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Guest Artist Series

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The Dance Program's Guest Artist Series enables our dancers to receive guidance and inspiration from performers, scholars, and educators from various companies and organizations. We contract 6-8 artists representing multiple genres each year to build connections and networking opportunities for our students to utilize after graduation. We have hosted company dancers from international companies: Baryshnikov's White Oak Project, Alvin Ailey Dance Company, Erick Hawkins Dance Company, Martha Graham Company, Merce Cunningham, Lar Lubovitch, Meredith Monk, Netherlands Dance Theatre, Frankfurt Ballet, Ballet X, American Ballet Theatre. We also work closely with many regional companies and freelance artists to ensure good collaboration within our SoCal dance community. Contra Tiempo, FUSE Dance Company, Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company, No Limits Creative Arts, and Beyond Prison Walls.

Listed below are Guest Artists who have shared their teaching, lectures, and choreography with our students.

For more information on our guest artists series, please contact the Dance Program Coordinator.

Guest artists working with dance program students.

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Guest Artists by Year

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2024-25

Ashley Diamond, Dance Agent, Clear Talent Group
Annie Kahne, Independent Dance Artist, Alive & Well Productions
Lisa Thurrell and Robert Cleary, Artistic Directors Kanopy Dance Company
Dolly Sfeir, Director and Choreographer
Dennzyl Green, Choreographer, Dancer EMERGE Dance NYC
Jessie Lee Thorne, Choreographer/Film maker
Chandler Davids, Dancer Rosalia World Tour, Jacob Jonas Company
Fran Kirmser, Broadway Producer, Co-author of A LIFE IN DANCE - A practical guide
Sadie Weinberg, Artistic Director, LITVAK Dance Co
Jonathan Kim, Dancer Repertory Dance Theatre
Shenandoah Harris, Artistic Director, Psychopomp Dance Theatre
Kathy Duran, Dancer Backhouse Dance Co., FUSE Dance Co.
Boroka Nagy, Artistic Director of RE;Born Dance Co.
Jamila Glass, Artistic Director of LA Contemporary Dance Co.
Anna Tse, Co-creator, Director of Photography HEAVY BOOTS Dance Co.
Layne Paradis Willis Co-creator, Choreographer HEAVY BOOTS Dance Co.

2023-24

Suchi Branfman: Dancing Through Prison Walls
Carla Hutchinson, No Limits Creative Arts, Teaching students with disabilities
Chandler Davids, Rosalia Tour, Jacob Jonas Dance Company
Ricardo Melendez: Ballet Hispanico, Dance Kaleidoscope
Edgar Aguirre, Contra-Tiempo, LA Contemporary Dance
Justin Cardell: LA Ground Grooves
Kati Hernandez: Afro-Cuban
Dennzyl Green, Emerge Dance NYC
Sadie Weinberg, Artistic Director, LITVAK Dance Co
Shenandoah Harris, Artistic Director, Psychopomp Dance Theatre

2022-23

Carla Hutchinson, No Limits Creative Arts, Teaching students with disabilities
Amy Morrow, Artistic Director, The Theorists: Choreography for Social Impact
A’Kaila Willis: Alumni, Teaching students with disabilities
Natasha Diamond Walker: Martha Graham Dance Company
Rosanna Tavarez, Counter Technique
Jamila Glass, Artistic Director, LA Contemporary
Danah Bella, Peabody Conservatory, Johns Hopkins
Hai Cohen, Body Traffic, Kibbutz Dance
Steve Rosa, Saddleback College
Karama Butler, Dayton Contemporary Dance. Company and Dance Theatre X
Edgar Aguirre, Contra-Tiempo, LA Contemporary Dance
Rachel Josefina, Mindset Coach, Alumnus
C.J. Jensen, Lady Gaga Tour, Alumnus
Abigail DiGrazia, Personal Trainer, Alumnus
Sharmila Mitra, Dance Alumnus Director Core Arts Studio
Charles O. Anderson, Chair Dance Department, OSU and Artistic Director dance theatre X
Yoshito Sakuraba, Founding Artistic Director of Abarukas

