Laguna Dance Festival

01/11/2024

✨ Save the Date! ✨ Laguna Dance’s 20th ANNIVERSARY MAIN STAGE FESTIVAL is coming to the Laguna Playhouse from February 6-9, 2025! Prepare to be dazzled as we reveal a lineup of world-class artists and breathtaking choreography. Tickets go on sale November 15—secure your spot for an unforgettable weekend celebrating two decades of dance excellence!


📸Photo courtesy of BalletX

01/11/2024

✨ Save the Date! ✨ Laguna Dance’s 20th ANNIVERSARY MAIN STAGE FESTIVAL is coming to the Laguna Playhouse from February 6-9, 2025! Prepare to be dazzled as we reveal a lineup of world-class artists and breathtaking choreography. Tickets go on sale November 15—secure your spot for an unforgettable weekend celebrating two decades of dance excellence!


📸 Photo courtesy of Ja Collective

01/11/2024

✨ Save the Date! ✨ Laguna Dance’s 20th ANNIVERSARY MAIN STAGE FESTIVAL is coming to the Laguna Playhouse from February 6-9, 2025! Prepare to be dazzled as we reveal a lineup of world-class artists and breathtaking choreography. Tickets go on sale November 15—secure your spot for an unforgettable weekend celebrating two decades of dance excellence!


📸Photo courtesy of Complexions Contemporary Ballet

30/10/2024

Join us for our next First Thursday Art Walk on NOVEMBER 7th at the Dawson Cole Fine Art Gallery at 6:45pm! ✨ Stay tuned as we announce the incredible artists that will be performing! 😍



Photo of Isabella Caso

29/10/2024

🚨 FINAL DAYS to Apply for the 2025 Young Artist Scholarship! 🚨

🌟 Who’s Eligible? Southern California pre-professional dancers, ages 14-22
🏆 Scholarship Award: $1,000 to support your dance education
💃 Performance Spotlight: Dance at our 20th Anniversary Festival on Feb 8 & 9, 2025
⏰ Deadline: November 2, 2024—time is running out!
Don’t miss this chance! Head to our website and apply today!



📸: 2024 Scholarship Recipient, Skylar Peterson

23/10/2024

✨ Spotlighting Sophia Frilot, our 2018 Young Artist Scholarship Recipient! ✨

Sophia Frilot was born and raised in Southern California. She graduated from Orange County School of the Arts. Simultaneously, she trained at Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy and Westside Dance Project under the direction of Jessie Riley. At Westside, she developed her love for concert dance and worked closely with Spenser Theberge, Jermaine Spivey, Bret Easterling, Megan Guise, and Micaela Taylor. Sophia received the Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Grand Prize for dance in 2017 and the Young Artist Scholarship from the Laguna Dance Festival in 2018. In the following year, Sophia was named a National YoungArts Foundation Winner in Modern/Contemporary Dance. She has attended summer programs including b12, Arts Umbrella, Ballet BC, and GagaLab. At The Juilliard School, Sophia performed works by Ohad Naharin, Hofesh Shechter, Bobbi Jene Smith, and Or Schraiber, among others. In addition to this, she has danced in music videos for SIA and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs.

Now, she’s living her dream with Nederlands Dans Theater 2. “My heart overflows with gratitude... it’s a dream realized and a journey begun.” We are so proud of Sophia and the incredible artist she has grown into 🌟

18/10/2024

✨Preston Walker, Evee Lee, Francine Peji, and Lucas Matzkin✨—four of our incredible 2024 Scholarship Recipients—took the stage at last year’s Main Festival!

Now it’s your turn! Apply today for a chance to become a 2025 Scholarship Recipient and perform alongside the brightest stars in dance at our 2025 Main Festival!

Visit our website for more information and to apply now! 💫

16/10/2024

🚨 Reminder: 2025 Young Artist Scholarship Application Deadline Coming Up! 🚨

🌟Eligibility: Ages 14-22, Southern California based
🏆Award: $1,000 Scholarship to support your dance education
💃Performance Opportunity: Perform at our 20th Anniversary Festival on Feb 8 & 9, 2025
⏰Deadline: November 2, 2024

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity! Visit our website for more information and to apply today!



Photo of 2024 Scholarship Recipient, Francine Peji

10/10/2024

🌟 Looking for a unique and free arts experience this weekend? Don’t miss out on a captivating outdoor dance performance featuring Isabella Caso and Juan Miguel Posada, choreographed by Jodie Gates! ✨

Set against the stunning “Super Natural Bloom” mural by DABSMYLA, this 6-minute duet will activate this public art installation!

