Want to try out a dance class? You’re invited to an all-levels hip hop workshop for incoming 9th graders on Saturday March, 23rd @ 1pm in the SMHS dance studio. Scan to sign-up!
Join us for our spring dance concert, Mateo Motion XX, on May 3rd and 4th @ 7:30pm in the PAC.
Interested in taking intermediate or advanced dance? Join us for Dance Class Placement Auditions on Wednesday, May 8th @ 4pm in the SMHS dance studio.
Director
Olivia Reidy
Olivia was born in the Bay Area where she grew up studying a variety of dance styles such as jazz, ballet, tap, contemporary, modern, hip hop, and house. She graduated from UC Irvine in 2016 with degrees in Dance Performance and Public Health and a dream of combining the two fields in order to provide students with access to dance education in public school. Upon graduation, Olivia worked with two contemporary dance companies: The Fyber Dance Vision and Roots and Wings Dance Project and performed in many dance projects throughout the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas such as Breaking Glass Project, Called to Play Small: Home Grown @ Bootleg, SoCal Dance and Choreography Festival, Pasadena Dance Festival, RAW Artists, EMCxBD Dance Concert, Safehouse Arts, and more. She also worked as a dancer in the Pixar Play Parade and the Main Street Electrical Parade at the Disneyland Resort. Olivia went on to earn her masters in education from Notre Dame University and is excited to continue to grow as a dancer and educator in her position as dance director. She is passionate about supporting students’ growth as artists, creative movers, technicians, choreographers, and humans and is grateful to be able to share her knowledge and love of movement with so many incredible students!
Classes
Beginning Dance
In this year-long course, students will learn beginning dance techniques in the styles of jazz, musical theater, hip hop, and tap. This class is recommended for students with little or no formal dance training and who are interested in studying dance as an art form. Class will include a warm-up routine, isolations, stretches, across-the-floor progressions, and choreography combinations. As students progress, technique and choreography will become increasingly complex. During the 2nd semester, ALL students will prepare for and perform in the end of year dance show, Mateo Motion!
Intermediate Dance
In this year-long course, students will continue to develop the dance skills and techniques learned in the previous course. Students are exposed to a variety of dance forms including jazz, hip hop, house, musical theater, contemporary, ballet and tap. Class will include a warm-up routine, isolations, stretches, across-the-floor progressions, and choreography combinations. As students progress, technique and choreography will become increasingly complex. Students begin to improvise and learn the foundations for creating their own choreography. During the 2nd semester, ALL students will prepare for and perform in the end of year dance show, Mateo Motion!
Advanced Dance
In this year-long course, students will study advanced choreography techniques in the area of jazz, hip hop, house, musical theater, contemporary, ballet, and tap. Students will be required to learn a wide variety of choreographic styles and will also be asked to incorporate these styles into the creation of their own performance level choreography. Dance performance will be emphasized. The Bearcat Dance Ensemble performs in the Spring Dance Concert, Mateo Motion, as well as school functions and community events throughout the year!
Audition Information
MAY 8, 2024; 4-6PM, San Mateo High School Dance Studio
The dance studio is located at the front of the school on Delaware st. behind the half circle with the San Mateo High School Sign. Enter the large double doors.
*If you have a conflict or questions, please email Ms. Reidy at oreidy@smuhsd.org
DANCE ATTIRE
- Form fitting dance/active wear
- Jazz shoes, ballet shoes or half soles (barefoot is fine if you don’t have these)
- Hair pulled back