SRJC’s Spring Dance performance will entertain and educate the audience about the art of dance. This years’ performance is a unique compilation of jazz, hip-hop, ballet, modern and contemporary dance techniques blended to represent symbols and signs.

“The standard of what we are presenting is comparable to a four-year college dance program,” said Co-Director Lara Branen-Ahumada. “Artistically, it’s a high-level performance.”

The Annual Spring Dance Performance is making its way to the big stage where performers will showcase their latest masterpieces. This year’s theme is “Signs & Symbols.” Each dance number created by student and faculty choreographers is represented by a sign or symbol, with themes interpreted and explained through dance styles and techniques.

“The theme of the piece is derived from the symbol’s universal meaning resulting in a rich and varied concert that goes well beyond the expected,” Branen-Ahumada said in the Dance Program news release.

Some of the symbols expressed in this year’s performance are love, the tree of life, tsunamis (power of water), contaminations and an apple (temptation), just to name a few.

“The diversity [of dance in this performance] is really vast. There is a lot of blending of styles,” Co-Director Susan Matthies said.

A dramatic dance piece is the apple symbol which represents a temptation theme dance based around Adam and Eve, choreographed by Maddie Watson. The piece is a modern dance that incorporates a lot of partnering “which is very emotional and it’s not as fast as the other pieces,” Watson said. She utilites stillness, which is a choreographers’ choice.

The white knight, or “hero” theme, is represented through a hip-hop dance to the Mario Bros theme song. The tsunami dance piece, “when you watch it you can feel the energy,” and the movement stimulates the intensity, Matthies said. There is a crazy punk-rock piece, with an anarchy symbol and rebellion theme. The contamination symbol represents biohazard and is an energetic hip-hop dance with lots of special effects, with a “cringy, kind of, toxic feeling,” said Matthies. The variety of music combined with expressive dance will captivate the audience from start to end.

“My piece is darker then the rest, so there are a couple of surprises hidden within it,” said Watson on her symbol dance, “apple.”

There are two faculty choreographers Lea Poisson who specializes in modern dance and Carrie Stillman who is a hip-hop artist as well as 10 student choreographers: Erin Bowman, Bridget Codoni, Lorna Lushenko, Kyla Rice, Anakarina Sanchez, Kelsey Smith, Sierra Steele and Maddie Watson. There are at least 60 people in the show. The dance program always selects a guest choreographer. This year they hired guest choreographer, Malaya.
Malaya is a well-known choreographer and instructor in Los Angeles. She teaches classes at the EDGE Performing Arts Center in L.A and is part of Los Angeles Dance Force faculty. Malaya has showcased her talents on television and in feature films such as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” Prince’s “Betcha” music video, appeared with Celine Dion as well as Batman & Robin with George Clooney. She constantly travels, teaching master classes both nationally and internationally. “We wanted to create a good dance for her because she is an amazing choreographer and dancer,” choreographer and dancer Kelsey Smith said.

Malaya’s symbol in the Spring Dance Performance is ying and yang. “We didn’t want to let her down, so we all worked really hard to make it great for her,” Smith said.

The student dancers and choreographers meet for production hours twice a week for three hours, but almost every dancer dedicates multiple hours outside class.

Not just anyone can dance in the Spring Dance Show, like they could years ago. Now, dancers and choreographers must go through a rigorous audition process and must have experience to be selected. “We want that magic to happen, and for them to rise to a whole higher level of dancing through performing,” Branen-Ahumada said.

Maddie Watson said the process for student choreographers was “exciting yet nerve racking.” Student choreographers must demonstrate their dance skills, counting ability and a have clear objective in their piece. Once selected, the student choreographers are responsible for music and costumes for their dances. “You really grow from the experience and learn a tremendous amount about how to choreograph and learn dance techniques,” Branen-Ahumada said.

Kelsey Smith is a lifetime dancer and first time choreographer who appreciates the support from the SRJC dance community in her exploration and journey as a choreographer. “Learning how to become prepared as a dancer and a choreographer,” Smith said “Every moment of rehearsal is valuable that coming prepared is important.”

Branen-Ahumada and Matthies have collaborated for roughly 15 years as co-directors of the Spring Dance Show. Both have intensive and impressive dance, choreography and directing backgrounds which enabled the Spring Dance Performance to evolve into the work of art it’s known for. The annual SRJC Spring Dance Performance is co-presented by the department of Kinesiology, Dance & Athletics and the Theater Arts Department.

Opening night is May 11 at 8 p.m. On May 12 there will be a 2 p.m. matinée and an 8 p.m. performance. The last performance is May 13 with a matinée at 2 p.m. The show is Associated Students sponsored so AS members receive one free ticket to any show. Advance tickets are available for Signs & Symbols at the Theater Box Office located in Burbank Auditorium on the Santa Rosa Campus, Wednesday-Friday between 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Admission prices are as follows: $18 general, $15 students and seniors. The 2:00 p.m. show on May 12 is a bargain matinée performance for $10.

“Everyone is really inspired because the ‘Signs & Symbols’ theme is very rich,” Matthies said.