SANTA SUSANA HIGH SCHOOL
ACADEMY OF
DANCE
is recognized by the California Department of Education’s Art Media and Entertainment Sector as a program of excellence.
Nationally recognized chapter of National Honor Society for Dance Arts. Numerous dancers have received early acceptance with scholarships to AMDA College and Conservator. Invitation to exclusive Disney dance audition workshops. Multiple alumni working in the professional dance industry including: Broadway, Disney, film industry, and professional dance companies.
Santa Susana High School’s Dance pathway, in the School of Visual and Performing Arts, is a performance-focused series. Each course involves the understanding of and appreciation for all genres of dance along with the study of the dance industry and the professional careers found within it. Students become well-rounded dancers by taking part in their choice of 11 dance classes of multiple genres and levels in order to build a solid foundation of dance technique, proper alignment/placement, group rehearsal techniques, small group choreography, and composition techniques and concepts.
All dancers take part in two large scale performances in the Performing Arts Center, with upper level dancers also participating in an upper level showcase in the intimate setting of the Black Box. Dance Ensemble/ROP Choreography and ROP Choreography (Honors) dancers receive additional performance opportunities within the community at Moorpark College and other locations, some of these directed and produced by the students as internships.
The Academy of Dance Arts at Santa Susana High School
Our dancers have gone on to study with Alvin Ailey, Backhausdance, the Kirov Academy, Joffrey New York, Boston Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre (now Charlotte Ballet), The Rock School, and Nutmeg Conservatory. Many have gone on to perform commercially with Disney, on cruise lines, and Broadway, as well as performing artistically with professional companies such as Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance, MashUp Contemporary Dance, American Repertory Ballet, RhetOracle Dance Company, Colorado Ballet, and Fort Wayne Ballet. Our dancers have competed at Youth America Grand Prix, CADTD, and ASH Dance Convention and regularly perform in and around the community.
Students from our Santa Susana Dance Program have furthered their artistic education by pursuing dance degrees from such colleges and universities as Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance, UCLA, AMDA, UCSB, CSULB, Chapman University, CSUN, UCR, and Point Park. Our alumni currently work in the dance industry as performers, dance teachers, choreographers, lighting designers, costumers, and physical therapists specializing in dance rehabilitation.
Certificates are offered to students who complete the coursework for an academy emphasis in Dance. Students who complete the certification program will leave with a comprehensive understanding of the different genres of dance and how they inform the industry. Students will create a comprehensive digital portfolio showcasing their time at Santa Su comprised of photos, resume, headshot, and video clips of choreographed works and performances.