New AA Degree Offered in Dance

November 16, 2018 - 02:46 PM

Mt. SAC added an associate of arts degree in dance this fall, further enhancing its list of degrees and certificates designed to prepare students for exciting career and higher education opportunities.

Dance Department Chair Amy Nakamura stated that so many students were taking General Education classes in addition to a myriad of dance and Pilates courses that it made sense to offer the AA degree.

“Many students at Mt. SAC are the first in their family to attend college, so graduation is really important to them,” Nakamura said. “Even if they transfer to a four-year university, they would like to get an AA as well.”

As part of Mt. SAC’s Kinesiology, Athletics and Dance Division, the Dance Department also encompasses Pilates, and the new degree includes Pilates and kinesiology coursework.  The department offers about 30 courses per semester from social dances like ballroom and hip hop to a wide range of traditional genres such as, ballet, jazz and modern dance. Coursework in Choreography and Performance are also an important part of the degree and the dance department has multiple performing opportunities for students each year.  

The department boasts two stellar, state-of-the-art dance studios that rival those of most two- and four-year college programs in the region. The new Pilates studio is stocked with the latest equipment including a Cadillac machine, six reformers, high and low barrels and Wunda chairs.

“Since we also offer teaching certificates in Pilates, we wanted to make sure our students are well-versed on every piece of equipment they might encounter in the industry,” Nakamura said.

In addition to two mini Pilates professional teacher training certificates, the department also offers a dance teacher certificate which prepares students to teach dance, a growing need with the multitude of dance studios expanding in California.

For further information, go online to www.mtsac.edu/dance