Dance
Please help send MJC Dancers to the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, 2023!
MJC dancers have been selected by a panel of professional dance artists and educators from Jacob's Pillow located in Beckett, MA, to perform August 17th, on the Henry J. Leir Stage in the ACDA (American College Dance Association) Highlights Performance. Jacob's Pillow is an American historical landmark created by Modern Dance Pioneer Ted Shawn who built the first-ever theater in 1933 solely to present dance.
“Thousands of people, of all ages, from across the United States and the world, have Jacob’s Pillow to thank for opening their horizons to dance.”
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
awarding Jacob’s Pillow with a 2010 National Medal of Arts
MJC dancers Courtney Cake, Aimee Ilog, Mandi Jeffery, Isabella Ladine, Mary Kottalis and Lynann Pierce will perform Professor Kim T. Davis's piece "Within the Fault Line." The MJC Dance Program is honored to be the only college dance program from California to receive this prestigious invitation. Hundreds of college dance programs throughout the United States must progress through 3 levels of competition to receive this honor. Please consider being a sponsor to send these exceptional MJC Dancers to Jacob's Pillow (Beckett, Mass). The MJC dance program is ranked 5th in all of the United States Colleges and Universities, this distinction (or privlege) once again puts MJC Dance on the map as an institution that continues to provide outstanding and excellent training in dance education to all students who choose to pursue this path!
Dance Program
The Associate in Arts in Dance is intended for students who plan to enter the workforce as a choreographer, teacher or performing artist. Dance as an academic discipline focuses on dance as a performing art, as well as its social functions in other areas, including education, health, cultural studies, art, history, and the science of human movement. This degree provides an educational and practical foundation for students pursuing a professional career in dance. It is designed to create avenues toward further study in educational dance, intermediate to advanced technique, choreography, and dance performance. The Associate in Arts: Dance will prepare students to gain entry level employment with private dance studios, charter schools, and recreational programs with a dance emphasis. Career opportunities also exist in highly competitive professional dance companies, amusement parks, commercial dance, and teaching. There are choreography opportunities with dance and theatre companies. Students should be aware that career opportunities in dance performance related fields are highly competitive.
Donate to Friends of Dance at Modesto Junior College Here
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Degrees
Associate in Arts: Dance
The Associate in Arts in Dance is intended for students who plan to enter the workforce
as a choreographer, teacher or performing artist. Dance as an academic discipline
focuses on dance as a performing art, as well as its social functions in other areas,
including education, health, cultural studies, art, history, and the science of human
movement. This degree provides an educational and practical foundation for students
pursuing a professional career in dance. It is designed to create avenues toward further
study in educational dance, intermediate to advanced technique, choreography, and
dance performance. The Associate Degree in Dance will prepare students to gain entry
level employment with private dance studios, charter schools and recreational programs
with a dance emphasis. Career opportunities also exist in highly competitive professional
dance companies, amusement parks, commercial dance, and teaching. There are choreography
opportunities with dance and theatre companies. Students should be aware that career
opportunities in dance performance related fields are highly competitive.
Dance Program Highlights
- MJC dancers connect with other college dance programs by participating in the American College Dance Conference each year. Students enroll in master classes, workshops, and lectures by esteemed dance professors from Community College, CSU and UC institutions. MJC Faculty and Student choreography and performance is adjudicated at this conference and has the opportunity for selection in the top 10% of dances to be presented in the culminating performance of the conference. MJC has the honor of being chosen as one of the top 10% of colleges throughout California and Arizona for the past 13 years. MJC has been invited to host this conference in 2003, 2012, and 2017.
- Off~Balance Dance tours in the Bay Area with the dRepDance program; Vision Series, San Diego with the PGK Project, The Sacramento State Dance Sampler, the Choreo Projects at San Jose State University and UC Santa Barbara.