📅 When: Sunday, October 13, 2024
🕠 Time: 5:30pm
📍 Where: Alta Laguna Park, 300 Alta Laguna Blvd, Laguna Beach

09/10/2024

Thank you to the City of Laguna Beach for granting me the opportunity to activate public art "Super Natural Bloom" this Sunday Oct 13 @ 5:30pm. Join these two fabulous dancers, Juan Miguel Posada and Isabella Caso as we dance a duet in the park! And at the same time create a film by Aaron Cota, what a wonderful team!

03/10/2024

🌟ARTIST FEATURE // OCTOBER 3RD ART WALK🌟

We are thrilled to spotlight the phenomenal Emma Sutherland ( ), a powerful mover and artist!

Currently residing in Los Angeles, Emma Sutherland was born in Frisco, Texas and trained extensively in various forms from a young age and eventually attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas. She performed various repertory from artists, including Aszure Barton, Lar Lubovitch, Loni Landon, and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. In 2019, Emma was named a YoungArts winner in modern dance and Presidential Scholar in the Arts. These experiences allowed her to collaborate and perform with musicians, visual artists, and filmmakers. They were influential in Emma’s decision to attend the prestigious Glorya Kaufman School of Dance at the University of Southern California and receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. At USC Kaufman, Emma continued her multidisciplinary training, focusing on concert, contemporary, and commercial dance styles. Additionally, she received a minor from the USC School of Cinematic Arts to explore the collaboration of dance, film, and multimedia art. While at USC Kaufman and post-graduation (2023), she has performed works by Merce Cunningham, Jiří Kylián, Ohad Naharin, Justin Peck, Peter Chu, Yin Yue, Micaela Taylor and William Forsythe, among others.
 
Prepare to be captivated by Emma’s brilliance live at Hotel Laguna this Thursday at 6:00pm—you won’t want to miss this mesmerizing talent in action!

03/10/2024

🌟 ARTIST FEATURE // OCTOBER 3RD ART WALK 🌟

We’re so excited to present the amazing Casey Murray ( ), whose creativity and moves know no bounds!

Casey has been dancing since the age of four and teaching dance since he was 15 years old, allowing him to grow as an artist and as a leader. At a very young age he traveled around the Bay Area training in multiple hip-hop styles including breaking, popping, locking, waving, animation and house. Later in high school, he traveled to Los Angeles and fell in love with contemporary dance, and began training in ballet, modern and jazz. He has been dancing in the commercial dance industry for 12 years now, working with companies and bands including Xfinity, Half Alive, and Saint Motel. Through his love of film and music, he brings experience and knowledge to every facet of his career. During his time at the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, Casey performed the work of Jiří Kylián, Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Peter Chu, Hope Boykin, Barak Marshall and Jermaine Spivey among others. He also received a minor degree in entrepreneurship, and will apply it to create more opportunities for artists in the dance industry. His goal is to share his passion for dance and choreography, and to teach globally.

Catch Casey live at Hotel Laguna this Thursday at 6:00pm and experience the magic for yourself!

02/10/2024

🌟 ARTIST FEATURE // OCTOBER 3RD ART WALK 🌟

Next up is our incredible 2023 Young Artist Scholarship Recipient, Skylar Peterson ( )!

Skylar Peterson (he/him) was born and raised in Chicago IL, where he trained at Sunshine Dance Company, before starting at the Chapman University Dance Department in the fall of 2023. In addition, he has furthered his training at Visceral Dance Chicago, and Salt Creek Ballet, and tours nationally as a lead assistant with Dupree Dance Convention.

Catch his performance this Thursday at Laguna Art Museum at 6:30pm! Don’t miss out on seeing this talented dancer in action.

02/10/2024

🌟ARTIST FEATURE // OCTOBER 3RD ART WALK🌟

Get ready to be inspired by the extraordinary Haley Kostas ( ) an American choreographer and dance artist from Kansas City, Missouri.

Kostas attended the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) Conservatory of Music and Dance along with training abroad at The London Contemporary Dance School. Haley’s choreographic works have been presented and commissioned by Kansas City Ballet, UMKC Dance Conservatory, University of Kansas, Charlotte Street Foundation, Making Moves, Creative Intersections x Owen/Cox Dance Group, MashUp Dance Company and tbd Dance Collective.
 
