Dance

Upon completion of the required courses, students can earn an Associate of Arts Degree in Dance. Students develop their technical, interpretive and expressive abilities through our structured program of study which includes core techniques, historical and contemporary styles, choreography, performance, and dance history.

Specific major requirements for all degrees and certificates can be found in the College Catalog.

For information on specific university major requirements, please obtain a transfer curriculum guide sheet in Counseling Services, consult with your counselor, or visit the Transfer Center.

We offer a range of courses from basic core courses to other specialized courses.

Ballet • Modern dance • Jazz dance • Latin Social • American Social • Ballroom • African • Mexican • World • Tap • Hip-Hop • Commercial dance • Improvisation • Choreography • Pilates • Music for Dance • Dance History • Dance Appreciation

Course descriptions can be found in the College Catalog. To view current class offerings, refer to Online Class Schedule.

Each semester, students have the opportunity to demonstrate their performance techniques and artistic skills in a formal dance performance or an informal dance showing, either as dancers, choreographers, or crew. Formal performances allow students to work closely with professional guest artists in a theatre environment, and also give students experience in professional costuming and lighting.

Students are encouraged to attend professional and student productions presented by the El Camino Center for the Arts and to participate in or observe master classes presented by visiting artists. Upcoming performances, events, and ticket information is available through Center for the Arts.

• Dimensions and Photo

Dimensions and Photo.

Dimensions and Photo

LIZ HOEFNER ADAMIS is a choreographer, dancer, writer and actress who is dedicated to making thoughtful contemporary dance theater works. In 2014 she formed the company Immediate Action Dance with the intention of making contemporary dance theater works that illuminate, question and investigate aspects of human rights issues nationally and internationally.
 

In the Fall of 2016 Adamis was presented at The Center for the Arts: Marsee Auditorium with the political dance theater work "Enter Lenin!" which she reimagined for Highways Performance Space in January of 2017 to protest the Trump presidency. Immediate Action Dance also presented two multi-media dances in 2014 including "Like the Arabesques of a Blind Mind" and "Gul Makai."

Hoefner Adamis’ dances have received seven Lester Horton Dance Award nominations in the categories of choreography, performance, music and design and in 2013 Hoefner Adamis was a recipient of the Margaret Jenkin’s Dance Company’s CHIME grant with mentor Nancy Keystone (Artistic Director of CRITICAL MASS PERFORMANCE GROUP). In the summer of 2017 Liz performed as an actress for Keystone's original Work "Untitled Communion" at Walt Disney Concert Hall's REDCAT Theater.

In the Fall of 2016 Liz Hoefner Adamis worked as a dance director and improviser for cinematographer Phil Parmet and also starred in the short film "Hedda" by Hungarian filmmaker Virag Vida. Previous lead roles in films include "Beyond the Steps" by Polish filmmaker Jiemovit Darski, and "Birds" by American filmmaker Daria Martin seen in museums nationally and internationally (Hammer Museum, Tate, London). Hoefner Adamis’ choreography can also be seen in the film "Enclosure 8:Harry Partch" produced by Phillip Blackburn celebrating the works of the avant garde composer Harry Partch.

 

ECC Dance Classes: Improvisation; Choreography; Begining Modern Dance, Dance Appreciation, Dance Concert Ensemble

DANIEL BERNEY is a full time professor of dance at El Camino College since 2001. His previous full time dance faculty positions in education include Moorpark College and California State University at Dominguez Hills. Additionally Daniel has taught as an adjunct faculty member at Cerritos College and Santa Ana College. He received an MFA in Dance from the University of California at Irvine and a BA in Dramatic Arts with a tutorial emphasis from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Mr. Berney’s master’s thesis was published in the 1986 Olympic proceedings on swim training and rehabilitation for the dancer. Additionally he has pursued doctoral studies through New York University’s prestigious School of Education. His early ballet training was under the auspices of Lila Zali (Mordkin Ballet) and Paul Maure (Ballet Marquis de Cuevas). He has also studied dance and participated in intensive training on the east coast with the modern dance techniques of Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Jose Limon and with the Pittsburg Ballet. Mr. Berney was a soloist and principal dancer with Ballet Pacifica in Orange County and has performed throughout the southland with numerous dance companies including Festival Ballet Theater, South Bay Ballet and Ballet Montmar.

ECC Dance Classes: Beginning Ballet, Intermediate Ballet, Ballet Variations, Dance Appreciation, Dance History

JONATHAN BRYANT is a Full-time Instructor of Dance at ECC. As a Los Angeles dance artist he has over 15 years of experience as a performer, choreographer and educator. He has worked with LA based groups Invertigo Dance Theatre and Rosanna Gamson/ World Wide as well as Momix and commercial artists and companies such as Sattyananda, Shoreh, Vixen, Nathan Burton, and Dick Foster Productions. Jonathan received his MFA in Choreography from the California Institute of the Arts and his BFA in Dance Performance from Shenandoah University. He is fascinated by dance in all its many forms and is driven to create works that generate infectious wonder and share his curiosity in those things that stir the soul.

