ELAC Dance Concert Set

East Los Angeles College dance students Kristina Karmiryan and Laura Fuentes-Rogers will be among the Let’s Dance Company members that will perform at ELAC’s inaugural Dance Repertoire Concert at 7 p.m. March 31 at the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium.

Photo by Mario Villegas

MONTEREY PARK – The award-winning East Los Angeles College Let’s Dance Company will hold its inaugural Dance Repertoire Concert at 7 p.m. Saturday March 31, 2007 at the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium.

Choreographed by veteran ELAC dance instructor Kimberly Brown, the 37-member company will perform modern, jazz, ballet, lyrical and hip-hop dances. The award-winning Brown is now in her 20th year of choreographing dance shows.

The event also includes a lineup of guest speakers, including Selina Chi, ELAC’s dean of resource development and community relations, ELAC dance instructor Rick Crawford, professional dancer Kristen Chew and Majahlet Sibal, the owner of the San Marino Dance Academy. Chi and Crawford originally formed the dance company before turning it over to Brown in 1997. Chew is a former member of the Clipper Girls, the popular dance unit that performs at the Los Angeles Clippers home basketball games.

ELAC’s Dance Company is made up of talented and dedicated young men and women who represent a prestigious, diverse group of dancers with multi-cultural backgrounds.

“Our goal is to grow and prosper by taking an enthusiastic approach to learning and gathering memorable experiences,” Brown said. “Our refined disciplinary skills have contributed toward our accomplishments in rehearsals, performances, community events, tours, academic goals and future endeavors.”

Last summer, the dance team traveled to Munich, Germany to participate in the prestigious Tanzsommer European Dance Tour. The students toured through Germany, Italy, and Austria by bus, performing in seven cities with other North American dance companies sponsored by universities and private dance groups.

“We met with dance companies from all over the world and took master classes with some of the top dance instructors in the world,” Brown said, recalling the experience.

After receiving the invitation, the team spent nearly a year rehearsing many hours and raising money to pay for airfare and expenses. The college also provided funding.

ELAC’s Dance Department offers a wide variety of classes that prepare students for dance like body sculpting, yoga, body dynamics and Pilates. Dance classes range from classic ballet techniques and modern jazz to social dancing. International dances are taught in many classes including Latin American Salsa and Banda as well as hip hop dance skills. Dance production and performing courses prepare students to perform in professional companies or at theme parks.

For more information about the concert or to purchase tickets, call (323) 265-8740. The San Gabriel Civic Auditorium is located at 320 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel.