SMC Opens Fall 2024 Masters of Dance Series

The Santa Monica College (SMC) Dance Department opens its Fall 2024 Masters of Dance series with a line-up of master classes and learning workshops led by dance professionals. The series starts Sept. 26 with movement artist Stephanie Liapis leading a class focusing on self-awareness as a tool for connection to the body and its relationship to space. The Masters of Dance workshops are free, and the public is invited to attend as participants or as observers. Seating is limited and on a first-arrival basis.

The workshops will be held in the SMC Core Performance Center (CPC) on the SMC Main Campus (1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica).

The series is sponsored by the SMC Associates (smc.edu/associates) - a private organization that funds speakers and special programs on the Santa Monica College campus - and the SMC Dance Department.

The Fall 2024 Masters of Dance line-up is:

• Sept. 26 at 12:30 p.m.: Stephanie Liapis: "Activating Space" - Core Performance Center (CPC 304), located on the main SMC Campus, 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. Movement artist Stephanie Liapis will lead a class rooted in the study of self-awareness as a tool for connection. Influenced by her work with renowned choreographer and director Doug Varone, her class opens with a guided improvisation using imagery to create connection to the body and its relationship to space - and to build a sense of joy in movement - then explores repertory phrases from Varone's work, finding nuance and individuality amid highly athletic dancing. Liapis has taught at Long Island University-Brooklyn and Swarthmore College, and performed with Doug Varone and Dancers, Nicholas Leichter Dance, and Nancy Bannon, among others. She is currently dancing with Keith Johnson/Dancers. Free. Sponsored by the SMC Associates and SMC Dance Department.

• Oct. 7 at 10:15 a.m.: Jennie Morton: "Dance Injuries Demystified" - Core Performance Center (CPC 304), located on the main SMC Campus, 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. An osteopath specializing in performing arts medicine, Jennie Morton will lead a workshop that explores some common causes of dance injuries, plus share tools and strategies for how to prevent and manage injuries if they occur. The interactive session will mix both theory and practical strategies, and include time for questions and answers. Morton, with a background as a professional dancer and singer, is a current Board Director of the Dance Resource Center, a former Board Director for the Performing Arts Medicine Association, and the author of three books: "Dancing Longer, Dancing Stronger"; "The Embodied Dancer: A Guide to Optimal Performance"; and "The Authentic Performer: Wearing a Mask and the Effect on Health." Free. Sponsored by the SMC Associates and SMC Dance Department.

• Oct. 30 at 12:30 p.m.: Miss Prissy: "Krump Fusion: Exploring the Intersection of Krump and Contemporary Dance" - Core Performance Center (CPC 310), located on the main SMC Campus, 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. Miss Prissy, the Queen of Krump, will lead a dynamic class that delves into the fusion of two powerful dance styles - Krump, known for its raw, expressive movements; and Contemporary, celebrated for its fluidity and emotionality - to create a unique, exhilarating dance experience. One of the pioneers of Krump, Miss Prissy (aka Marquisa Gardner) emerged from the streets of South Los Angeles to play a pivotal role in Krump's development and global spread. She is a mentor, teacher, and ambassador for Krump worldwide, revered for her groundbreaking contributions to the dance style. Free. Sponsored by the SMC Associates and SMC Dance Department.

More information is available at smc.edu/dance or by calling 310-434-4100 or 310-434-8763. All presentations subject to change or cancellation without notice.