OUR STORY
With a passion for redefining classical technique through contemporary expression, Novus Contemporary Ballet promises to bring a bold, collaborative, and genre-defying approach to ballet.
Novus Contemporary Ballet is more than a dance company — it’s a laboratory for artistic growth, bold experimentation, and meaningful collaboration. Founded in 2017 by Meredith Cabaniss and Wilson Vu, Novus emerged from a shared desire to reimagine the boundaries of ballet through a contemporary lens.
After a brief hiatus, Novus returns in 2025 with renewed vision, a reimagined identity, and a commitment to shaping the future of contemporary ballet on the Central Coast and beyond.
Rooted in classical technique but driven by the expressive freedom of contemporary movement, Novus creates work that speaks to the present moment. We believe ballet can be rigorous without being rigid — and that innovation comes from crossing genres, blending aesthetics, and elevating diverse voices.
Our dancers are collaborators. Our choreographers are storytellers. Our performances are conversations between artists, communities, and our ever-changing, ever-evolving world.
As a sister company to Selah Dance Collective, Novus shares a mission to uplift emerging artists, foster creative risk-taking, and present thought-provoking, high-impact performances. Our upcoming 2025–2026 season includes performances in Los Angeles, New York, and Santa Barbara, including a shared bill with NoMad Tango at the historic Lobero Theatre.
At Novus Contemporary Ballet, we’re building a space where artists can grow, connect, and create work that reflects the complexity, urgency, and beauty of now.