- Each year, MJC dance students have opportunities to work with professional dance artists through master classes and choreography. Guest Artists include, Carlos Jones from State University of New York, Rockport, Heather Cooper from San Jose State University, Philip Flickinger from Diavolo Dance Company, Holly Johnson from California Institute of the Arts, Nhan Ho from Nhan Ho Dance Project, Lisa Townsend, Keith Johnson of CSULB, and Rogelio Lopez of Saint Mary’s College.
- Students from the MJC dance program have transferred successfully to CSULB, SJSU, CSU Fullerton, Sacramento State, San Francisco State, UCI, and UC Riverside among others.
- Dance teachers in our community that have studied dance at MJC are currently credentialed teachers at Beyer, Davis, Gregori, and Ceres High Schools, and many of our dance students currently teach in many of the dance studios in Stanislaus County.
- Follow us on Facebook! #MJCDance
Meet the Faculty
Dance Faculty
Professor Kim T. Davis
PAC 209
209.575.6496
Full Time Faculty, Choreography, Intro to World of Dance, Modern Dance 2-4, Jazz 2-4
davisk@yosemite.edu
Ms. Davis is the Professor and Director of Dance at Modesto Junior College. Prior
to receiving her tenure Ms. Davis was an adjunct instructor for 15 years. Ms. Davis
teaches Dance 102 Intro to World Dance, Dance 112-114 Modern, Dance 132-134 Jazz,
Dance 121-124 Ballet, Dance 155 Fundamentals of Choreography, Dance 151 Movement for
the Performing Artist, and Dance 181-184 Rehearsal and Performance. Ms. Davis received
her BA in Dance from UCSB and her MA in Dance from CSULB. Ms. Davis is the resident
Musical Theatre Choreographer and Artistic Director for the fall and spring dance
productions. Ms. Davis has taught at CSU Stanislaus, CSU Long Beach, CSU Sacramento
and Stanford University as a Guest Lecturer for the Performance Studies Program teaching
Dance 110 - Duets. MJC Dance is also an institutional member of the American College
Dance Association that is a national organization that supports the success of all
collegiate dance programs. Ms. Davis served as a national board member on ACDA for
2 terms representing the West Region. As an MJC alum Ms. Davis is incredibly proud
and honored to be giving back and serving students at MJC who seek to deepen their
passion and love for dance education.
Professor Emeritus Lori Bryhni
Choreography
bryhnil@yosemite.edu
Lori is a Professor Emeritus and has taught dance technique, movement, choreography
and world cultures at Modesto Junior College for the past 39 years. She has her Masters
in Dance Education from CSULB. Lori has danced professionally with Loretta Livingston
and Dancers, is Past President of the California Dance Educators Association, and
currently is the Regional Director for the West Region in the American College Dance Association. 
Alexandra Sheppard
Modern 1
PAC 233
209.575.6308
shepparda@yosemite.edu
Alexandra is a proud MJC Alumni who joined the MJC faculty last summer. Alex earned
her BFA in Dance from San Jose State University and her MFA in Dance from St. Mary’s
College of California.
Rebbecca Meyers
Hip Hop / Jazz
PAC 233
209.575.6308
meyersr@yosemite.edu
Rebbecca Meyers received her dance training at Modesto Junior College under the direction
and mentorship of Lori Bryhni and Kim T. Davis. She has performed throughout California
and
surrounding states and has served as a teaching artist in Stanislaus County. In addition
to
performing, Ms. Meyers has worked with dance students of all ages for over two decades
through the art of teaching, mentorship, dance workshops, master classes, and the
creative
process of choreography for performance. Her choreographic works have been performed
on
various stages that include the Gallo Center, Modesto Junior College, Arizona State
University,
and more. Some of Rebbecca’s work has been awarded with artistic merit and honor as
well.
Ms. Meyers holds an MA in Secondary Education and recently received her MA in Dance
Education from the University of Northern Colorado. She is currently the Dance Director
at
Ceres High School in Ceres, Ca. As the Dance Director, Rebbecca works with her students
to
produce two dance concerts throughout the year, choreographs for the Drama Department’s
musicals, and coaches the Ceres High School Dance Team, a performance based group
that
performs at school and community events. Under Ms. Meyers’ direction, the Ceres High
School
Dance Department is an official chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts
in which
her students receive the opportunity to be inducted as lifelong members upon graduation.
