CSULB Department of Dance

It is with great sadness that CSULB Dance shares that former Department Chair Judy Allen lost her battle with cancer on November 25. Judy came to CSULB after leading dance programs at the University of Iowa, University of Hawaii-Manoa, and George Mason University. In addition to being a dedicated teacher, choreographer, and administrator, Judy held three executive board offices for the American College Dance Festival Association (now ACDA) including President. Judy’s enthusiasm and drive were non-stop, whether she was planning a festival, leaving a late-night voice message, or sharing her world-famous lemon squares with the Department. She is survived by her husband Ed and her brother Gary. Memorial donations may be made to the University of Iowa’s School of Music Percussion Ensemble, the Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center, the Cancer Center at the University of Iowa, or the Iowa City Hospice. Judy’s full obituary is available at https://www.thegazette.com/obituaries/judith-judy-novak-allen/?fbclid=IwAR3GIn4dNqtGNCOu7rQVn7f_O8Myeq7PeD5S9UO1aQzYHZiXvUOX9tdcrVw.

Congratulations on a gorgeous opening night everyone!

Another opportunity to work with Janis Brenner.

Janis will be conducting another Voice/Movement Zoom Workshop this Sunday, 11/20 at 1pm EST with our long-running Meredith Monk Vocal Ensemble workshop series! Register soon! www.meredithmonk.org

CSULB Dance in Concert opens TONIGHT! Don't miss your chance to see six incredible pieces, choreographed by our faculty and guest artist Donna Uchizono. CSULB Dance in Concert runs November 16-19 at 8PM / November 19 at 2PM & 8PM in the Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theater. If you can't make it in person, we have a Live Stream Event TOMORROW, November 17th at 8PM PST. All tickets can be purchased at the link below:

CSULB DANCE IN CONCERT TICKETS: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/carpenterarts/6773?productionidlist=198028

LIVE STREAM TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fall-csulb-dance-in-concert-tickets-425181117167

We would love to see you there!

TOMORROW! Let’s get spooky, CSULB Dance 👻 join us at the Pyramid at 11:00AM for some special Halloween festivities. has a special dance choreographed and has a costume contest planned. There may even be prizes! We can’t wait to see you there AND in costume. DISCLAIMER: if you are in an 11AM technique class, please first report to your class so your instructor can take attendance. Happy Halloween, dancers! 🎃



[Image Description:

An infographic with an orange background and yellow text reads “CSULB Dance Celebration October 31st at 11AM at the Pyramid.”Underneath it reads in multicolored letters “Boo!” At the bottom, a black bar with orange text reads “with a special dance choreographed by Andy Vaca AND a costume contest.”]

THIS SATURDAY! and Tashara Gavin-Moorehead are hosting Jazz House: A Dance Social Event in Studio 7 from 11AM-12:30PM. Jazz House is a collaborative effort to bring together African Diasporic social dances together while creating an environment of freestyle and improvisation. This event is designed to encourage students to expand their vernacular jazz and house movement vocabularies and how to use them in a social context while building community through dance. See you there!



[Image Description:

A dark green background with tan lettering reads “CSULB Dance Department presents Jazz House: A Dance Social Event. October 29 11AM-12:30PM. Three photos are lined up, one of Tsiambwom Akuchu mid-air, Tashara Gavin-Moorehead dancing, and Danzel Thompson-Stout crouched on the ground balancing on one leg. Their name is placed under each photo in tan lettering.]

Last chance to watch our Variance Concert!

Tickets available for our 2pm matinee and 8pm evening performance.

🎟Tickets are on sale through the link in bio
(CSULB dance majors don’t forget to use your student discount!)



[Post Description: various images of dancers performing in costume on stage in the Martha B. Nobel Dance Theater.]

Opening night is TONIGHT!

Variance runs October 13th -15th at 8 pm along with a Saturday matinee performance at 2 pm

Tonight is your only opportunity to Live-stream our performance. If you can’t make it in person, be sure to grab your virtual tickets at the link in bio.



[Post Description: various images of dancers performing on stage]

CSULB Dance is heartbroken to announce that Dance Faculty Emerita Patricia Remick Finot has passed away on September 29 at the age of 85. Pat taught at the department from 1977 - 2004 and left a lasting impression on the students during that time. She will be greatly missed.

[I.D.: White text on a semitransparent black bar reads “In Memoriam Patricia Remick Finot 1936-2022”. Pat in a grey sweater against a grey backdrop.]

Welcome back to campus, CSULB! MFA Thesis Auditions will be held THIS Thursday, August 25th from 6-8PM. We will meet in the Dance Courtyard at 5:30PM for check-in. Casting will be announced on or before Tuesday, August 30th. Choreographers may reach out to you to clarify your information and availability during this process. Swipe for more information. We’ll see you there!

