The Santa Monica College Dance Department is proud to present the Spring 2015 Masters of Dance Series, an eclectic series of master classes and lectures. The series opens on April 2 with a special dance seminar — "How to Make Money with Your Dance Degree" — presented by Monica Reid, an expert with more than 10 years of experience in the concert dance sector.
All dance master classes are free and are held on the SMC main campus, 1900 Pico Blvd. Seating is on a first-arrival basis.
Reid, who has worked for Dance/USA, the National Service Organization for Professional Dance, and the Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco - and also as a grant reader for the Dance division of the National Endowment for the Arts - will talk about real-world tactics that can help dancers navigate their passion for dance and a career in the field of dance. She will speak on Thursday, April 2, at 12:15 p.m. in Gym 104.
The remaining Masters of Dance lineup for the season is:
April 30 (10:15 a.m., Gym 104): Eleanor McCoy will teach a Modern Dance: Martha Graham Technique class that explores Graham's methodology, style, and philosophy of dance. McCoy is a dancer/actress/choreographer with dance trainings from Helen McGehee and Mary Hinkson for Martha Graham Technique; Thelma Hill, Talley Beatty, and Alvin Ailey for Lester Horton Technique; and Pearl Primus for African Dance Technique. If participating, wear appropriate black on black dancewear.
May 20 (12:30 p.m., Gym 104): Josie Walsh will present a Contemporary Ballet workshop that explores her unique, progressive approach to ballet, rooted in a strong classical base, and fusing contemporary and modern principles in a way that connects dancers technically, while opening them up artistically through the ballet syllabus and beyond. Chosen as one of Los Angeles Times' "Faces to Watch 2014," Walsh is currently Artistic Director/Choreographer of Ballet RED in Los Angeles, and Artistic Director of the Joffrey Los Angeles and San Francisco Contemporary Ballet Programs. If participating, wear appropriate black on black dancewear.
The master class series is sponsored by the SMC Dance Department and SMC Associates (www.smc.edu/associates), a private organization that funds speakers and special programs on campus.
For information, visit www.smc.edu/dance or call (310) 434-4003 or (310) 434-3467.
