The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program. Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway. It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.
The courses have been intentionally placed and should be prioritized in
the order
in which they appear. If you are unable to take all the courses in
a semester, you
should prioritize enrolling in the courses in the order below.
Some courses have
been noted as “Appropriate for Intersession” 
. Should you need (or want) to take
classes
in the summer and/or winter intersessions,
the program recommends these courses as appropriate for the condensed
schedule of
the intersessions.
Some pathways combine a “Certificate of Achievement” and an “Associate
Degree”. If
you are pursuing only the Certificate of Achievement, you are only
required to take
the courses marked “Program Requirement” 
.
All pathways include at least one “Gateway Course” 
which introduces you to the program and/or field of study and helps you
decide if you want to continue with this Academic and Career Path.
Most Associate degrees (though not Associate Degrees for Transfer)
require satisfying the SMC Global Citizenship requirement. If the Program
Requirements do not include a “Global Citizenship course” 
, be sure to select a General Education course that also satisfies Global Citizenship.
Effective Fall 2023
The Commercial Dance Certificate of Achievement is specifically designed for the student seeking employment in the commercial dance world and related industries. The curriculum is designed to be completed in two semesters of study through coursework in the Santa Monica College Dance Department. Upon completion of this certificate, the student is prepared for the evolving demands of dance-related industries and demonstrates proficiency in diverse commercial dance techniques, performance and audition skills, and the presentation of artist materials. Coursework includes hip hop, jazz, tap, and world dance techniques, performance, choreography, and career preparation.
Upon completion of the Santa Monica College Commercial Dance Certificate of Achievement, students will demonstrate technical and artistic proficiency in commercial dance genres and generate artist materials needed for dance-related careers. Students will possess the industry knowledge, creative skill sets, and audition and networking strategies to pursue various dance-related employment opportunities. Students will develop greater confidence and resilience as artists and collaborators equipped for the dynamic nature of a career in the arts.
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate technical and artistic proficiency in commercial dance genres and generate artist materials needed for dance-related careers. Students will possess the industry knowledge, creative skill sets, and audition and networking strategies to pursue various dance-related employment opportunities. Students will develop greater confidence and resilience as artists and collaborators equipped for the dynamic nature of a career in the arts.
Icon Key
-
Gateway Course
-
Program Requirement
-
General Education -
Appropriate for
Intersession
-
Available Online -
Global Citizenship
Semester 1
11 Units
This course builds on the fundamental techniques of hip hop dance at an intermediate level. Attention is placed on syncopation, isolations and rhythms with an emphasis on musicality, strength, flexibility and coordination. Improvisation or "freestyling" is emphasized to further develop the individual expression and style indigenous to the form. Critical analysis of hip hop choreography and hip hop street dance, along with its cultural significance, history and origins as an art form are also emphasized. Written assignments and attendance at Dance Department concerts are required.
- Skills Advisory: DANCE 11
This course builds on the fundamental techniques of hip hop dance forms at an advanced level. Attention is placed on dynamic movement qualities, choreography execution, and complex musicality with an emphasis on syncopation, isolations, strength, control, coordination and performance. Improvisation or "freestyling" is emphasized to further develop the individual expression and style indigenous to the form. Critical analysis of hip hop choreography and current trends, along with hip hop dance’s cultural significance, history, and origins as an art form, are also emphasized.
- Skills Advisory: DANCE 12
This course offers performance experience in a world dance company. World dance forms are learned, refined, and presented in order to experience cultural identity, preservation, and global citizenship. Students audition as dancers and choreographers. Students rehearse and perform styles of world dances which may include African, Mexican, Asian, European, American, Jazz, Tap, Middle Eastern, and Latin. Students work with faculty choreographers, as well as professional guest choreographers. Students will participate in community outreach by performing in local schools, campus wide activities, as well as American College Dance Association and other conferences. Students will also learn how to transfer a dance work from the rehearsal studios to a professional stage, using the elements of staging, lighting, scenery/props, and make-up for various styles of dance productions. This performance class is intended for dance majors. Recommended dance experience in Dance 11-29, 31, 32, 33A, 33B, 34A, 34B, 41, 42, 43A, 43B, 44A, 44B, 60-63.
- Prerequisite: Audition Required
- Corequisite: Dance 10 or any Ballet, World, or Modern Dance Course (Dance 11-29, 31-38, 41-44B).
- Area V: Global Citizenship
This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of dance-related industries and necessary tools for success in dance-related fields. Students will examine past, current and projected industry trends and will be exposed to numerous dance-related career paths through lectures, discussion, research, case studies, and industry guest speakers. Students will learn how to create artist materials such as resumes, bios, cover letters, video reels, and online profiles, as well as learn audition and interview techniques for various dance career contexts. Students will be familiarized with contracts, wages, agencies, and freelance strategies while learning how to locate internships and job opportunities that align with skill sets and goals.
This course builds on DANCE 17 and focuses on intermediate-level tap dance technique, styles (including rhythm tap and Broadway tap), the cultural and historical origins of tap, and current trends and applications of tap in concert dance and musical theater. Students will focus on more complex steps, intricate, syncopated rhythms, tonal clarity, and speed. Different musical styles will be introduced relating rhythms, time signatures, and musical structures to tap styles. Emphasis will be on refining technical skills and executing more complex choreography while exploring elements of improvisation. Historical studies on topics surrounding tap dance pioneers, codified styles, cultural influences, and current trends are included.
