The Echoes of Expression Dance Concert is back at the California State University, Dominguez Hills stage this semester, featuring student dancers, choreographers, and production staff in a whole new light. The concert features a collection of original works developed through the department of theatre and dance, celebrating the creativity and diligence of performers who have been working for months to perfect their craft for this event. As the university community convenes at the University Theatre to witness the event, the concert offers insight into the impact of student creativity and movement on the cultural landscape of CSUDH.
The Echoes of Expression Dance Concert will take place from March 25 to 28, at 7 p.m. at the University Theatre. The concert aims to expose audiences to a variety of choreographic works that represent each of the dancers’ styles as well as the department’s focus on creative exploration. Each of these dances has taken weeks to prepare, involving rehearsals, technical planning, and coordination between students, faculty, and technical staff. This is a collaborative effort in every sense of the word.
As the dancers bring these pieces to the stage, their development is informed in no small measure by the mentorship of Artistic Director Amy Allen, whose artistic vision is the foundation upon which each concert is built. Under Allen’s mentorship, the students do not merely learn steps and choreography; they learn how to develop their ideas, be creative, and work collaboratively. Allen’s mentorship is evident in every rehearsal room, where she encourages dancers to push their own techniques, trust their own instincts, and own their own storytelling. What is seen on stage is not merely a reflection of the department’s artistic values but also of each student’s personal development in bringing these pieces to life.
“The annual student dance concert has always involved students creating original choreography, which is performed by students who audition to be dancers,” said Allen. “This year, we have also incorporated student costume designers and student lighting designers. What you will see is almost entirely created and executed by current students.”
In a certain way, the concert this year embodies the move towards further student ownership within the department. With the dancers, choreographers, and designers all bringing their original work, the concert becomes a place where the students learn to trust their artistic impulses and deal with the practicalities of live performance. It requires not only artistic talent but also patience, communication, and flexibility, all of which have been involved in the development of the ensemble during the semester.
This collaborative attitude is not limited to the rehearsal space itself. Students have spent weeks working behind the scenes with costume designers, lighting designers, and stage managers to create a clear sense of presentation with each piece. Their dedication to perfecting every element of their craft speaks volumes about the level of seriousness they take in what they do. It also speaks volumes about the department’s faith in student-led artistry as something worthy of being presented proudly in a professional venue.
The concert will also include performances by Moorpark College and CSUDH’s Mosaic Dance Company.
“This requires an enormous amount of collaboration and communication with many parties, and the students have done a fantastic job working with each other,” Allen said.
With this framework of mentorship and growth established, the spotlight shifts to the choreographers—the students whose thoughts, questions, and experiences drive the core of Echoes of Expression. As these young artists assume leadership roles, they draw on their experiences, emotions, and traditions to create works that are both personal and collective. Their experiences provide insight into what inspired this year’s concert and what was behind the movement seen on stage.
Carson Campos is a senior dance major with a passion for choreography as a personal form of storytelling that is rooted in instinct, emotion, and music.
“What inspired my choreography for this piece was actually the music. Every time I listened to it, I just felt that there was something I wanted to do with it,” said Campos. I think they made the choreography come to life one hundred times better than what I envisioned. After working with them, I think I had a more central and total idea of what I really wanted the dance to be about.”
As the students’ pieces began to take shape through instinct, collaboration, and a strong affinity for sound, student choreographers discovered their own means of movement creation. They processed the creation with a multitude of questions, some of which revolved around identity, emotion, memory, or even pure experimentation. The result was a mosaic of viewpoints that demonstrated just how diverse choreography could be within a single concert.
Collectively, these visions will come together to create a shared experience for the audience, one that was informed by contrast, curiosity, and the surprises that arose during the performance. It’s this balance of the familiar and the unfamiliar that Allen said creates the significance of “Echoes of Expression.” She wants the viewer to take with them, beyond the performance, the emotional impact of what they’ve experienced.
“There may be movement and music that audience members are already familiar with, and there may be movement and music that is new to some audience members. I hope you see something familiar, and I hope you experience something new. Overall, I hope the audience is moved by what they see.”
As the concert is only a few days away, the Department of Theatre and Dance is putting the final touches on a program that promises not only artistry, but also heart. The opportunity for students, faculty, and the community at large is to partake in the culmination of months of creative work as these choreographers bring their visions to life on stage. Echoes of Expression is set to run this week in the University Theatre, and tickets may be purchased through the CSUDH Box Office on the university’s official website.