ECC Dance Classes: Beginning Dance, Intermediate Modern, Choreography; Dance Appreciation

Dr. Kanish Bennett is an Instructor, Educator,

Minister, Choreographer, Coach, Mentor and author born and

raised in Los Angeles, CA. She began dancing as a liturgical dancer

at the age of 6. She holds a Bachelors of Arts in Dance from the

University of California, Riverside, a Masters of Fine Arts in

Performance and Choreography from the Florida State University,

and an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Humanities from the

Elbon Solutions College of Ministry.

Kanisha has worked and trained extensively in contemporary/

modern, jazz, hip hop, ballet, and African dance. Dr. Bennett has conducted

contemporary master classes at various colleges and universities, as well as high

schools, middle schools, and churches throughout the US and abroad, which have

invoked her passion for educating students. During the 2010-2011

season, Kanisha danced and toured with the internationally acclaimed dance company

Urban Bush Women based out of Brooklyn, NY. She has shared her work at Center of

Hope Church, Florida State University, El Camino College, Precision Dance Company,

and Cal State Dominquez Hills University to name a few.

8 years ago, Dr. Bennett founded Anointed Feet Dance School, a Christian Based

Dance School, located in Hawthorne, CA where she serves over 200 inner city youth

daily. Kanisha’s passion is to touch as many lives as possible through the art of dance,

and is excited to continue on this journey with her students at El Camino College

ECC Dance Classes: African Dance

Kim Borgaro is a professional dancer, choreographer and dynamic teacher. As amember of the Lula Washington Dance Theater she appeared in the 2000 EmmyAwards along with numerous nationwide performances. Kim also danced forfamed director Zina Bethune in her multimedia productions “Frost & Fire” in 2007and “Silent Roar” in 2010. She is also known for her partnership with Robert Gilliamwhom she has danced for and assisted in numerous productions including 3 LosAngeles Kaleidoscope Festivals and also his grant recipient debut “Graffiti” at theEl Portal Theater. Kim has taught, choreographed and performed in Hong Kong,Brazil, Australia and Canada as well as New York, Los Angeles and many other UScities. She has performed in music videos and commercials for Lionel Richie,Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jacskson, to name a few.

Kim has always been passionate about dance, music and art and also has speciallove for working and teaching dance. Kim is on faculty at El Camino College whereshe has taught for over 16 years and serves as a judge and instructor for SpotlightDance. In 2011 she co-founded On The Edge Dance Youth Dance Ensemble, apre-professional dance company for dancers ages 8-18. In 2014 she opened OnThe Edge Dance Studio with partner Robert Gilliam.

ECC Dance Classes: Beginning Jazz, Intermediate Jazz

 VALERIE CABAG, a Southern California native, attended the University of California, Irvine, where she earned her M.F.A. in Dance. There, she studied the art of dance for the camera and taught Jazz and Tap to UCI students. Prior to attending graduate school, Valerie attended the University of California, Riverside, where she earned her B.A. in Dance.Valerie has taught many forms of dance, including jazz, hip hop, tap, modern, contemporary, Afro-Caribbean, dance for theater, and many more.Along with teaching, she has choreographed for various studios and dance teams in the Inland Empire, Orange County, and Los Angeles area. Valerie is currently a faculty member at Fullerton College, Cerritos College and El Camino College. Valerie has had the privilege of working with such choreographers as Susan Rose, Wendy Rogers, Donald McKayle, Erin Landry, Arthur Ross, Marie Hoffman, Keisha Clark-Booth, Robin Conrad, and Melanie Rosa.She has also taught at the American College Dance Association Southwest Region and was adjudicated in the 2015 ACDA Baja Region Conference at California State University, Long Beach.Valerie is the Founder and Artistic Director of Vicious Circle Dance Company. Each member of the company is actively working towards, or has completed, a degree in Dance. Vicious Circle has performed all over California and was one of the featured companies in the 2015 Pasadena Dance Festival, Works in the Works, Temecula Dance Xchange, and many more.

ECC Dance Classes: Commercial Dance, Jazz Dance

Karin Lynge Jensen is an award winning choreographer, and the artistic director of Mandala Danceworks. Karin holds a BA and MFA in Dance from the University of California, Irvine, and has been dancing since the tender age of 3! She began with formal studies in Ballet, Jazz, Modern and Tap, and dancing for numerous companies when she was a young girl. 

Following her college education and graduate studies, Karin entered the academic world to teach, and has been teaching Dance and Movement for over 30 years. To follow and engage her own muse, Karin has also been deeply invested in directing and choreographing for her own dance companies since 1983, with provocative live performances and pushing the envelope of modern choreography being the prime directives. In 2003, Karin happened to see American Tribal Style belly dance during a trip to San Francisco, and was immediately enamored with the energy, costumes, and sense of sisterhood that radiated from it. An organic metamorphosis began, with Karin immersing herself into Belly dance study and activity, which continues today. 

She has extensive workshop and class experience, and danced with Leela and LSJ. She is certified with Ansuya in general skills and with Carolena Nericcio in both general skills and teacher training. Karin continues to study, at any opportunity, to enrich her own body knowledge and for the pure enjoyment of the movement.

ECC Dance Classes: Pilates Mat; Pilates, Beginning Tap, Intermediate Tap