The El Camino College Dance Department offers a comprehensive foundation in the theory, history, technique, and art of dance to students seeking a degree, preparing to transfer to four-year degree programs, or for dance training. Our faculty of experienced and certificated instructors is made up of active professionals in Southern California, creating an important link for students to the wider community.
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.
Our Facilities
The El Camino College Dance Program boasts three state-of-the-art dance studios complete with marley flooring and fixed-wall ballet barres. Additional free-standing ballet barres, Pilates reformers and dance conditioning equipment (including balls, weights, foam rollers, and elastic bands) supplement the dance facilities allowing for a full complement of studio dance class offerings.
Dimensions and Photo.
Dimensions and Photo
Classes taught: Improvisation; Choreography; Begining Modern Dance, Dance Appreciation, Dance Concert Ensemble
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.
Classes Taught; Beginning Dance, Intermediate Modern, Choreography; Dance Appreciation
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.
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.
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.
Classes: Pilates Mat; Pilates, Beginning Tap, Intermediate Tap
Associate of Arts Degree
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.
Preparation for the Transfer Major
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.
Our Courses
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.
Performance Opportunities
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.
Master Classes and Events
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.
Career Goals
Our dance classes can be a student’s first step towards a variety of careers in dance, including:
Professional dancer/choreographer (for stage, television or film) • Costume design • Lighting design • Dance teacher • Dance therapist • Dance company director/artistic director • Dance notation • Dance critic • Dance photography and filming