A room full of energy overtook the dance studio, the sounds of feet stomping could be heard and people dropped to the floor as they learned a West African dance that required them to let loose and get out of their comfort zone during the auditions on Feb. 10 for the upcoming spring dance concert.
Dancer Marissa Ramos, left, drops to the ground while learning a West African dance with other dancers and the choreographer on Feb. 11 at the auditions for LBCC’s upcoming spring dance concert. The dance concert, which is a full production with costumes, sets, and professional tech, will debut on May 1 and run for two more shows on May 2. (Paloma Maciel)
A dancer in attendance spoke about her experience while learning this dance being that she is new to this dance style.
“It’s definitely different then like modern, western dance, which is usually like more stiff or more upright. So with Western African dance it’s a lot more liberating and it feels free,” Natalia Carrera said.
Dancers Natalia Carrera, left, and Alexis Frisch, right, get out of their comfort zone learning a West African dance on Feb. 11 at the auditions for LBCC’s upcoming spring dance concert. (Paloma Maciel)
She added, “It is scary doing something you don’t know but it was a challenge, but it was a fun challenge at the end. It was something I didn’t feel like upset about after that I didn’t get it right. It was more like ‘oh my gosh, this is so fun, I’m going to try it again.’”
Along with the West African dance, dancers first learned a jazzy, upbeat routine that had an edgy twist as it followed rock ‘n’ roll music.
Dancers Kyrstin Nguyen, left, Essence Cooper, middle, and Maki Yamuta, right, learn a jazzy, upbeat routine with an edgy twist that followed rock ‘n’ roll music on Feb. 11 at the auditions for LBCC’s upcoming spring dance concert. (Paloma Maciel)
This dance was right up the alley for dancer Cynthia Castro-Reyes who loves performing and being part of jazzy routines.
She expressed that dancing, especially in the genres of jazz and hip-pop help boost her confidence.
“It just makes me feel confident, I feel like everyday like I’m not the most confident person with how I look, or how I’m feeling that day. But when I dance, I feel like I’m the baddest person out there,” Castro-Reyes said.
Reyes has graduated with her associates in dance at LBCC about six years ago and came back to LBCC a year ago solely for the dance show and dance classes.
She has been a part of seven dance concerts at LBCC, and she shared why she feels so comfortable in LBCC’s dance environment.
“I just feel like here you’re able to express yourself more openly without being judged unlike other studios, like in the real world I guess I would say. It’s just I don’t feel as comfortable as an adult dancing there. It’s mainly for you know kids from the oldest 17, after you’re 18,… you don’t really feel as comfortable dancing,” Castro-Reyes said.
She was also thankful for the opportunity to express herself artistically through having a say in decisions, feeling that the environment is “like a collaboration.”
“I feel like here you don’t just dance, they allow you to express yourself and give opinions,” Castro-Reyes said.
Among the many passionate dancers in LBCC’s dance department is Kyrstin Nguyen, a 15-year-old student who is graduating this spring with her associates of arts in dance.
Reflecting back on her journey as a dancer starting at the age of 3, Nguyen noted that this spring dance concert will mark the first time she has had the opportunity to produce her own dance on a large scale.
At the auditions Nguyen was a participant, auditioning to be in the other choreographer’s dances, and she was on the lookout for dancers who could potentially bring her vision for her own choreography to life.
“I’ve always been in choreographic works and I’ve always had choreographers tell me what to do and tell me how they want their piece portrayed. And so it’s really cool to be able to be on the other side of that as a choreographer,” Nguyen said.
When asked about the concept and elements of her dance piece, Nguyen shared details about her visions and creative process.
She explained that it would be about her personal life focusing on how she was adopted and expressed it’s “a piece about discovery.”
“I wanted to tell my story through dance because sometimes, it’s hard to say it in like words or describe it, so I wanted to share it on the stage in front of everyone,” Nguyen said.
Soft lighting, flowy white costumes and a technical based dance is what Nguyen has planned for her contemporary piece that will be shared on stage this spring dance show.
Dancers Carrera, Castro-Reyes and Nguyen all made it into the dance concert.
Every fall and spring semester, the dance department at LBCC puts on these dance concerts featuring original choreography from faculty and student choreographers that are a full scale production with costumes, sets and professional tech.
The Spring 2026 Dance Ensemble In Concert, will debut on May 1 at 7 p.m. and continue for two more shows on May 2 with times of 1 p.m. and 7 p.m..
Dancer Marissa Ramos jumps in the air while performing a jazzy, upbeat yet edgy dance on Feb. 11 at the auditions for LBCC’s upcoming spring dance concert. (Paloma Maciel)
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