Until recently, Rebbecca was the resident choreographer for the Modesto Junior College
Dance
program for almost two decades. She became part time faculty Spring 2023. Her areas
of
expertise include Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Dance History and Appreciation, as well as
Dance
Pedagogy. Currently, she teaches Hip Hop I-IV as well as Jazz I for the School of
Arts,
Performance, & the Humanities at Modesto Junior College.
Rebbecca is passionate about providing a dance education and skill set for students
on their
dance journeys and continues to serve as a link between their training and career
in dance.
Follow us @MJCDance
Annual Concerts
Fall ~ Jam n’ Jive: A performance that highlights MJC’s Jazz Dance program and works collaboratively with area high school and studio dance programs here in the Central Valley. The performance is mid fall on the Mainstage in the Performing and Media Arts Center. Auditions are in May, rehearsals begin late July.
Spring~ Off~Balance in Performance: A repertory dance concert featuring the MJC Off~Balance Dance Company. Modern and Contemporary dance genres choreographed by faculty, guest artists, and students. The performance is early spring on the Mainstage in the Performing and Media Arts Center. Auditions are held during the previous fall semester.
Spring~ Choreographer’s Showcase: A student choreographed concert. All genres of dance welcome. This concert is held in the Cabaret West Dance Theatre in the late spring. Auditions for the Choreographer’s Showcase are in late February. The Choreographer’s Showcase is bi-annual, odd years
Summer~ Hip-Hop ~ Off the Beat! Faculty, student, and guest artists choreograph a fast paced and energetic concert featuring hip hop in all urban dance styles. This concert is performed in June on the Mainstage in the Performing and Media Arts Center. Auditions are held in April/May. Off~Beat is bi-annual, even years.
NEWS!
Congratulations to MJC Dancers Jacob Cruz, Shean Bautista, McKenzie Hillier, Veenu
Gill, Fortino Garcia, Kevin Orellana, Tabitha Stewart, Paislie Taylor and Monica Zaragoza
for their performance in Professor Kim T. Davis’ piece “Knowing What You Know” which was presented at the American College Dance Association Conference for the
West Region at San Jose State on March 2nd, 2019 and was selected by 3 adjudicators to perform in the final Gala Performance
representing the top 10 schools within the West Region! This is an incredible honor
and wonderful recognition for the MJC Dance Program.
Modesto Junior College Dance heading to prestigious dance mecca, Jacob's Pillow
The MJC dance department has been selected by the American College Dance Association
and the esteemed Jacob's Pillow Dance directors to perform for the Inside/Out Festival
on August 24, 2017! "Vanishing at the Water's Edge" is invited to perform in the American
College Dance Association Performance Highlights program. The choreography is by MJC
Faculty, Kim T. Davis and will be performed by 13 dancers from the MJC Off~Balance
Dance Ensemble. A dancers dream one day is to visit, perform or to study at the famed
Jacob's Pillow in their outdoor Amphitheatre with a panoramic view of the Berkshire
Hills. Influential dance artists and companies have graced the stages and grounds
at Jacob's Pillow since 1931. Modesto Junior College is one of 5 colleges within the
United States invited to this prestigious event.
The MJC dance faculty and dancers are spinning, turning, and leaping to fund this
honor. The cost of the trip is $1,000 per student which includes airfare, hotel, and
meals for the 4 days of the experience of a dancer's lifetime!
Thank you to the MJC Foundation as well as our friends and family for all your love
and support...we've raised over $12,000 and we're going to Jacob's Pillow in Becket,
MA
Media
MODESTO JUNIOR COLLEGE DANCE HEADING TO PRESTIGIOUS DANCE MECCA, Channel 10 News, June 20, 2017