HISTORY OF THE HIVE

 

The Hive was established in 2014.

 

Its development was a function of several factors existing in the Santa Barbara community.

 

One artist (Maria Rendina Frantz) perceived there wasn't much in the way of local performing opportunity, and two other artists (Misa and Stephen Kelly), when they caught wind that the one locally produced annual choreographic showcase might take a hiatus, felt that the community really needed one.  They decided to take a wait and see approach and let someone else step forwards to suggest the community generate one in that they were a bit tuckered out from festival pr
oduction in recent years and decided it would be an interesting experiment to see if any one else would take the initiative.  If someone did, then they agreed to give them full support. 

 

Maria Rendina Frantz of Motion Theatre Dance Company stepped forwards to put out a call for performance artists interested in working collaboratively to produce an evening of the performing arts.  It was a way she had produced with others in New York many years ago and thought it might work in the Santa Barbara community.Answering the call by attending meetings and being a part of the planning process have been: Melissa Block and her two great kids Sarah and Noah, Meredith Cabaniss of SELAH Dance Collective, and the two artists that had agreed to step forwards and lend their support if someone took the initiative - Misa & Stephen Kelly of ArtBark International.

Drawing from their collective experience producing showcases and festivals a streamlined collaborative production process was designed by the core group and a call for submissions sent out using a first come first serve approach to selecting work.Maria Rendina Frantz served as the Queen Bee for the first season which was a tremendous success. The performance sold out and all artists earned their production investment back plus a bit extra.