The Santa Monica College (SMC) Dance Department presents the Fall 2015 Masters of Dance Series, an eclectic series of master classes and lectures. The series opens on Oct. 7 with a Classical Ballet class presented by Roberto Almaguer, artistic director for Dance Peninsula Ballet.
All dance master classes are free and open to the public as observers or participants. The master classes are held on the SMC main campus, 1900 Pico Blvd. Seating is limited and on a first-arrival basis.
Almaguer – who has toured throughout Europe and Latin America as a National Ballet of Cuba soloist under the direction of legendary Prima Ballerina Alicia Alonso – will present a Contemporary Ballet class exploring his unique style and approach rooted in a strong classical base. This master class is for students at the advanced level of ballet technique. If participating, wear appropriate black on black dancewear. Almaguer’s master class will be held Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 10:15 pm in Gym 104.
The remaining Masters of Dance lineup for the season is:
• Oct. 29 (10:15 am, Gym 104): Hae Kyung Lee will discuss Postmodern/Improvisation (Embodying Culture Through Dance) – with a focus on the aesthetics and spiritual strengths of her Korean ancestry – and introduce her works traversing extremes of stark minimalism and high-voltage energy. She is the founder, artistic director, and choreographer for Hae Kyung Lee & Dancers, on the faculty in the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance at CSU Los Angeles, and a founding member of the Chopsticks & Sneakers Dance Company, and the Fall Ahead Dance and Performance Festival and Contemporary Dance Company.
• Nov. 19 (10:15 am, Gym 104): Holly Johnston will explore movement experiences in the context of a class in Contemporary Modern technique, addressing the connectivity of body to sensation and surroundings. She is the artistic director of bi-city (Los Angeles/San Francisco) Ledges and Bones and an international dance artist and educator with performances, commissions, and residencies at colleges and universities across the nation. If participating, wear appropriate black on black dancewear.
The Masters of Dance series is sponsored by the SMC Dance Department and SMC Associates, a private organization that funds speakers and special programs on the Santa Monica College campus.
For information, visit www.smc.edu/dance or call 310.434.4003 or 310.434.3467.