2020-21

Natasha Diamond-Walker, Soloist Martha Graham Dance Company
Bill Purdich: Executive Director of The EDGE, Celebrity coach, Performer La La Land
Charlotte Griffin, Artistic Director Griffin Dance
Sokolow Dance Theatre, NYC
Marlene Pena Artistic Director Ballet Folkloric
Mercedes Ibarra, Flamenco Artist
Kristi Licera, alumnus, Dance Writer/Editor and Performer, Chicago, IL
Heidi Latsky, Artistic Director Latsky Dance, NYC
Monternez Rezell Hip Hop Artist/Director Chicago, IL
Clare Porter Text & Movement Choreographer, NYC
Earl Frederick Mosely Artistic Director Diversity of Dance, NYC
Tom Tsai Break Dance Artist
Nicole Clarke-Springer Artistic Director Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, Chicago, IL
Fran Kirmser, B’way Producer, Emmy Award Winner, consultant, NYC

2019-20

Bradley Beakes alumnus, member of Doug Varone and Dancers (NYC)
Doug Varone Artistic Director of Doug Varone and Dancers (NYC)
Amanda Cobb, (member of American Ballet Theatre and faculty at the ABT Gillespie School)
Bryn Cohn Artistic Director Bryn Cohn and Artists (NYC)
Irvin Manuel Gonzalex, Primera Generacion Dance
Rachel Berman, Paul Taylor Dance Company (NYC)
Charlotte Griffin (Artistic Director Griffin Dance)
Ezra Le Blank (Artistic Director of Bossy Flyer, CSU, Summer Arts-Pilobolous)
Kenneth Easter (San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet, ABT and faculty at the ABT Gillespie School)
Luc De Lairesse, (professional ballet dancer and Ballet Master for leading International Dance Companies)

2018-19

Sharmila Mitra Dance Alumnus Director Core Arts Studio
Steven Hyde, Royal Winnipeg Ballet (Canada) and American Ballet Theater (NY).
Liberty Harris, Dance Kaleidoscope (IN) rehearsal director for the company
Veronika Part, Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theater (NY) and international guest artist
Jean-Philippe Malaty, Artistic Director of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (CO)
Luc De Lairesse, currently international guest teacher
Gary Joyce, American Ballet Theater II (NY), Nevada Dance Theatre (NV), Kiel ballet and National ballet of Munich (Germany)
Rebecca Levey Artistic Director of Jacksonville Dance Theatre (FL)
Alexsandra Meijer, principal dancer with Ballet San Jose (CA)
Amy Macon, American Ballet Theatre certified teacher.
Johnathan Bryant MOMIX, Invertigo Dance Theatre
Colin Connor (Artistic Director Limon Company, NYC)
Bradley Beakes alumnus, member of Doug Varone and Dancers (NYC)
Kellen Stancil program alumnus and Dance Captain for Lion King Broadway production (NYC)
Jonathon Kim program alumnus and member Repertory Dance Theatre (Utah)
Mia Munroe Gyrokinesis

2017-18

Keith Johnson Artistic Director Keith Johnson and Dancers
Kristi Licera Dance Alumnus and dance writer (Chicago)
Lynn Simonson (Director/Creator Simonson Technique)
Leslie Scott Artistic Director BODYART
Amy Diane Morrow: Gaga Movement Language

2016-17

Sharmila Mitra, Dance Alum and Director of Core Arts Studio
Daniel Jaber, Australian Dance Theatre
Sarah Houspian Dance Alumnus member of Battery Dance Company (NYC)
Mike Esperanza Artistic Director BARE Dance Company (NYC)
Don Martin Guest Residency
Cynthia Rierester Horton Residency
Bryn Cohn Artistic Director Bryn Cohn and Artists (NYC)
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (Ohio)
Robert Pulido Dance Alumnus, member of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
Carol Mead, Martha Graham Dance Company and Nikolais Lewis Dance Company

2015-16

Bryn Cohan (Artistic Director Bryn Cohan and Artists, NYC)
Nancy Colahan (Lar Lubavitch, Baryshnikov’s White Oak , NYC)
Colin Connor (Artistic Director Limon Company, NYC)
Jennifer Muller (Artistic Director Jennifer Muller /The Works, NYC)
Mike Esperanza (Artistic Director BARE, NYC)
Donald McKayle (Artistic Director, Dance Etude)
Cynthia Rierester (Horton Specialist)
Eric Rivera (Ballet Hispanico)
Brad Beakes (Ririe-Woodbury Company, Salt Lake City, UT)
Alaine Haubert (Principal of American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School at The Segerstrom Center for the Arts & former ABT Ballet Mistress)

2014-15

Lionel Popkin & Dancers (former Trisha Brown Company Member)
Colin Connor (International Choreographer, former Limon Company Soloist)
Josh Romero (Fuse Dance Co. Artistic Director)
Mike Esperanza (BARE Dance Co. Artistic Director)
Nancy Colahan (Soloist with Lar Lubovitch, Baryshinikov’s White Oak Project)
Clint Lutes (Lucky Trimmer International Dance Festival Founder)

