ÓéÀֳǹÙÍø

Long Beach, CA—The ÓéÀֳǹÙÍø Department of Dance presents the 2025 Contemporary Dance Concert, featuring eight premiere works by thirteen undergraduate student choreographers. Performances are April 24-26 at 8:00 PM, plus a Saturday April 26 matinee at 1:00 PM, in the Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theater on the ÓéÀֳǹÙÍø campus. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $16 for seniors, students, and ÓéÀֳǹÙÍø faculty/staff.

This year’s showcase of student works is choreographed by undergraduate dance majors Eva Anderson, Evie Barakat, Emily Boudreau/Shanti Topzand, John Briones/Dante Casarin/Sammy Macias, Julisa Carbajal/Sydney Robinson, Jayden Cardona, Lauren Kay/Elisa Murray, and Eva Watson.  These exciting new works range in style from abstract contemporary street dance to narrative-based contemporary dance and connect dance with topics including forest ecosystems, the parlor game Exquisite Corpse, the experience of womanhood, the anxiety of and reaction to the repetitive and relentless drone of the everyday work routine, the weight of personal memories, and the Mexican folk tale La Llorona.  The choreographers have been working on their dances since the fall semester and participated in a competitive proposal process in order to be chosen for this year’s concert. 

Performances of the Contemporary Dance Concert are in the Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theater, a part of the ÓéÀֳǹÙÍø Dance Center and adjacent to the Walter Pyramid on Atherton Street. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $16 for seniors, students (with valid ID), and ÓéÀֳǹÙÍø Faculty/Staff. All tickets must be purchased online. Ticket sales are available until 30 minutes past the start of each show, or until sold out. $15 campus parking is available in ÓéÀֳǹÙÍø Parking Lot G12, directly in front of the Carpenter Performing Arts Center (6200 Atherton Street), via parking kiosk (cards only) and the .
 

Each choreographer/choreographic team has since worked with a faculty mentor (or two) and our incredibly talented production team including Costume Design Supervisor and Shop Manager Kelsey Vidic and Costume Technician Erika Hansen, Lighting Designer Stacy Fireheart, Technical Director Stephanie Losleben, Music Director Dr. Don Nichols, Technology and Media Advisor Gregory R.R. Crosby, and Concert Director Andrew Vaca. In addition to eight premiere dance works, the Contemporary Dance Concert features costume designs by six talented student designers from three different ÓéÀֳǹÙÍø programs:  Fashion Design, Dance, and Industrial Design.  Bringing movement and storytelling techniques to their designs is paramount for these upcoming costume designers, all mentored by ÓéÀֳǹÙÍø Dance Costume Designer Kelsey Vidic. The student designers are Israel Hernandez, Valeria Galaz, Brandon Garcia Michel, Brooke Grayton, Trinity Juarez, and Brianna Proud.