CORRECTION: A previous version of the story incorrectly stated that LBCC’s dance program had put on the Spring and Fall semester concerts for the last 10 years and had Janell Cobian’s name spelled incorrectly.

For the last 30 years LBCC’s dance program has put on a dance concert nearly all spring and fall semesters with the show being an opportunity for student and faculty choreographers to create and perform original dance pieces in a large scale production. 

The Spring 2025 Ensemble in Concert will feature themes ranging from sisterhood, upbeat 70s jazz, forbidden love and a vintage 1950s costume inspired dance. 

Heavier topics will also be on display, themes that capture the struggles of women that are taken advantage of by men and a dance that captures the fear that immigrant families endure while facing deportation. 

The show will debut on Friday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m. and will continue for two more shows the next day Saturday, April 19 at 1:00 p.m and at 7:00 p.m. with all performances taking place at the Bob and Barbara Ellis Auditorium located in the J building on the LAC campus.   

^{Dancer Kayla Sarabia, crutches down on the floor as the other dance members huddle behind her during the dance “The Pursuit of Progress” at the dress rehearsal in the Bob and Barbara Ellis Auditorium (Paloma Maciel)}

Along with the versatility of themes, an array of dance styles are also part of the show as four styles of jazz are present along with contemporary, ballet, hip pop and salsa. 

Martha Pamintuan, the artistic director and executive producer of the concert expressed that she wanted to provide a space with her show to incorporate dances that weren’t as mainstream in the dance world. 

“I was never in places that included things about me or music that I listened to or things that I’m accustomed to. So now as director in an institution and understanding the dance world and how limiting it is, because theater dance, when you present works on stages like this you don’t usually see the cultural dances, even jazz is kind of limited, tap is limited. It’s usually contemporary modern and then ballet. So as director, I have some space to encourage and inspire to looking at other styles of dance, too,” said Pamintuan.

^{Dancer Janell Cobian lifts her leg into the air during the perfomance of “Flower Child” at the dress rehearsal in the Bob and Barbara Ellis Auditorium (Sam Villa)}

Dancers and choreographers have been rehearsing for two months to prepare for the spring concert and the production required a team of lighting, costume, and set designers.

Every costume was tailored to fit the bodies of the dancers and embellished to help communicate the story of each dance. 

Paminutaun mentioned that costumes alone cost $5,000. 

It was only until this past weekend that dancers were able to practice their dances with the full production of tech, lights, costumes, and sets. 

“We rehearsed on the stage for the first time last week and being able to see it in a bigger space and the dancers doing it more full out and big was really a beautiful thing to see,” said Claire Durham, a dancer and student choreographer. 

Another dancer and student choreographer spoke about his experience while choreographing his sexy style hip hop dance titled “INfluenced.” 

“This is actually one of my first dances that I’ve choreographed and it was really fun. It was something that I had to really push myself to really create something that I’ve been doing for a while, just dancing. Now to actually create my own style of dancing that’s what made it really fun for me,”  said Christian Barragan, a dancer and student choreographer. 

^{Dancer Ayrin Reed flies across stage in the number “Winter Refresh” alongside other dancers at the dress rehearsal in the Bob and Barbara Ellis Auditorium (Sam Villa)}

Tickets can be purchased online at www.lbcc.edu/performingarts under the section ‘Purchase Tickets’ or an hour before the show starts at the box office in front of the auditorium.  

General admission is $17, while students, staff, seniors, veterans, and children under 12 are $10. 

Students must provide their ID’s to be eligible for the student discount.

^{Dancers huddle together expressing anticipation during the dance “The Pursuit of Progress” at the dress rehearsal in the Bob and Barbara Ellis Auditorium (Paloma Maciel)}

^{Dancer Kyrstin Nguyen leaps across the stage in 50’s style regalia during the performance of “Lost on Nine’ at the dress rehearsal in the Bob and Barbara Ellis Auditorium (Sam Villa)}

^{The dance cast dramatically poses during the dance “The Pursuit of Progress” at the dress rehearsal in the Bob and Barbara Ellis Auditorium, Tuesday, April 15. The Spring 2025 Dance Ensemble in Concert will play three shows at LBCC beginning Friday, April 18. (Paloma Maciel)}

^{Dancer Nico Titsworth perfoms alone in his performance of “Unleashed”, a dance choreographed by himself, at the dress rehearsal in the Bob and Barbara Ellis Auditorium (Sam Villa)}