Masters Pro Dance Workshop
Masters Pro Dance Workshop
For the past twelve years, the CSULB Dance Department has held the Masters Pro Dance Workshop, a weekend fun-filled dance camp for dancers and movers over the age of 30. The camp is the largest single fundraiser for Dance scholarships and over the years more than $70,000 has been raised.
The 2024 Masters Pro Dance Workshop participants
CSULB Dance Professor Andy Vaca has worked with NFL and NBA pro sports dance teams for more than 35 years, and has seen so many of his friends and colleagues age out of dance spaces that no longer seemed to include them. So many of them grew up identifying as dancers, and yet rarely had the chance any more to see themselves in that light after career changes and family responsibilities. From these inspirations, Masters Pro Dance Workshop was created. The goal was to serve the growing number of pro sports dance team alumni while supporting CSULB Dance scholarships. Now in its 12th year, the reach has expanded beyond pro sports dance team alums and includes CSULB Dance alumni, as well as teachers and coaches from high school dance programs, as well as dancers and movers in their fifties and sixties who need a two-day getaway focused on learning dance routines and making new friends while sweating together.
“Each year our Masters Pro Dance Workshop (MPDW) reaches our goal, whether there are 25 dancers or 100 dancers,” said Program Director Andy Vaca. “No matter how many people show up, we raise much needed scholarship dollars for our CSULB dancers, and every year the number of people walking away saying it was ‘the best weekend of the year’ grows. It fills all of us up each and every time.”
Christa Kay (far left) enjoys a moment in between dances with members of her group number.
Christa Kay has been in attendance for each and every MPDW. “It’s a reunion with old friends and my favorite chorographers – some of whom I have danced with since 1991.” Christa Kay was one of the original members of the San Diego Charger Girls, and worked with Andy when he co-directed the team from 1992-1993. She has witnessed the entire evolution of the workshops, from the first year when it was small to its pre-pandemic peak of more than 100 dancers, through the COVID years when they all danced online, to its return to in-person and a company this year of 50 dancers. Christa also credits her annual participation at MPDW with making new friendships, many of which have extended to life outside of the workshop. Ultimately, though, it is the chance to dance and move in a safe and supportive atmosphere led by amazing and generous choreographers and teachers. “All in all,” Christa said, “it’s a great chance where we over-30 dancers can still dance in a positive, no pressure environment and just focus on having fun!”
Participants are given a wide variety of dance types and levels and can pick how fast, hard, and at what level they want to work each day. “MPDW is not about being competitive,” Andy explained. “Every dancer is so support of the others, and everyone is welcome to dance however they are ready to do so that day. I always say, ‘if you don’t want to kick high, just don’t! If you can’t do a double turn anymore, why try?’” The event is about each participant’s personal journey and doesn’t come weighted with the pressures and expectations carried during their years as professional dancers.
Victoria Yue (in front) with the MPDW company learning a new dance routine.
More and more of the participants have never made their careers as dancers, or accept dancing gigs on the side. Victoria Yue attended MPDW 2024 as a 3rd time participant. She graduated from CSULB Dance in 2010, and is now a Senior Climate Trade Policy Specialist at the US Department of Commerce and flies in from the D.C. area to attend the fall workshop. Victoria said, “For me, MPDW is not only a fun opportunity to reunite with my college classmates and learn awesome combos from a renowned group of choreographers - it's also an important opportunity to give back and raise scholarship funds for CSULB dance students. Attending for the first time in 2022 and seeing the current students perform took me right back to when I auditioned for a scholarship 18 years ago to ease the pressure of student loans and college expenses.” She now prioritizes MPDW attendance. “Every year, as soon as Andy releases the MPDW dates, I book my flights and start coordinating with former classmates to get the old crew back together.”
The community created through MPDW is strong, impactful, and generous. Everyone who contributes to the teaching and organization of MPDW is a volunteer. No one is paid to teach, choreograph, or administer the event. All of the ancillary costs are paid out of pocket by Professor Vaca as one of his contributions to the department, so all the registration fees and funds raised by the program go directly to the support of CSULB Dance and Dance scholarships. “So many of our instructors come back year after year,” Andy said, “because they love the MPDW dancers and the opportunity to support our amazing CSULB Dance program.”
“Coming back to CSULB for MPDW is truly a special feeling, Victoria said. “It’s nostalgic and brings back the best memories from modern class midterms to late night rehearsals. I have to admit that I cried during my first MPDW and usually have to hold back tears at some point shortly after MPDW check in. Being able to dance in CSULB’s studios again is very moving and emotional and truly hard to put into words…It really is the most fulfilling weekend of the year!”
