Changes for Santa Barbara Dance Theatre
Christopher Pilafian Named Director of UCSB-Based Company
He’s a Juilliard-trained dancer who spent more than a decade touring the world as a performer with New York’s Jennifer Muller/The Works. He’s an acclaimed teacher on the UCSB faculty and an award-winning choreographer. He’s a visual artist who has exhibited paintings in solo and group shows. But one thing Christopher Pilafian never planned to be was an administrator. Now, with longtime UCSB director of dance Jerry Pearson stepping down, Pilafian is easing into new roles.
Given his abundant creativity and curiosity, it comes as no surprise that Pilafian has accepted three new titles simultaneously. A lecturer in the dance department since 1990, Pilafian now finds himself vice chair of theater and dance, director of dance, and director of Santa Barbara Dance Theatre (SBDT), the professional dance company housed at the university.
That’s a lot of change in a short period of time, but Pilafian’s taking a characteristically thoughtful approach to his new positions. “At first I thought, ‘I have to implement a new set of skills,’” he reflected recently, “and then I thought, ‘Why don’t I just try continuing to be me, and when challenges arise, meeting them?’”
