First-Year Dance Instructors Offer New 'Directions'

More than two dozen Westmont student dancers will be featured in the fall dance recital, “Directions,” Friday, Dec. 9, and Saturday, Dec. 10, both at 8 p.m. in Porter Theatre. Tickets are $5 for students/seniors; $7 general admission and can be purchased at the door or reserved through Beth Whitcomb at (805) 565-7140.

“Directions,” featuring choreography by both faculty and students, celebrates a new era of dance at Westmont under the direction of first-year Westmont instructors Susan Alexander and Christina Sanchez. Sanchez will perform a solo choreographed by Alexander. The program includes nine pieces, showcasing a variety of choreography, style and music.

“The music ranges from classical to popular, contemporary to film scores,” Alexander says. “The program promises to provide diversity and cultural enrichment to people of all ages.”

Alexander was professor of modern dance at the Paris Conservatory of Music and Dance from 1989-2008, and for the Paris Opera Ballet Company from 1985-2008. Alexander, a graduate of UC Santa Barbara, earned a master’s degree in dance at Mills College.

Sanchez has performed and toured throughout Europe, South America and the U.S. with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She has also performed with Ballet Hispanico of New York, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Buglisi Foreman Dance.