A recipient of a two year residency at Charlotte Street Foundation’s 2021 Studio Residency, Sidra Bell’s Module residency at Center for Performance Research in New York, Hofesh Shechter Company intensive at Sadler’s Wells in England and Akram Khan’s movement program at Orsolina28 in Italy. Kostas is also a past winner of ArtsKC’s Inspiration Grant for her film, “Conversation Between Bodies,’’ which premiered at MdW Fair at MANA Contemporary in Chicago 2022. Along with being a past winner of Rocket Grants, funded by Andy Warhol Foundation for RubiX, a collaborative performance outlet merging music, movement and visual arts, which landed a 2019 residency at 21c Museum Hotel in Kansas City. Most recently Kostas was nominated for the 2024 United States Artist Fellowship, was the winner of this year’s Charlotte Street Foundation’s Generative Performing Artist Award, as well as receiving the 2025 Bemis Center Residency Award.

She recently premiered her latest work ‘Circle Back’, a co-creation with Caroline Dahm for Kansas City Ballet’s 2024 New Moves program, along with presenting ‘Fool’, a special commission for The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for their exhibition of Niki de Saint Phalle: Rebellion and Joy.

Join us at the Laguna Art Museum at 6:30pm to witness Haley Kostas’ captivating performance!

01/10/2024

🌟 ARTIST FEATURE // OCTOBER 3RD ART WALK 🌟

We are thrilled to present Azuki Umeda (.u ), an extraordinary creative force known for her powerful fusion of contemporary movement.

Azuki Umeda, born in Tokyo, Japan, raised in San Jose, CA, is a 1st generation Japanese q***r artist. She received her BFA in Dance and BA in Integrated Educational Studies at Chapman University and received the Nancy Dickson-Lewis award for Outstanding choreography. She recently graduated from California State University Long Beach to receive her Masters of Fine Arts in Dance. During her time, she received a Graduate Fellowship for her thesis work, “how i became kinder &kinder,” as well as the Distinguished Achievement in Creative Activity award for the work. Azuki has performed with artists such as Twenty-One Pilots and FINNEAS; she has worked with choreographers such as Keone & Mari Madrid, JoJo Gomez, Monika Felice Smith, and Tessandra Chavez. She has presented work at prestigious dance festivals, such as Capezio ACE Awards, World of Dance, and was recently named one of the Ann & Weston Hicks Choreographic Fellows at Jacob’s Pillow 2023 Program. She is featured in STEEZY’s “3 choreographers 1 song” series on YouTube. She currently teaches at her alma mater, Chapman University, emphasizing composition and jazz, Avanti Dance Company as a College Advisor, and teaches biweekly at OffStage by GRV. In addition, she travels across the country of US, as well as parts of Mexico to share her knowledge of dance through a style of Contemporary Fusion.

Azuki is a founder of her dance company, AU.THENTICITY (.thenticitydance ). The company aims to create a collaborative environment for artistic exploration. With her company, she has created an in-studio company intensive, “AU.THENTIC EXPERIENCE.” Azuki is excited to work with various studios and hopes to share her knowledge across the United States.

✨ Join us to witness Azuki’s incredible artistry live at Laguna Art Museum on October 3rd at 6:30 PM! ✨

01/10/2024

⭐️ ARTIST FEATURE // OCTOBER 3RD ART WALK ⭐️

Get ready to be amazed by the fierce and dynamic Téa Devereaux ( )!

Originally from Dallas, Texas, Téa Devereaux began her studies at Booker T. Washington for the Performing and Visual Arts. In the year 2017, Devereaux continued her dance studies at the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts. Since graduating Devereaux has signed with Bloc Talent Agency and had the privilege of working with artists such as Brandy, Chance the Rapper, Jackson Wang, as well as most recently performing in the 2024 production of The Lion King Live at the Hollywood Bowl. She has also had the privilege of working with esteemed choreographers such as Will Bell, Cedric Dodd, Dominique Kelley, Jamal Sims, and more.

Devereaux has a passion for performing and loves working with the next generation of dancers to inspire them and give them the tools they need for a great journey with dance.

Catch Téa Devereaux in action at Hotel Laguna on October 3rd at 6:00pm. Don’t miss this incredible evening of dance!

30/09/2024

⭐️ARTIST FEATURE // OCTOBER 3RD ART WALK⭐️

We are thrilled to highlight the incredibly talented Simrin Player at this weeks Art Walk!
Originally from Salt Lake City Utah, Simrin began dancing at the age of 3 years old. Her professional career began when she was discovered breaking at a battle at the age of nine. This led to an opportunity to work with Hi-Hat, one of the entertainment industry’s leading choreographers and visionaries, for Vh1’s Hip Hop Honors Award Show honoring hip hop sensation Missy Elliott.

