Dance

The Saint Mary’s Academy Dance Collective (SMADCo) is an non-competitive after school dance program. SMADCo meet every Wednesday 3:15-4:45pm and focuses on a variety of performances that take place throughout the SMA school year. Performances include: assemblies, basketball and dodgeball games, winter and spring concerts, fundraising events, and lunch pop up performances. There is no audition required to be a part of SMADCo and every student is welcome to join. Performances include choreography from modern, jazz and hip hop dance styles. Each dancer has the opportunity to strengthen their technique and performance skills while learning to collaborate artistically with their peers.

Dance Classes

Introduction to Dance

Beginning Dance Technique

In this course, students of all levels develop their skills in technique and performance. Students will focus on classical technique in Western Cultural Dances, while also learning the histories of each form. Students study four different forms of dance and perform original choreography in each style. Required activities include participation in daily technique lessons, peer and self- critique, journal reflections, and performance preparation and presentation. This course may fulfill a PE credit or a Fine Arts credit.

Intermediate Dance Technique

This course builds on the skills of Beginning Dance Technique to further develop students as both technical dancers and movement artists. Students will practice their choreography skills while creating original dances. Required activities include participation in daily technique lessons, journal reflections, dance research, the study of current prominent movers, choreographing dances, peer and self-critique, and performance preparation and presentation. This course may fulfill a PE credit or a Fine Arts credit.

Advanced Dance Technique

This course is oriented toward proficient dancers, specifically those interested in choreography and performance. Students will participate in rigorous technique lessons to help them formulate complex thoughts and themes into meaningful pieces of art. They will create group and individual choreography that applies their matured skills and expresses their unique, artistic voices. Required activities include participation in daily technique lessons, journal reflections, choreographing dances, learning how to teach dance, peer and self-critique, dance research, and performance preparation and presentation. This course may fulfill a PE credit or a Fine Arts credit.

Faculty

Jess Zoller received her MFA in dance from the University of Oregon where she was a graduate teaching fellow from 2012-2015. She earned her BFA in dance performance and choreography from Western Washington University. Ms. Zoller has performed and collaborated with Pam Kuntz, Bellingham Repertory Dance Company, Portland Opera, Lane Hunter Dance, Lauren Edson, Wanderlust Circus, Pelu Theatre, Shannon Mockli, AWOL Dance Collective, Polaris Dance Theatre, Katie Scherman, Faith Morrison, Emily Running, Meredith Wilde. Ela Fala Collective, and Brandy Guthrey. Ms. Zoller has choreographed for Sojourn Theatre's How to End Poverty in 90 Minutes, Relay Dance Collective, Cirque Love Love, Polaris Dance Theatre, Pacific Lutheran University, and Bellingham Repertory Dance Company. In 2018 and 2022, she performed and choreographed for Ten Tiny Dances in collaboration with musician Jana Crenshaw. Ms. Zoller has been the dance instructor at St. Mary’s Academy since 2018 and also directs the after school dance collective, SMADCo. Ms. Zoller is a resident artist with Flock, company member with B. dance company, yoga instructor, and proud mother.