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A Destination for Dance!

Orange Coast College's Dance Department has enjoyed a national reputation for quality, creativity and comprehensive curriculum with courses in a variety of dance styles since 1962.  Our Pilates instructor programs lead to direct employment- graduates teach in Pilates, Dance, or Fitness studios, recreational facilities, and health clubs.

OCC students have several opportunities to perform each semester in our 916-seat Robert B. Moore Theatre in works choreographed by faculty, students, and guest artists. Performance and choreography opportunities include the Fall Dance Concert, Spring Dance Celebration and the end-of-the-semester Student Dance Showcases.

Students also perform in festivals and invitationals throughout Southern California and participate each year in the American College Dance Association’s annual conference (Baja region), and in the Palm Desert Choreography Festival.

OCC offers a Dance Master Class Series, Artist Talks and Pilates Guest Speakers, often open to the public.

Interested in our Dance Program? Contact Rachel Berman, Dance Department Chair.

Robert B. Moore TheatreRobert B. Moore Theatre
Our 916 seat Robert B. Moore Theatre stage measures 40 feet wide by 32 feet deep and has a state-of-the-art basket weave sprung floor. The facility has dressing rooms and quick change areas to accommodate up to 60 performers. All OCC Dance productions, including Student Dance Showcase, are presented in this excellent theatre space that beautifully supports dance.

Dance StudioDance Studios
We have two large dance studios (60'x40' and 50'x40') with state-of-the-art basket weave sprung floors, pianos, and the latest audio/visual equipment (large flat screen TV, computers, and integrated audio).​

​​PIlates StudioPilates Apparatus Studios
Our Pilates studio is fully-equipped with reformers, Wunda chairs, Cadillac/Trapeze tables and additional small apparatus



2026
Camden Loeser - Cole Jazz
Pilobolus
Paul Taylor Dance Company

2025
Doug Varone Company Dancers
Savannah Spratt - José Limón Dance Company

2024
Jennifer Backhaus - Director of Backhaus Dance
Taryn Chavez - Avanti Dance Studio
Disneyland Resort Talent Casting Team
Ardyn Flynt - Funkamental Medikinetics
Linda-Denise Fisher Harrell - Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Lisa Lindholm - Go 2 Talent Agency
Lisa Long, Associate Professor, Cal State Fullerton
Julie Opiel - BODYTRAFFIC
Alvin Rangel - CSU Fullerton, Chair of Dance
Sarah Stanley - Diavolo
Rachel Whiting - American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA)

2023
Crystaldawn Bell - Robert Moses Kin Dance Company
Arletta Anderson - Ground Grooves Dance Company
John Carrafa - Twyla Tharp Dance Company, choreographer TV and film
Krystal Masteller - Summation Dance Company
Kate Skarpetowska - Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, choreographer

2022
Gregory Butler - Fosse’s Chicago
Colin Connor - Limon
Roz LeBLanc Loo - Bill T Jones
Ardyn Flynt - Funkamental Medikinetics

2021
Colin Connor - Limon
Chard Gonzalez - Cunningham
Robert Moses - Director of KIN
Ardyn Flynt - Funkamental Medikinetics
Ezra Lebank - partnering
Shannon Grayson - Horton
Chad Hall - Dance for the camera/ editing

2020
Gregory Butler - Fosse’s Chicago
Lilian Barbeito - Director of Bodytraffic

2019
Ardyn Flynt - Funkamental Medikinetics
Wendy Whelan - Artistic Associate of NYC Ballet
Robbie Shaw - Choreographing the camera
Leslie Carothers - Aromaa- Ballet Floor barre
Keith Johnson - Modern
Laura Rossini - Horton

"My time at OCC provided a solid foundation for my dance career; and having worked in opera, ballet, contemporary, and a commercial arena of dance, the education provided by OCC is my touchstone."
- Robert Moses

 

"Straight off the plane from Paris, I dived not into the ocean but into a swirl of dance at OCC’s Dance Dept. The ​seemingly endless array of classes that were offered allowed me to find out what kind of dancer I could become.These were intense days, and I grabbed every bit of knowledge I could from the dance faculty; I’m forever thankful to Linda Sohl-Ellison, Karen Shanley, and Shana Menaker, who were instrumental in nurturing the budding artist in me.Rocking moments: nowhere else in the world did I experience doing demi-pliés at the barre, exit the studio during an earthquake and then go back to class to proceed with grands pliés!
Right after OCC, I moved to NYC and auditioned for The Juilliard School, where I graduated with a BFA in Dance in 1995.
Dance is a part of me and it all started at OCC."
- Franck Baranek, Spring 1990 – Summer 1991

 

"The Dance Department at Orange Coast College provides solid technical and artistic training, creating well-rounded dancers comparable to that of several university level programs. I owe my passion for dance to this program which prepared me to transfer into the highly competitive School of Dance at the University of Arizona. OCC instilled in me a strong foundation which has allowed me to continue my career of teaching, choreographing and dancing professionally. It taught me how to push myself to my potential and has served as a gateway to becoming successful in this career path."
- David McMahan, Fall 2005 – Spring 2009

 

"I am now the proud owner of The Dance Factory School of Performing Arts. Having attended other junior colleges before, OCC’s amazing dance program taught me the most by far. The Jazz, Ballet, and Tap classes helped me learn more about body placement, the correct alignment, and proper technique that now improves my teaching. OCC also offers a very helpful Choreography class and Dance Methodology course that taught me how to prepare in-depth lesson plans and offered information on owning a dance studio. I would not have been prepared to teach 40 hours a week and run a studio without my training at Orange Coast College."
- Julianne Thompson, Fall 2006 – Spring 2009

 

"The OCC dance program’s supportive and enriching environment successfully prepared me to transfer to California State University of Long Beach and for a professional career in dance. I discovered new ways of moving and choreographing under the mentorship of incredible faculty members. The department facilitated my transformation from a dancer to an artist and uncovered a new passion for somatic work."
- Ashley Dragon, 2007-2010

 

​ "I am so thankful to the OCC Dance Department instructors for their knowledge, passion for dance, dedicated mentorship and for encouraging us to choreograph! Their classes provided me with the tools I needed, laying a good foundation for developing my technique and choreographic voice. Thanks to their mentorship, I successfully transferred into the CSULB dance program and graduate with a BA."
- Estela McNaughton