- Skills Advisory: DANCE 17
Students will learn world dance styles and techniques. The study of the music, art, costumes, customs, and origins of each style is also included.
This course offers an intermediate level of Asian/Pacific dance technique with an emphasis on developing aesthetic concepts and principles of movement vocabulary of Bali, Sumatra, Samoa, and Maori dances. Students will learn techniques of traditional Asian Pacific story-telling through dance with emphasis on use of the hands, body language, and facial expression. Instruction will also include study of history, lifestyle, family system/values, as well as the European and Western influences on both traditional and contemporary Asian Pacific dance, religion, cultural arts, and politics.
- Skills Advisory: DANCE 21A
This course is an intermediate level of Mexican dance with an emphasis on traditional dance styles not covered in Dance 22 (Beginning Mexican Dance). Students will learn intermediate level body placement, footwork, rhythm patterns, and choreography. The course also provides historical context, including European and African cultural influences on Mexican dance, as well as the influence of religion, music, art, and popular styles on traditional Mexican dance forms. Dance techniques learned may serve as preparation for the World Dance Performance Courses (Dance 57A and 57B).
- Skills Advisory: DANCE 22
This course offers an intermediate level of Flamenco dance with emphasis on aesthetic concepts and principles of traditional and contemporary Flamenco dance movement along with an understanding of Flamenco rhythms, accents, and nuances. Course content will include in-depth study of Gypsy dance movement and culture, “cante” (singing), the Andalusian aesthetic, Bulerias, Tangos, Sevillanas, and several other “Palos” (Flamenco genres defined by their melody, rhythm, and point of origin). Correct body alignment and placement will be stressed with the goal of mastering intermediate level steps, footwork, and rhythmic patterns. Students will critically analyze this global dance form in relation to current and historical contexts.
- Skills Advisory: DANCE 24
This course is an intermediate level of West African dance with an emphasis on techniques of Guinea, Senegal, Mali and Ivory Coast. The class will introduce both traditional and contemporary styles of West African dance and offer lectures in historical/cultural practices at an intermediate level.
- Skills Advisory: DANCE 25
This Intermediate Salsa Dance course immerses students in the movement and music of Latin American social dance and its cultural, historic, and geographic origins. Intermediate levels of dance techniques, musical structure, and terminology are studied along with elements of body placement, style, and characteristics of the form including turning techniques, solo work and partnering. Additionally, intermediate levels of Bachata and Cha-cha-cha dance forms will also be studied in this course.
- Skills Advisory: DANCE 26A
Semester 2
9 Units
This course is a continuation of Dance 14, building on the intermediate jazz dance techniques, styles, movement vocabulary, kinesiological awareness, and historical knowledge of jazz dance in America. The course introduces new skills and movement variations from various jazz styles. Combinations further explore dance expression in jazz with complex dance sequences, varied musicality, and improvisation. The technique studied investigates the use of rhythm, dynamics, space, and energy while disciplining the body and developing motor skills as a tool for creative self expression at an intermediate level. Historical studies on topics surrounding American jazz dance pioneers, codified styles, cultural influences, and current trends will be included.
- Skills Advisory: DANCE 14
This course is a continuation of Dance 15, building on the advanced jazz dance techniques, styles, movement vocabulary, kinesiological awareness, and historical knowledge of jazz dance in America. The course focuses on advanced skills and movement variations from various jazz styles. Longer combinations further explore dance expression in jazz with complex dance sequences, intricate musicality, improvisation, and performance quality. The technique studied investigates the use of rhythm, dynamics, space, and energy while disciplining the body and developing motor skills as a tool for creative self expression at an advanced level. Historical studies on topics surrounding American jazz dance pioneers, codified styles, cultural influences, and current trends are included.
- Skills Advisory: DANCE 15
This course offers performance experience and is organized as a contemporary modern dance company with fully produced concerts and dance productions. Students participate as dancers and choreographers. Students explore artistic expression through learning movement composition and repertory from professional faculty, guest choreographers and student choreographers. Styles may include traditional modern, contemporary, postmodern fusion, contemporary ballet, contemporary jazz, hip-hop, performance art and mixed media. Students develop new vocabulary and creativity from related dance-theatre forms for personal artistic expression. Students will participate in community outreach by performing in local schools, campus wide activities, as well as American College Dance Association and other conferences. Students will also learn how to transfer a dance work from the rehearsal studio to a professional stage, using the elements of staging, lighting, scenery/props, and make-up for various styles of dance productions. The process of touring with a production, site selection and fundamentals of arts management will be introduced. This performance class is intended for dance majors. This performance class is intended for dance majors. Recommended dance experience in Dance 10 or any Ballet, World, or Modern Dance Course (Dance 11-29, 31, 32, 33A, 33B, 34A, 34B, 41, 42, 43A, 43B, 44A, 44B, 60-63).
- Prerequisite: Audition Required
- Corequisite: Dance 10 or any Ballet, World, or Modern Dance Course (Dance 11-29, 31-38, 41-44B).
This course focuses on the interplay of choreographic principles, design, technology, and movement elements to create dance compositions in various genres. Students will learn choreographic techniques and perspectives for a specific context such as commercial dance, street dance, world dance, musical theater, and dance for camera, to expand compositional proficiency and in preparation for submission to student performance courses (Dance 55A and Dance 57A) and professional opportunities.
- Skills Advisory: DANCE 60
The Internship Program is designed to provide the student with "real life" experience in a Dance environment. Students will work with a local school to apply academic dance principles.