“The dance department at Scripps encourages students to think of the process of physical discovery as part of their intellectual journey,” Brosterman says. “How they engage in the studio is a microcosm of how they will interact with the world. Each student is her own dancer and is asked to bring her whole self to her actions and her art.” Each dancer I talked to mentioned a connection or gift they received from each of their instructors: from the supportive, patient mentor in Abrams, to the structure and creativity taught by Brosterman in choreography class, to the modern and contemporary dance introduced by Joel Smith, to the nurturing of a student’s unique style and voice by Branfman. Instructors, lighting designers, and production staff work personally with each student when she wants to develop ideas for performance and make her vision happen. Guest choreographers
Three students represent several dance styles taught at Scripps: from left, Ferrin Ruiz ’08, ballet (biology and dance major); Sydney Freggario ’09, jazz (molecular biology and dance major); and Brianna Skellie ’08, modern and post modern (dance major).
offer students a way to discover new styles, as well as opportunities to work with professionals during school or after graduation. Recent alumnae of the Scripps dance program have kept dance in their lives either through careers as professional instructors and performers or in other outlets. From architects conceptualizing movement into structure to massage therapists, psychologists, and doctors to event planners, choreographers for film, and costume designers, Scripps dancers incorporate their liberal arts education and creativity into their careers.
Marissa Labog ’99, a dual dance and English major, dances in commercial, company, and community-based projects in Los Angeles. She incorporates her love of literature into her work, and recently performed in an eveninglength work by Los Angeles choreographer Rosanna Gamson based on the lives and work of the Bronte sisters. Labog has danced with several Los Angeles dance companies, including Regina Klenjoski Dance Theatre, Collage Dance Theatre, Rosanna Gamson Worldwide, and Company of Strangers. On television, she has appeared on The Drew Carey Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, That’s So Raven, The Source Sound Lab and commercials for Nike, iPod, Hyundai, Virgin Mobile, and AOL. Film work includes I Know What Boys Like, Bratz, The Movie, A Time for Dancing, and Bring It On: All or Nothing. She is also founder and director of the performance group “One Step Ahead,” which uses hip hop as a means to provide a positive creative
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