Cerritos College currently offers more than 20 types of dance classes, from ballet to middle eastern.
Dance major or not, some students are enrolled in up to three dance classes at a time.
Liberal studies major Celida Russell does just that. “I’m taking dance appreciation, commercial dance, and choreography,” Russel said.
She also makes sure to notify others about the classes. “If I have a friend that says they’re going to take classes at Cerritos, I’m like, take a dance class, or audition for the dance concert.”
According to dance major Areal Hughes, dance classes are so popular that “All of them get pretty much filled.”
On top of that, the dance department gets a lot of support from the school. “We also have support from a lot of faculty,” Hughes said.
“[Cerritos College President Linda] Lacy is really a firm supporter in dance and the foundation as well here. We have a lot of support all over,” Hughes continued.
Despite the fact that the dance department gets heaps of support, Russell feels that sometimes people stereotype dance and don’t entirely appreciate the art form.
“People that aren’t dancers think it’s people running around, jumping, or whatever. They don’t think it takes much effort but there’s a lot that goes into a dance. We have to work hard to make it look easy”.
The dance students also take part in intensive workout regimens during class.
Hughes elaborated. “Here we have to do sit-ups, pushups, all kinds of workouts and certain kinds of yoga techniques. It really is intense and I don’t think people really understand that aspect of dance. They think, ‘Oh you just dance and you just go on stage’ it’s just like that. There’s no possible way.
“If you literally went through each class and each rehearsal, you would see what people have to go through. We are sweating, there are tears, and we get hurt and pop right back up.”
Besides the physical reward, the benefits of dance extend to other aspects of life. “What you’re taught in dance, you can bring outside of dance and you can put into your classes,” Hughes explained.
Every Fall and Spring semester, the dance department holds a dance concert where the students can show what they’ve worked hard for.
According to communications major Juanita Reyes, people are actually lucky get a ticket for a dance concert because, “They are always sold out and there’s always new people that come and dance.”
Dance is important to these students, and those who are involved couldn’t see themselves without it.
“Here, it’s really about endurance, about discipline, and about making sure that you make what the choreographer gave you look like a piece of art on stage. That’s what we try and give to people a piece of art that they can take home with them and they can leave saying ‘wow, I can’t believe those people could do that’,” Hughes said.