2013-14

Jonathon Fredrickson (Hubbard Street Dance Chicago)
Sumi Clements (Co-Director, Summation Dance Company, NYC)
Taryn Vander Hoop (Co-Director, Summation Dance Company, NYC)
Jessica Kondrath (Artistic Director,The Movement)

2012-13

Daniel Charon (Doug Varone and Dancers)
Natalie Desch (Doug Varone and Dancers)
Stephanie Powers (Alvin Ailey)
Colin Connor (Limón Dance Company)
Joshua Romero (Fuse Dance Company, Artistic Director)

2011-12

Mike Esperanza (Bare Dance Company, Artistic Director)
Jeff Slayton (Merce Cunningham Dance Co.)
Alaine Haubert (American Ballet Theatre)
Fiona Lummis (Netherlands Dance Theatre)
Leslie Carothers (Joffery Ballet)
Sophie Monat (National Ballet of Portugal)
Michael Nickerson-Rossi (Nickerson-Rossi Dance Co. Artistic Director)

2010-11

Colin Connor (Limón Dance Company)
Sarah Swenson (Vox Dance Theatre, Artistic Director)
Garfield Lemonious (Dallas Black Dance Theatre)
Jeffrey Gerodias (Alvin Ailey)
Alaine Haubert (American Ballet Theatre)

2009-10

Tadej Brdnik, (Martha Graham Company)
Nora Reynolds, (Bella Lewistky Company, Lar Lubovitch & Dancers)
Lionel Popkin (Trisha Brown Company)
Carolyn Hall (Bessie Awarded soloist NYC)
Melissa Gillespie, (Oni Dance, Artistic Director)
Alaine Haubert (American Ballet Theatre)
Marie de la Palme (Alvin Ailey, II)
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (Jean-Philippe Malaty, Executive Director)
Colin Connor (Limón Dance Company)
Sarah Swenson (Vox Dance Theatre, Artistic Director)
Robert Wood (Merce Cunningham Co., Martha Clarke)

2008-09

Louis Kavouras (Erik Hawkins Co.)
Roxanne D'Orleans Juste, (Limón Dance Company, Associate Artistic Director)
Katherine Diamond (Limón Dance Company, Mark Morris Dance Company)
Marie de la Palme (Alvin Ailey)
Alaine Haubert (American Ballet Theatre)
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (Jean-Philippe Malaty, Executive Director)
Gary Masters (San Jose Dance Theatre, Limon Dance Company)
Colin Connor (Limón Dance Company)

2007-08

Rob Kitsos (Doug Elkins)
Alaine Haubert (American Ballet Theatre)
Damon Rago (Ririe-Woodbury, Tongue )
Viktor Kabaniaev (Leningrad State Ballet)
Risa Steinberg (Limón Dance Company)

2006-07

Alice Condadina (Limón Dance Company)
Mike Esperanza (BARE Company, Artistic Director)
Damon Rago (Ririe-Woodbury, Tongue )
Viktor Kabaniaev (Leningrad State Ballet)
Roxanne D'Orleans Juste, (Limón Dance Company, Associate Artistic Director)

2005-06

Bonnie Oda Homsey (Martha Graham)
Ruth Barnes (Merce Cunningham Company)
Donald McKayle
Jeffrey Gerodias (The Ailey Company)
Efren Corado (BARE Dance CO.)
Alaine Haubert (American Ballet Theatre)
Laura Green (Orange County Register Arts Critic)

2004-05

Laura Bleiburg (Dance Critic, Orange County Register)
Helen Picket (Ballet Frankfurt, under William Forsythe)
Sara Wookey
Lorin Johnson (American Ballet Theatre)
Glen Eddy (Netherlands Dance Theatre)

2003-04

Larry Rosenberg (Feld Ballet, Artistic Director Anaheim Ballet)
Donald Mckayle
Albert Reid (Merce Cunningham Co.)
Ruth Barnes (Merce Cunningham)
Nancy Colahan (Lar Lubavitch Co. and Baryishnikov's White Oak)
Louis Kavouras (Erik Hawkins Co.)

2002-03

Janis Brenner, NYC
Island Moving Company, Rhode Island
Fiona Loomis and Glen Eddy, (Netherlands Dance Theatre)
Bonnie Oda Homsey, Martha Graham Company
Stanley Holden
Gabrielle Brown, (American Ballet Theatre)

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