麻豆村 Dance Department presents
2026 SPRING DANCE CELEBRATION
There will be a ten minute intermission
DANCEFILM
Nobody, but nobody
Choreographer/Director/Cinematographer: Rachel Berman
Music: Home Cookin'
In Collaboration With: Niobe Engman, Kaylee Shirk
Whispers of Discernment
Choreographer: Alexia Hernandez
Music:Flowers by Durand Joes & the Indications, Femme fatale by Loopgarden, Fajas by Sparklmami
Dancers: Maria José Arizmendi, Kayla Fauese, Amelia Gonzalez, Alyssa Graves, Ashley Oei, Svitlana Selska, Valezka Vega
Xpression
Choreographer: Jaay Tovar
Music: What’s your pleasure by Jessie Ware
Dancers: Anthony Arreola, Ellie Mcquarrie, Emmerson Palmieri, Esther Panzu, Yuyu Tsuji
Jaay wants to send a special thanks to his mother for always supporting his dreams and goals in life.
the mess you made
Choreographer: Bruno Hernandez
Music: Before by LVDF
Dancers: Amelia Gonzalez, Alexia Hernandez, Karen Kaneko, Riley Wimberly, Emma Yagi
Snapshots
Choreographer: Emily Chapman in collaboration with the dancers
Music: Neuschnee and Blue Bicycle by Haushka
Dancers: Maria José Arizmendi, Felicity Devitt, Niobe Engman, Svitlana Selska
Thank you to the dancers for bringing their memories to life through movement.
Widow in Noire
Choreographer: Anthony Najera
Music: Easy (Fight to Forget) by Son Lux
Dancers: Katie Carian, Felicity Devitt, Niobe Engman, Alexia Hernandez, Valezka Vega, Karyssa Wallace
Are You Entertained?
Choreographer: MJ Wolff in collaboration with the dancers
Music: Debris by Labrinth
Dancers: Bethany Brazelton, Dustin Hernandez, Anthony Najera, Kaylee Shirk, Riley Wimberly, Jordyn Wolsleger, Emma Yagi
Thank you to the dancers for making my first OCC dance concert a rewarding experience.
* Intermission *
(There will be a 10 minute intermission)
Ō Hotu
Choreographer: Marru Mikaelian
Music: Ō Hotu by Mevina and Hō’roa by SefaDrums
Dancers: Caitlin Bates, Laura Brizuela, Bri Corona, Felicity Devitt, Kayla Fauese, Stephanie Fuentes Flores, Shawleen Garcia, Maritza Hasty, Tashia Hughes, Trish Nguyen, Emmerson Palmieri, Esther Panzu, Alyssa Savoy, Alyson Sutton, Karyssa Wallace
This is Mine
Choreographer: Sarah E. Stanley
Music: 3 Unlikely Corporate Sponsorships: Halliburton by Mark Applebaum
Dancers: Maria José Arizmendi, Katie Carian, Karen Kaneko, Yun Yu Naing, Kyal Sin Hnin Thet
Heavy Hands
Choreographer: Kaylee Shirk
Music: Theo Harder
Dancers: Kaylee Shirk, Valezka Vega
The Motion
Choreographer: Jordyn Wolsleger
Music: Can You Feel It? by Masayoshi Takanaka
Dancers: Aiace Argentieri Isola Iles, Stephanie Fuentes Flores, Ellie Mcquarrie, Ashley Oei, Andrea Quinones, Kyal Sin Hnin Thet, Jaay Tovar, Yuyu Tsuji
Guitar players: Yahir Meza, Jordyn Wolsleger
the only way out is through
Choreographer: Emma Yagi
Music: Noah Kahan, Masakatsu Takagi
Dancers: Katie Carian, Dustin Hernandez, Riley Wimberly
Let’s Talk
Choreographer: Yun Yu Naing
Music: Low by Flo Rida
Dancers: Bethany Brazelton, Kayla Fauese, Stephanie Fuentes Flores, Amelia Gonzalez, Karen Kaneko, Ellie Mcquarrie, Ashley Oei, Emmerson Palmieri, Esther Panzu, Blanca Piedra, Andrea Quinones, Kyal Sin Hnin Thet, Jaay Tovar, Yuyu Tsuji, Karyssa Wallace, Jordyn Wolsleger
CHOREOGRAPHER BIOGRAPHIES
RACHEL BERMAN (Full Time Faculty/ Dept Chair - She/ Her), originally from Hawaii, has had a diverse career in all aspects of the field of dance, the bulk of which was a decade spent performing principal roles with the Paul Taylor Dance Company. She has also performed with, among others, Ballet Hispanico, May O’Donnell, The American Repertory Dance Company, The Joyce Tristler Danscompany, and the hula companies of Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu and Pua Aliʻi ʻIlima O Nuioka. She has appeared in numerous television productions and was featured in the Academy Award nominated documentary DANCEMAKER. Ms. Berman has re-staged Mr. Taylor’s works on universities and professional companies throughout the United States and has been on faculty at several institutions. She is the co-director of LA MOVES - a summer dance Intensive at USC.
