Masters Pro Dance Workshop

Masters Pro Dance Workshop, our 12_^th Year!
a no-frills hybrid dance workshop for dancers over 30 years old (or close to 30)
October 19-20, 2024

Welcome to Masters Pro Dance Workshop hosted by the world-famous Department of Dance at California State University, Long Beach and your “Head Instructor” Andy Vaca. As we move into our 12_^th year, we are excited to welcome dancers for two exciting days of dancing, with the choice to participate the entire weekend or either of the two days.

MPDW is a two-day dance workshop largely structured like the dance camps that many dancers attended in their youth. MPDW material includes routines in pro dance team-style, hip hop, jazz, contemporary, and includes a Camp Dance and drill down experience. For educators, material taught is suitable and/or adaptable for your students. The same as in 2023, routines and routine showcases will take place on Saturday (Day 1) and Master Classes plus the completion of Camp Dance and Drill Down and CSULB student performances will be Sunday (Day 2)—CHECK OUT THE SAMPLE SCHEDULE. The best part about MPDW is that you get to decide how far you want to push yourself— we have a strict “no judgement” policy! Don’t want to do floorwork? Then stay on your feet! Afraid that you’ll pull a hamstring? Then keep that leg low! Just smile, try your best, and have a great time.

THE CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE—MPDW is the largest scholarship fundraiser in the history of CSULB Dance. Each year, the money we raise goes directly to much-needed scholarships for dance majors, allowing a new generation of dance artists to finish their college degrees with less debt easing their entry into this tough profession that we love. Help us out by supporting MPDW through your registration or by giving a donation through the registration tab (below).

Not Yet 30 Years Old? Though we are never super strict about the “over 30 years old” rule, we do ask that you come in the spirit of dancing with a community of dancers who largely do not dance on a daily basis and will be here for kicks (low ones) and giggles!

Registration is Two Steps: 1. Tap the REGISTRATION dropdown below for the link to MPDW registration, and then 2. Tap the PAYMENT/DONATION dropdown, tap the Cashnet link, and choose “Registration” on the Cashnet page.

Cannot attend but want to donate? Then just tap the PAYMENT/DONATION dropdown, tap the Cashnet link, then choose “To Donate” on the Cashnet page.

Please help us out by spreading the word and inviting your friends and fellow dancers to register and/or donate. This is honestly my favorite weekend of the fall semester, and I hope to see you dancing with me in the studio! Thank you so much,

Andy Vaca, Head Instructor and MPDW Director
Professor, Department of Dance
California State University, Long Beach

All participants will have the opportunity to learn two dances and a “camp dance” from our all-star staff from the commercial, concert, and pro dance team world. There will be routines in different levels and different styles, with an emphasis on engaging choreography as opposed to technical “tricks.” All routines will be 50-60 seconds long, and often feature special “Flashback Material” utilizing steps and moves from the past! For those of you who are still dancing and teaching, you will take away some great material to share with your students, and experience teaching techniques and energy that will certainly add to your personal teaching methodologies. And, of course, there is Drill Down, which is taught in two levels, and the always-popular “Camp Dance”. All routines will be taught on Day 1, and Day 2 will feature one to two master classes with special guest choreographers, in addition to the completion of the Camp Dance and final Drill Downs. For those only attending Day 2, a video will be sent so you can learn the part of the Camp Dance taught on Day 1 ahead of time.

You will also get an opportunity to learn in one of the largest dance departments in higher education in the United States: the CSULB Department of Dance. Each studio has ceiling fans, natural lighting (good for “mature” faces), raised floors (good for creaking bones), and lots of space. No dancing in parking lots, tennis courts, or gym floors for these bodies! MPDW will allow you to experience dancing in one of the most beautiful training grounds in the United States.

Saturday, Oct. 19

8:00 Registration
9:00 Intros/Warm-up
10:00 Routine A
11:30 Routine A Showcase
12:00 Lunch
1:30 Camp Dance, Part 1
1:50 Routine B
3:20 Break
3:30 Routine B Showcase
4:00 Day 1 Awards/Photos and dinner plans

Sunday, Oct. 20

9:00 Warm-up and Camp Dance, Part 2
9:45 Drill Down
10:15 Featured Classes with special guests (1 hour)
11:15 Break
11:30   Special Performance by CSULB Dancers
12:00  Drill Down Final; Guest classes and Camp Dance recording
12:45  Awards/Photos

Your staff include luminaries of the pro dance team and concert dance worlds! Though the staff is subject to change, look forward to working with professionals such as:

Diane Bonds—former USA Program Director and choreographer for the world-famous Los Angeles Laker Girls, collegiate dance instructor, and a double alum of CSULB Dance (undergrad and grad)
Sabrina Bryan—a member of the multi-platinum recording act, The Cheetah Girls, and fan favorite dancer on seasons 5 and 15 of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars
Nate Hodges—Artistic Director of RhetOracle Dance Company and an Associate Teaching Professor of Dance at the University of Nevada, Reno where he teaches jazz and musical theater courses; an MFA grad of CSULB Dance
Rochelle Mapes—the Director of Dance at Mater Dei High School, a long-time instructor for USA Camps, an award-winning choreographer, and a double alum of CSULB Dance (undergrad and grad)
Mina Ortega—Director of the USC Trojan Dance Force and Co-Artistic Director of Pro Action Dance
Derrick Paris (he/they)—An LA native and an ever-evolving movement and music artist. An alum of CSULB Dance, Derrick has presented their work in both the concert and commercial dance scenes of greater LA and as the Community Programming Director at Stomping Ground L.A.
Danzel Thompson-Stout—Assistant Professor of Dance at CSULB who teaches Street Dance, Umfundalai (contemporary African technique), and composition
Andy Vaca—choreographer with over 35 years of dance team experience, instructor for Pro Action Dance, and the former President of the American College Dance Association

Guest Instructor

Stay tuned...

Registration for MPDW must be done ahead of the event and will close at noon on Oct. 18 or when the event reaches capacity (100 in-person dancers). After registering, do not forget to pay and/or donate to our Scholarship Fund (the PAYMENT/DONATION tab).

Please click the link below in order to submit payment for MPDW, $130 payment (two days), $85 (Day 1 only), or $55 (Day 2 only). You can also donate directly to the CSULB Department of Dance Scholarship fund via this link. If you are unable to donate at any of these levels at this time but would still like to participate, please donate what you can and contact Andy Vaca at Andrew.vaca@csulb.edu. We greatly appreciate any amount that you are able to give!