At the end of last year, master dance and DJ teaching artist, Hans Pierre, traveled up to Santa Barbara for a week of creativity and connection with our students and SB teachers!

Each class during the residency was more than just a dance lesson—it was a chance for students to discover new ways to express themselves. Some explored dance and music for the first time, while others dove deeper into their passion. Hans guided students through the exciting interplay between music and movement, showing how one can beautifully influence the other. A highlight for many was exploring isolations and box theory, which turned classes into a collaborative and creative space where everyone felt involved.

Hans also led an inspiring teacher training for our Creative Netwerk teaching artists. The focus? Challenging teachers to think outside the box with faster music, reversed movements, and fresh teaching approaches. The training emphasized balancing high-energy moments with calming, grounding influences—a quality Hans embodies that our teaching artists were eager to bring into their own classrooms.

Santa Barbara Director Paris Davison shared her thoughts on the experience:
"It’s really good to have that dynamic of dance and music because they’re so connected. Just sitting in and watching Hans and the team work through music and DJing gave me helpful tips—especially since I edit music for our kids’ performances. Hans was able to help me on that level, and that’s super cool.”

Beyond the classes and training, the residency week strengthened relationships with local site partners and provided meaningful learning experiences for everyone involved. Teachers noticed how students became more engaged and excited to return each week, their connection to dance and music growing stronger. Our local teaching artists walked away with new tools and inspiration to enrich future Creative Netwerk classes—and their broader dance journeys.

We’re so grateful for Hans and everyone who participated for making this residency such a success. The creativity, connection, and community that blossomed during the week will resonate for a long time to come!