EMILY CHAPMAN (Part Time Faculty - She/ Her) graduated cum laude with a BFA in Ballet with a teaching emphasis from the University of Utah where she presented original choreography, performed in classical and contemporary ballets, and began her career as a teacher. She taught dance at MOGA Conservatory of Dance for three years before beginning her graduate studies at the UC Irvine (MFA 2024). At UCI Ms. Chapman held positions as a graduate teaching associate, graduate student researcher, and graduate teaching assistant, all while producing original choreographies. She was also awarded a place in the Graduate Scholars Program through the Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation in the summer of 2023. She is passionate about progressive pedagogy and inclusivity in dance, with the goal of creating spaces for joy and empowerment through movement.
ALEXIA HERNANDEZ (Student - She/ Her) is working towards an AA in Dance and a Dance Instructor Certificate of Achievement. She hopes to transfer to a BFA program in dance in 2027. Before attending OCC, she competed with pre-professional companies such as Studio Kin and Temecula Dance Company. This is her second work for OCC.
BRUNO HERNANDEZ (Student - She/ Her) has appeared with OCC at the Palm Desert Choreography festival and in Washington DC for the American College Dance Association’s National Festival. She is finishing her AA in Dance and has already transferred to CSU Long Beach, studying Dance Science. This is her first work for OCC.
MARRU MIKAELIAN (Part Time Faculty - She/ Her) has been studying the art of Polynesian dance since age 6. Born and raised in Huntington Beach, California, she fell in love with Hawaiian culture during family trips to Maui and embraced many different forms of Polynesian dance. She has studied dances from the islands of Hawaii, Tahiti, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Samoa and the Cook Islands. Ms. Mikaelian has been performing for over 30 years and is currently a lead dancer, choreographer, and instructor for Tupua Productions. As an individual performer, she has won several awards in various Tahitian dance competitions and was invited to dance in the Heiva i Tahiti in 2012 with Tahitian group Ahutoru Nui. She has participated in televised events such as the Rose Parade and the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. It brings her great joy to perform, teach and share her passion of Polynesian dance with others.
YUN YU NAING (Student - She/ Her) has been influenced by street dance culture from a young age. She has appeared with OCC at the Palm Desert Choreography Festival and in Washington DC for the American College Dance Association’s National Festival. She is finishing her AA in Dance this spring and plans to transfer to a BFA program in dance. This is her first work for OCC. ANTHONY NAJERA (Student - He/ Him) has been studying dance at OCC for 4 years. He is working towards his AA in Dance and Commercial Dance Certificate of Achievement. He hopes to transfer to a BFA program in dance in 2027. This is his second work for OCC.
KAYLEE SHIRK (Student - She/ Her) has trained in multiple genres for over 13 years. From Corona, she began her performance career competing with Classical Dance Academy. She has been a teacher and choreographer for various projects and amusement park productions. She is currently pursuing her AA in Dance and Commercial Dance Certificate of Achievement. This is her first work for OCC.
SARAH ELIZABETH STANLEY (Part Time Faculty - She/ Her) is a movement artist, dancemaker, anthropologist, and teacher. She is also a lecturer at CSU Long Beach and a PhD student in the Department of Anthropology at the UC Irvine. She is a co-director, choreographer, and principal performer with Metaphysical Playthings. She has danced with DIAVOLO2, x2 Dance Collective, The Assembly, and as a founding member of Esperanza Dance Project and the Paul Taylor Teen Ensemble. As a freelance artist, Ms. Stanley has performed at The Metropolitan Museum, Lincoln Center Festival, and Spoleto Festival USA.
