www.montereycountynow.com JANUARY 1-7, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 23 ONSTAGE Professional contemporary dance is not necessarily what Monterey County is known for. Such a niche form of art tends to thrive in larger, more urban settings. But the Carmel Dance Festival fellowship program for emerging world-class choreographers and dancers has been successful since 2021, largely thanks to Lilian Barbeito, founder of both the festival and the professional dance group Ballare Carmel, of which she is the artistic director. While the hard work of the choreographers and the dancers takes place in the privacy of secluded spaces, indoor and outdoor, the community can enjoy the fruits of these labors. In this case it’s a two-night showcase, the culmination of the Dance & Choreography Fellowship Program. The group of three choreographers, 20 dancers and guests gathers for nine days to rehearse intensively. They come from all over the world. Each of the choreographers—in this case Leandro Damasco Jr., Rachel Harris and Hassan Syed—create a piece under guidance of an invited mentor. This year that mentor is New York City– based choreographer Sidra Bell, who will also be creating her own work. While the dancers apply to the program each year, the choreographers are selected by a committee. Barbeito believes that relying on recommendations is the way to go. “That’s what it takes to make it in the arts,” she says, emphasizing that an ability to pitch and get endorsements is a big part of the program—which also comes with six hours of rehearsals each day. “These are the voices that represent the next generation of dance artistry,” she adds, describing the selected choreographers. Each show starts with a screening of an award-winning dance film, By The Sea, brought by Edd Arnold of Tanztheater Wuppertal in Germany. (Arnold also choreographed the finale piece in the program.) In addition to three pieces created by the program’s choreographers, the audience will see Bell’s dance, performed by Ballare Carmel (the dancers come from New York City and the Bay Area) and a number pitched by one of the young dance fellows, Merel Bastiaans from the Netherlands. Carmel Dance Festival’s 4th Annual Dance & Choreography Fellowship Showcase 7:30pm Saturday, Jan. 3; 2pm Sunday, Jan. 4. Hidden Valley Music Seminars, 104 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. $40/suggested donation; $100/VIP. Lillian@carmeldancefestival.org, carmeldancefestival.org. DANIEL DREIFUSS Moving Up Carmel Dance Festival’s fellowship program wraps up with two days of performances. By Agata Popęda Lilian Barbeito is a dance educator who laid the foundation for the Carmel Dance Festival. She is shown at work with the dancers participating in a fellowship program. INDOOR AND OUTDOOR DINING AND TAKEOUT Eat + Drink ’25 BEST RESTAURANT IN MONTEREY COUNTY! JOIN US NIGHTLY FOR DINNER AT 4:30PM TWO HAPPY HOURS DAILY 4:30-6PM & 8-9PM 3-Course Early Menu, $49, 4:30-6pm Daily Call or go to sardinefactory.com for details, reservations. 701 Wave Street, Monterey, 831-373-3775 OPEN EVERYDAY for DINNER at 4:30pm Offering all your favorites plus wine, cocktails, bottle and draft beers. Now Serving Snake River Farms’ American Wagyu Prime Rib. 763 Wave St., Monterey | 831.373.3778 | thewhalingstation.com ’25 Best Steak Fisherman’s Wharf’s Newest Restaurant Serving Fresh Seafood, Pasta, Steaks, Sandwiches Open Daily at 11:30am Great views at the end of the Wharf #1 www.rockfishmonterey.com • 831.324.4375 Monterey’s MOST Recommended Pizzeria Open at 4pm Mon-Thurs • Open at 3pm Fri Open at 12pm Sat.& Sun. 725 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey giannispizzamonterey.com 831-649-1500 BEST PIZZA ’98-’24 BEST PIZZA PLACE ’25 Wood Fired Pizzas, Burgers, Pasta, salads, sandWiches and more 11:30am mon-Fri, 10am Sat & Sun melvilletav.com 484 Washington St., Downtown Monterey 831.643.9525 haPPY hour Food & drinK sPecials Sun-Thurs 4-6pm WEEKEND BRUNCH WITH BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS 57 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey 831-373-1851 www.abalonetti.com ’25 LUNCH & DINNER SERVED DAILY from 11:30am-8:30pm Monterey County’s Best Calamari Indoor and Outdoor Dining on the Dog Friendly Patio Tapas (Happy) Hour 4:30–6pm Nightly Saturday & Sunday Brunch 9am–1:30pm 700 Munras Ave., Monterey | 831-375-0176 | estebanrestaurant.com ’25 Best Appetizers/ Small Plates BEACH HOUSE RESTAURANT + BAR @ LOVERS POINT ★ CASUAL CALIFORNIA DINING INDOOR & PATIO DAILY AT 4:30PM 620 OCEAN VIEW BLVD. PACIFIC GROVE 831-375-2345 • BEACHHOUSEPG.COM LOVERS POINT BEACH CAFE OPEN DAILY, 9AM–4PM ’24 Best Restaurant in Pacific Grove
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