Since then, Simrin has gone on to work with other popular and well noted entertainers including, Miley Cyrus, J. Balvin, Selena Gomez, Kelly Clarkson, Shakira, Will Smith, Timbaland, Cee-Lo Green, Pitbull, and Christina Aguilera to name a few. She has also performed on a U.K. tour with Willow Smith and Justin Bieber. While pursuing opportunities in the industry, Simrin became a University of Southern California graduate with a BFA in Dance and Minor in Communications.

Simrin’s attention for detail has led her into roles such as Performance Associate Producer, Choreographer, and Assistant Choreographer for networks such as NBC (The Kelly Clarkson Show & The Voice) and CW (The Black Pack: Juneteenth and Holiday Specials). Other choreography credits include music videos for YENDRY’s “KI-KI”, Lauren Spencer-Smith’s “Narcissist”, and Peter McPoland’s “Mary Anne”.

Catch her live for an unforgettable evening of dance at Hotel Laguna on October 3rd at 6:00pm. Don’t miss out!

20/09/2024

✨ Kicking off our First Thursday Art Walk series on October 3rd! Dive into an unforgettable evening of art, dance, and live music at two of Laguna Beach’s most iconic venues.
🎶 Start your night at Hotel Laguna ( )with live music from 5-6pm, followed by stunning performances by Simrin C Player ( ), Téa Devereaux ( ), Emma Sutherland ( ), and Casey Murray ( )at 6:00pm. 🌟
Then, make your way to Laguna Art Museum ( ) at 6:30pm for incredible performances by Azuki Umeda (.u ), Skylar Peterson ( ), and Haley Kostas ( ).
Experience the magic of art, music, and dance, and make your Thursday night one to remember! ✨
📍 Hotel Laguna | 5pm Live Music | 6:00pm Performances
📍 Laguna Art Museum | 6:30pm Performances


Photo provided by

18/09/2024

🎟️ Calling all students! $15 Tickets Just for You! 🎟️
✨ Kick off our 20th Anniversary Season with an unforgettable experience!

BEHIND-THE-DANCE | September 26, 2024
📍 The Forum Theatre, 6:30 PM
Students, this is your chance to witness Jacques Heim (’s Founder & Creative Director, Choreographer for KA’ ) and Jodie Gates (renowned Director & Choreographer)in an exclusive LIVE interactive behind-the-scenes peek into the dance-making process. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to get an inside look as these master choreographers guide you through the thrilling process of dance creation.

Secure your $15 student tickets now! Visit our website for more info.

16/09/2024

Check this out!!!

Ever wonder how a dance comes to life? Laguna Dance Festival Director and Choreographer Jodie Gates steps into the to talk about the upcoming “Behind the Dance,” an interactive opportunity to make a dance in real time with real dancers!

10/09/2024

Now Accepting Applications: 2025 Young Artist Scholarship!

Pre-professional dance students (ages 14-22) in Southern California, this is your chance to further your dance journey! 🌟

Laguna Dance is awarding a $1,000 scholarship to help cover your costs—whether it’s for audition fees, college applications, summer intensives, private lessons, or competitions. Plus, all scholarship recipients will have the incredible opportunity to perform at our 20th Anniversary Festival on February 8 and/or 9, 2025! 🎉

If you’re passionate about pursuing a professional dance career or studying dance in higher education, don’t miss this opportunity!

Visit our website to learn more and apply today.

Application Deadline: November 2, 2024

Photo of 2024 Young Artist Recipient Evee Lee

07/09/2024

Thursday Sept 26 @ 6:30p - The Forum Theater in Laguna Beach
Laguna Dance Festival Tickets at - lagunadancefestival.org
Seats are limited, hurry, we would love to collaborate with you!

Experience a night of dance like no other, an interactive opportunity to choreograph with us. Jacques Heim (Diavolo Founder & Creative Director and Cirque du Soleil choreographer) and myself will share our process AND you will help us actually make a dance in real time with real dancers!

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05/09/2024

Our look might have changed, but our mission remains the same. ✨To present world-class dance performances, increase public appreciation for the art , and provide quality dance education.

Established in 2005 by Founder & Artistic Director, Jodie Gates, the Laguna Dance Festival, now Laguna Dance, is a non-profit organization committed to sharing the joy of dance with individuals of all ages within our community.

We can’t wait for this NEW WAVE of dance here at LAGUNA DANCE! 🌊💃