Spring — 2009

Eva Minott

Dance

“I came to SMC because my mom went here. And it’s also one of the very few community colleges that offers an AA degree in Dance.”

According to Eva Minott, dance is far more than just being agile with your footwork. “My favorite teacher is Judith Douglas, who I study Dance History with,” says Eva. “And that’s an important class, because it lets you in on the background of what you’re getting into. Judith has opened my eyes to the origins of all the dances throughout history. And when you look at dance from that perspective,” adds Eva, “you begin to understand that dance is a pretty clear expression of human evolution.”

Carpooling an hour each way from South LA with friends is “a sacrifice I’m more than willing to make,” says Eva. “I’ve been to another college, and it wasn’t nearly as comfy and ambition-oriented as SMC. And I think the teachers here are just remarkable. When you first get here—especially if you’re a ‘newbie’ like me—you must make time to talk one-on-one with your teachers. They have the knowledge, and they have the experience in life,” says Eva. “But you have to make the initial effort if you want their guiding insights.”

Looking ahead, Eva says that “in 10 years I’ll be teaching dance in South LA schools and bringing the art of it back to the community. Dance is very empowering, and it’s a way to get your feelings out. When you’re happy, you throw your hands in the air. And when you’re sad, you might hang your head. I’ve always thought of emotional expressions as a kind of dance. And I think that dance is a perfect language to connect with emotions.”

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