[Image Description:
Title Slide:
A soft yellow slide that includes pastel green pop images that are star shaped, a square, and curved lines on the top right and bottom left corners of the slide. The center square has a pastel green border. There are four small circles lined up colored red, yellow, blue and white. The center of the square is soft yellow and in black text reads “CSULB MFA SHOW AUDITIONS.” Below in bold, black text reads “THURSDAY AUGUST 25th 6-8p”
Slide of Important Dates:
A soft yellow slide whose header reads “Important Dates” in black text. Below, the dates, times and tasks are listed, which reads “August 25th @ Noon: APPLICATIONS DUE August 25th @ 6p: AUDITION (5:30p check in) December 9th 2:30-4:30p: Thesis Progress Showing Month of March: Tech and Show for MFA Thesis Show. (NOTE: Each choreographer will have a different date.” in black text)
Slide of schedule:
A soft yellow slide whose header reads “Schedule of Audition” in black text. Below is the order of how the MFA audition will run and Santa, Azuki, Katie, and AJ’s names are underlined. It reads “Santa (warm up): 6-6:15 Azuki: 6:15-6:50 Katie: 6:50-7:25p AJ: 7:25-8p” in black text.

Azuki’s Picture:
An image of Azuki closing her eyes, tilting her head upwards towards the cloudy, powder puff blue skies. She is covering her mouth, has a tattoo of arms hugging above her elbow and is wearing a black top. Above, reads her full name and what she is looking for in her thesis cast. “Azuki Umeda: Hey all! I’m looking for those who understand musicality, timing, and want to further research music visualization through text, instrumentation, and sounds in general. Must understand dynamics and textures. The more versatile, the better.”

Image Description continued in comments.]

⭐️ Attention CSULB Dance Majors and Minors ⭐️ there is STILL time to register for some amazing Dance courses this fall! Are you looking for a few more credits to round out your semester? Look no further! Swipe for course details and login to MyCSULB to sign up TODAY!



[Image Description:
Slide 1) Yellow Background with beige internet browser graphic. The text reads “Attention CSULB Dance Majors & Minors: Are you looking for a few more credits to round out your Fall Semester? Keep swiping for good news…”
Slide 2) Yellow background with beige internet browser graphic. The text reads “There is still availability in some fantastic Fall dance courses! Swipe for course information. One course per slide.”
Slide 3) Beige background with black text. The text reads “Beginning/Intermediate Tap Dance, Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00PM-2:40PM with Steve Zee”
Slide 4) Beige background with black text. The text reads “Intermediate Modern, Mondays and Wednesdays 9:00AM-10:40AM with Liz Curtis”
Slide 5) Beige background with black text. The text reads “Ballet Pointe, Fridays 11:00AM-12:40PM with Lisa Johnson”
Slide 6) Beige background with black text. The text reads “Dance Activity I (Limon Technique), Fridays 9:00AM-10:40AM with Brenna Monroe-Cook”
Slide 7) Beige background with black text. The text reads “Dance Laboratory (Jazz and Theatre), Fridays 11:00AM-12:40PM with Steven Sofia”
Slide 8) Beige background with black text. The text reads “Dance Laboratory (Cunningham Technique), Fridays 11:00AM-12:40PM with Holley Farmer)
Slide 9) Yellow Background with beige internet browser graphic. The text reads “Don’t delay…Enroll today! Login to your CSULB Single Sign-On and sign up for one of these amazing courses in the Student Center (MyCSULB) application. Check your CSULB Student Email for more detailed course information.]

The Audio Description and Closed Captioned version of our 2022 Contemporary Dance Festival: Program A & B is on sale now and available for online viewing from Wed, May 18, 2022, 12:00 PM – Wed, May 25, 2022, 12:00 PM PDT with your digital ticket purchase. Link in Bio.
-

-
[Image Description: CSULB Dance and College of the Arts Present 2022 Contemporary Dance Festival. Programs A&B. Audio Description and CC Versions. Black and White AD logo and CC logo against a black background. A male dancer and female leap while facing opposite directions over a black and white background transition.]

2022 Graduation Brunch at the Dance Center - CSULB Dance

Congratulations for our 2022 Graduating Seniors! We will miss you. Go forth and dance!

2022 Graduation Brunch at the Dance Center - CSULB Dance Photos by Gregory R.R. Crosby

Kevin Holland's “Go” and Yukiko Nimura's “See the X” were chosen to be a part of the ACDA At-Large Virtual Adjudication Gala Concert B! 26 dances were adjudicated in Concert B and 10 made the Gala. Congratulations to Kevin and Yukiko and their amazing casts who danced these works in our fall Variance concert. Thank you, also, to all of the designers who were a part of these presentations.
-


[I.D.1: A collage of three separate performance photos that expand past the frame to the right. Top left is a female dancer performing. The right is a tight group of dancers in white with outstretched arms. Bottom is a clump of dancers in white lit with purples and blues.]
[I.D.2: A continuation of the collage with the second half of the group of dancers with outstretched arms. Two other photos of a female soloist in a tan and burgundy costume.]

Hey Seniors.. check this out!

Backhausdance, Southern California’s critically-acclaimed contemporary dance company is seeking dancers of all identities for its 2022-2023 season. Strong modern technique with a solid ballet background is required. Audition will be in-person with possible call backs.

