began dancing at age 11 and trained primarily under Kirsten Oakley and Laurin Boland at Oakley Ballet Center in Ventura, California. Avery was a company member of Footworks Youth Ballet from 2017 to 2023. During her time with the company, she performed soloist and principal roles within its repertoire while also serving as a rehearsal and costuming assistant. Avery is currently a company dancer with Selah Dance Collective in Santa Barbara and is pursuing a BFA in Dance at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She was selected as an Arnhold Summer Fellow and attended the Dance Education Laboratory Summer Intensive at 92NY in New York City in 2026. Avery is a member of the UCSB Dance Company for the 2026–2027 season and is thrilled to be joining Santa Barbara Dance Theater as an apprentice for its 50th anniversary season.