Dance
The SHC Dance Program offers a diverse movement experience in ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop and modern dance. Students develop technique, expression, choreography skills and critical discourse of various dance forms. Progressing through the curriculum, students explore a range of techniques and styles and engage in choreography. The program aims to equip students with specialized knowledge and skills for performing arts, fostering growth, appreciation and communication in dance. It prepares students to become creative, disciplined and well-rounded professionals, emphasizing experiential learning, collaboration and inclusivity.
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The Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory Dance Program offers dance as both an academic discipline and a co-curricular activity. Courses, including Dance 1,2 and Dance 3,4, emphasize the development of technique across diverse dance styles. Students possessing advanced technical proficiency may audition for the Advanced Dance Program, a three-year curriculum centered on dance theory and composition. Students enrolled in these courses exhibit their skills at events such as the annual dance showcase, school masses, and instrumental music performances. Beyond the academic curriculum, students can participate in the SHC Dance Team, a hip-hop performance ensemble, or The Company, a weekly club dedicated to dance technique and choreography, accessible to students of all skill levels. Both groups are afforded the opportunity to perform at the annual Dance Showcase. The SHC Dance Team also participates in school rallies, athletic events, regional competitions, and the annual SHC Night at the Golden State Warriors game. Our alumni have pursued further dance education and careers at various institutions, including the Sacramento Ballet, San Diego State University, Southern Methodist University, the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the University of San Francisco.
Originally from Miami, Florida, Ms. Laura Wexler has been teaching Ballet, Jazz, Modern and Contemporary dance for over 25 years. Her training includes Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and New World School of the Arts. She graduated with honors from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance performance and a minor in business. While there, she was recognized by the American College Dance Association and invited to perform at John F. Kennedy Center in New York. Her choreography has been showcased throughout Florida and the Bay Area. Ms. Wexler has had the opportunity to study and perform with ODC/San Francisco, Les Ballet Africains, Dance Brazil, Dance Through Time and Garth Fagan Dance. In 2005, she was a featured dancer in the movie Rent, directed by Christopher Columbus. In 2006, she founded her own dance studio, San Francisco Dance Space, which continues to train students in Ballet and Contemporary. Beyond the dance studio, Ms. Wexler has her certification in Dance Healing from Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL where she worked as an artist in residence. Ms. Wexler joined the SHC community in 2007 and lives with her husband and two teenage sons in Marin County.