Saturday May 14, 2022 | 1pm-4pm
Partridge Dance Center (190 N Cypress St. Orange, CA 92866)

We are strong advocates for inclusivity and celebrate diversity of people, perspectives, and ideas. Dancers of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

To register, please contact [email protected]
Visit backhausdance.org/audition for more information.

Dancers:
Photo:

Introducing Eliza Loren, whose piece “crush me mush me” will be performed in the Program B shows. In “crush me mush me”, the process of loving and hurting the ones close to us is explored vicariously through the process of peeling a pomelo fruit--a large citrus originating from Southeast Asia which bears sweet, tart, and fragrant fruit, protected by many layers of flesh. How is the flesh when full and how can it be emptied? Peel, pick, press, pull, pound, pierce, unveil.

Program B will be live streamed on Friday, April 22. Tickets for the live stream are $15 and can be purchased via the link in our bio.

Photography by Gregory R.R. Crosby

[ID: Eliza onstage holding a camera. She is dressed in black and stands against a dark background.]

Introducing Rafael Austria, whose piece “The Gift of Dance” will be performed in the Program B shows. Rafael shares that “‘The Gift of Dance’ celebrates the diversity of bodies and dance styles connected through the Mathematical concept of the ‘Golden Ratio', sometimes called ‘The Divine Proportion.’ The dancers move with a repeating spiral theme as well as a specific way of counting movement phrases. This dance also takes the audience through different chapters of the piece, showcasing the different ways that dance has served humanity throughout our history as well as the present.”

Program B will be live streamed on Friday, April 22. Tickets for the live stream are $15 and can be purchased via the link in our bio.

[ID: An image example of the Fibonacci Sequence in bright colors, primarily a bright blue.]

Congratulations to Program A on an amazing opening night! Program B will be opening their shows this evening!

Introducing Kevin Holland, whose piece “Pivot” will be performed in the Program B shows. “Pivot” takes place in the space where we hover before contact is made. It is a piece about nearness and proximity, and feeling the energy of those around us through reverberations in place of physical touch. It explores finding everything you need through touch, but from a distance, and relying on other ways to relate to one another

Program B will be live streamed on Friday, April 22. Tickets for the live stream are $15 and can be purchased via the link in our bio.

[ID: This poster is a collage created by Odessa Newman. It consists of muted blue tones, white tones and pink tones, as well as images of people and patterns. The words “contact”, “touch”, “energy sensation”, “proximity and distance” are placed on the collage.]

Introducing Jayde Spiegel, whose piece “Listen Closer” will be performed in the Program B shows. “Listen Closer” follows the journey between intuition and follow-through. The dancer explores recognizing innate thoughts and desires, and allowing them to develop into fully realized ideas and feelings. There's a struggle to follow through on intuitive voices without getting swept up and lost in external factors around you.

Program B will be live streamed on Friday, April 22. Tickets for the live stream are $15 and can be purchased via the link in our bio.

[ID: An abstract art piece in pink, green and blue colors takes up the majority of the poster. The title of the piece, “Listen Closely”, is in the art in a blue color. Jayde’s name is on the bottom of the poster.]

Introducing José Argueta, whose piece “crossroads” will be performed in the Program B shows. “crossroads” explores the conflict between the artistic and the academic. In choosing between one or the other, different voices with conflicting opinions are personified through the use of the hands. The exhaustion from conflict is brought to life through movement which brings together both soft and rigid movement qualities.

Program B will be live streamed on Friday, April 22. Tickets for the live stream are $15 and can be purchased via the link in our bio.

[ID: A photo of José looking straight forward with his chin resting on his hand makes up the transparent background of the poster. An opaque cutout of José in a penché takes up the right side. José’s name and title of the piece are in black text in the bottom left and top right corners.]

Introducing Kyrea Eubanks and Melissa Valenzuela, whose piece “In Reach'' will be performed in the Program B shows. They share that their “piece embodies the human experience of feeling as though we are at the mercy of our surroundings and those who surround us. This then results in making the taxing effort to earn love and approval as though it is a reward, and is followed by guilt and shame. The vulnerability and intensity of being acquiescent played an important role in our process.”

Program B will be live streamed on Friday, April 22. Tickets for the live stream are $15 and can be purchased via the link in our bio.

[ID: A drawing of a dog with its paws on a welcome mat and a bird in its mouth is displayed on a white background. The words “so i’ll wait for the next time you want me… like a dog with a bird at your door” are next to the drawing. The title of the piece and the choreographer names are in the bottom left corner.]

Introducing Natalie Bojorquez, whose piece “Tias” will be performed in the Program B shows. In “Tias,” Natalie explores womanhood based on her interactions and encounters of her aunts, or better known as her Tias. She is most interested in how unique and powerful they are as individuals but even more fascinated by how powerful they can be when together. In observing their interactions she was inspired to explore the femininity, strength, and beauty exuded between them and how this ties into society's perception of women.

Program B will be live streamed on Friday, April 22. Tickets for the live stream are $15 and can be purchased via the link in our bio.

[ID: Many photos make up a collage, mainly in bold colors like orange, purple, red, and blue. There are images of women’s figures, as well as many patterns. One photo has text that says “LATINA AF” multiple times.]