RCC Dance Students Showcase Talent at National ACDA Conference

Apr 23, 2025
RCC Dance students at ACDA

From April 15–18, Riverside City College (RCC) Dance students took the stage at the American College Dance Association (ACDA) Conference, held this year at El Camino College in Torrance, California. This prestigious event brings together collegiate dance programs from across the nation to share original works, engage in master classes, and receive professional feedback from leading choreographers, educators, and scholars.

Founded in 1973, ACDA fosters creativity, scholarship, and growth in college dance through regional and national gatherings. For many RCC students—some performing for a collegiate audience for the very first time—the conference proved to be a transformative and affirming milestone in their artistic journey.

RCC students at student dance competition
RCC students at ACDA dance competition.

RCC proudly presented one faculty work and one student work at the conference:

  • Faculty Work – By Journey’s End II, choreographed by RCC faculty member Ericka Brown, was praised by adjudicators for its dynamic transitions, expressive movement, and vibrant costuming. Drawing from hip-hop, jazz, and Manjani (African) dance traditions, the piece stood out for its bold cultural expression. One adjudicator likened it to a Super Bowl halftime show and highlighted the powerful inclusion of a Black Power gesture as “a rare and moving moment of cultural pride.”

  • Student Work – To Have and To Hold, choreographed by student Jules McDonald, resonated deeply with adjudicators, including Jesse Zaritt, who remarked on its capacity to express both “the world I don’t want to live in and the one I do.” The piece was lauded for its emotional depth, intentional choreography, and embodiment of care, love, and solidarity through movement.

While RCC was not selected for this year’s Gala performance, students returned with renewed passion and a sense of empowerment. The experience allowed them to build community with peers from four-year institutions, connect with faculty and guest artists, and witness the rich diversity and power of collegiate dance.

Special thanks go to Dan Hill, Ericka Brown, and Rosa Rodriguez Frazier for chaperoning and supporting RCC students throughout the conference. And heartfelt congratulations to our dancers for representing RCC with brilliance, dedication, and the signature Tiger spirit.