In honor of National Trails Day, organized by the American Hiking Society, we’re reminiscing on some dance works created for and filmed on outdoor trails.
“Trail to Nowhere,” choreographed and directed by Jennifer La Curan, takes place in the Santiago Oaks Regional Park. The piece plays with different ways of walking, involving improv, based on the unique pathways throughout the park.
“Un-Contained,” choreographed and directed by Christina Hughes, took place throughout many trails in Ketchikan, Alaska. Through weather and terrain unpredictability, the dancers modified choreography to fit the landscape around them.
“Peak Elevation” began as a spontaneous improv while walking through the trails in Mount San Jacinto State Park at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tram. Through the collaboration of the three performers and directors, they explored their own perspectives of the paths and how to move through it.
These films are still available to watch on our YouTube channel! Feel free to check them out through the links in our bio!
Video description: The screen is divided by three horizontal videos, showing clips from each dance film described above. The titles of each film are in the bottom right corner in white text.
IVC Dance Department
Share
Classes of all styles and levels!
The IVC Dance Department’s mission is to provide a high quality, comprehensive dance program dedicated to excellence and committed to meeting the current and future learning needs of our diverse community.
Caught in the stream of time,
we wrestle with the void.
Yet in letting go,
we find resonance.
Rebirth.
The confines to time dissolve.
Led by the soul,
we transcend the moment -
and touch Eternity.
Don’t miss the premiere of this student piece, “The Consciousness of Time” tomorrow night at 7pm!
Choreography: Rondo Lee (Student)
Music: Doug Kaufman-Imagined Nostalgia, Doug Kaufman-Of the Sky
Costume Design: Christina Perez
Lighting Design: Crystal Shomph
Photography: Skye Varga
Videography: Rondo Lee (filming and editing)
🎥🔗: https://youtu.be/TS6WJWHwkg8
*clickable link in bio!*
•
•
•
Video description: White script reads “The Consciousness of Time” and zooms out to the top of a gold hourglass, becoming its engraving. The camera tilts down, revealing a dancer kneeling behind it. Shot changes to that dancer walking towards the camera, holding the hourglass, in between columns of dancers facing the opposite direction. Shot changes to the other dancers, dressed in white, running around the soloist in brown tones, syncing together in a jump. The angle shifts to a corner shot of the dancers facing away from the camera and performing floor movement with rolls and leg swipes. They end in a low formation with various limbs extended in the air and sync up to perform a “ticking” movement, symbolizing a clock hand. Shot changes to the soloist performing a front walkover into chainé and attitudé turns, as the ensemble in white dissolves onto the screen reaching upwards in a clump. Shot changes to the soloist weaving through a line of the ensemble, connected at different body parts. They all move towards a corner of the black box stage and reach upwards before melting down.
06/03/2026
It’s never too early to prepare for Fall! From classical ballet, jazz, and modern, to specialty classes like aerial and middle eastern, we have it all! Enroll now to lock in your spot!
Swipe to see our full list of dance technique classes and see what works best for your schedule!
Send us a DM if you have any questions!
Class schedule online:
🔗: https://classes.socccd.edu/smartscheduleweb/list/1/I/202670/grp/DA20
*linked in our bio
📸: Skye Varga
Photo description:
1) A trio of dancers is emphasized in a glowing yellow outline, wearing light blue and tan. Two dancers on the right are connected in a lift while the lifted dancer holds the soloist’s hand. Tan text reads “Enroll now in Fall 2026 Dance Classes” at the top and at the bottom it says “swipe to see the full schedule”.
2) The previous image is blurred in the background behind a white-lined weekly calendar, listing the dance class schedule. Some boxes are filled with a tan background and others are transparent. The top table shows the weekly in-person classes and the bottom table shows online classes. A red sticker on the right reads “Classes start 8/17”. At the top, there’s text that says “more information at ivc.edu/class-schedule”.
06/01/2026
This past weekend, our dancers had the opportunity to perform alongside the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center and many talented artists from across the community at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Legends was an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. We’re honored to have been part of a production that celebrated culture, artistry, storytelling, and community.
Photo Description:
A carousel of behind-the-scenes photos from Legends at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Dancers are dressed in colorful Chinese-inspired costumes while smiling together onstage beneath warm theater lights, with audience seating visible behind them. Another photo shows dancers gathered on a backstage stairwell, smiling and posing for a group picture while dressed in mostly black performance attire. Additional backstage photos feature dancers posing in vibrant robes and costumes while holding decorative floral umbrellas in shades of blue, pink, purple, and red. The carousel ends with the production’s final bow with the dancers in their Chinese-inspired costumes.
05/25/2026
Our graduates 🎓💙
Our department is excited to be joining the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center and other talented community performers in Legends at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts!
The show includes a live orchestra, vocalists, aerialists, and more. It’s a jam-packed evening celebrating culture, storytelling, and incredible artistry, and we’re honored to be part of it.
Come see Legends at Segerstrom next Saturday May 30th at 7pm! Tickets are on sale on the theatre’s site. Check our story for a direct link.
Video description:
Clips of dancers rehearsing in a naturally lit dance studio at Irvine Valley College. Throughout the video, dancers twirl, move, and perform choreography while carrying umbrellas. The clips then shift to a dancer entering the studio wearing a Dragon King mask. The reel ends with an umbrella spinning toward the camera before revealing to two dancers standing together in costume.
“If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative.”
—Woody Allen.
Check out Jenn’s piece from our show last Spring, called “This is Not It”, which showcases the challenges of creating a new work and embracing the inevitability of redirection. It will be available to watch tonight on YouTube!
Choreography: Jennifer La Curan in collaboration with dancers (Faculty)
Script: Jennifer La Curan
Music: “Mansion of Mischief” by Lynne Publishing, “War Machines” by Michael Wall, “3-65” by Michael Wall, “4-101” by Michael Wall, “In Motion” by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, “Blues Redos - Bluesy Piano Trio - Cocktail Jazz” by Steve Rice, “Moonlight Standard Time” by Jim Pearce
Costume Design: Christina Perez
Lighting Design: Crystal Shomph
Photography: Skye Varga
Videography: Jennifer La Curan (filming and editing)
🎥🔗: https://youtu.be/4tdL3pAS85s
*clickable link in bio!*
•
•
•
Video description: As the script is read, a zoomed out aerial-view camera is focused on several dancers performing various bows in a black box theatre with an audience on all four sides. When the music starts, there are clips shown from the piece featuring different angles of the dancers performing movement on and around black chairs. The dancers interact with one another and look at each other through this movement. It ends with all of them falling into the center as the lights close in around them.
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
Location
Category
Contact the business
Telephone
Website
Address
5500 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA
92618