JAAY TOVAR (Student - He/ Him) is an influencer and content creator. He received his AA degree from Cypress College and, after studying at OCC, plans to transfer to a BFA program in dance. This is his first work for OCC.
MJ WOLFF (Part Time Faculty - She/ Her) Originally from Charleston, SC, discovered her passion for dance at an early age. A former competitive dancer and captain of Coastal Carolina University’s Coastelttes Dance Team, she went on to perform with Spirit Productions in Illusions of Magic, Cirque Extreme, Christmas Wonderland, and Hot Jersey Nights. With over sixteen years of teaching experience, she was recently recognized at the 2023 Industry Dance Awards for her choreography and performed at World of Dance with ThaMost. Ms. Wolff is a recent MFA Dance graduate from CSU Long Beach (2025), and a recipient of the Distinguished Creative Activity Award. She also teaches Jazz at CSULB and Cypress College, and is the Creative Director of South Coast Performing Arts in Tustin, CA.
JORDYN WOLSLEGER (Student - He/ Him) was born and raised in Orange County. He began his dance training at the age of 3, studying in various settings. Jordyn has been recognized with choreographic awards from the Academy of the Performing Arts and was nominated for the 2023 OC Dance Artist of the Year. He is working towards an AA in Dance. This is his first work for OCC.
EMMA YAGI (Student - They/ Them) has danced at Clifton Dance Project since the age of 10 and trained at Academy of the Performing Arts throughout high school where they were awarded Dancer of the Year in 2022. Since then, they have been choreographing for CDP and various competitions. They are working towards an AA in Dance. This is their first work for OCC.
We Need Your Support! Your tax-deductible contribution will help offset costs for future OCC Dance Department performances. Your donations will be used wisely; they can assist the department in purchasing materials for costumes, paying for live music, commissioning guest choreographers and introducing our students to master teachers and guest artists. Donations might also provide scholarship opportunities for our dance students. For more information, contact Rachel Berman at 714-432-5691. If you wish to set up an endowed dance scholarship, contact the OCC Dance Department or Patricia Falzon at the OCC Foundation.
For the courtesy of audience members and performers:
• Cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off and not accessed at any time inside the theatre (before, during or after the performance and during pauses).
• Video recording and photographing by audience members is strictly prohibited.
• Parents, please take small children outside immediately if they are unable to sit quietly.
• Anyone creating a disturbance by shouting out inappropriately, or who cannot comply with theatre policies will be asked to leave the theatre.
Thank you for your courtesy to the dancers on stage and to fellow audience members.
OCC DANCE FACULTY
Full-Time
Rachel Berman
(Department Chair)
Part-Time
Emily Chapman, Delyer Coffman, Brande Dunn, Monti Ellison, Rosa Garcia, Amythyst Fritzler, Zachary Groenewold, Hiroko Hojo, Amelie Hunter, Marru Mikaelian, David McMahan, Shana Menaker, Angelika Nemeth, Noelle Snavely, Linda Sohl-Ellison, Sarah Stanley, MJ Wolff, Rebecca Wong-Burdett
Instructional Associate for Dance
Joe Lawrence
Part-Time Musician
Malik Sow
PRODUCTION STAFF
Concert Director: Rachel Berman
Stage Manager/ Technical Direction: Cameron Klipfel
Special Effects / Prop Master: Cameron Klipfel
Stagehands: Lewis Gomez, Quintin Powell, Melanie Lopez
Lighting Design/ Light Board Operator: Cameron Klipfel
Sound : Chris Cuthill
Program: Joe Lawrence
Photography: Dan Hopkinson
Printing: OCC Print Services
Tickets : OCC Bursar’s Office
A Very Special Thank You to
Dr. Whitney Yamamura, Ed.D., Chancellor
Dr. Angelica Suarez, Ph.D., President of 麻豆村
Larissa Nazarenko, Dean of Visual and Performing Arts
Associated Students of 麻豆村
for their continued support!
Coming Events
SPRING STUDENT DANCE SHOWCASE
Wednesday, May 20, at 7:00 p.m.
Robert B. Moore Theatre
OCC's Dance Department extends an invitation to an informal end-of-thesemester presentation of classroom material and works in progress. Our Showcase displays the department's wide range of dance styles including Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Improvisation, Mid-Eastern, Mexican Folklórico and Polynesian.
This event is ADA compliant. For more information, please contact Visual & Performing Arts Division at (714) 432-5629