Set in Motion: Students audition for SMC’s long-running world dance performance

Auditions for SMC’s dance performance “Global Motion” kicked off on September 1st

Santa Monica College (SMC) held an audition for its long running Global Motion dance performance later in the fall semester in the Core Performance Center on Santa Monica College main campus, in Santa Monica, Calif., on Friday. Global Motion is a performance of dances from all over the world, and the show takes place on Nov. 18 and 19. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Students perform the heel style of dance during an audition as part of several styles that will be performed in November. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Global Motion World Dance Company co-directors Raquel Ramirez (left) and Sri Susilowati (right) after the audition. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Students gathered at Santa Monica College's (SMC) Core Performance Center on September 1st to audition for the college's long-running dance performance "Global Motion."The Global Motion World Company, entirely composed of SMC students, produced the show which features dances and costumes from a variety of regions around the world.

“Global Motion represents world dance, so it is like all dances that are foreign,” said co-director Sri Susilowati. “We have Mexican Folklorico, flamenco, Indonesian, West African... All dances from around the world are represented here, so every semester we try to bring a variety of many different dance forms.”

During the audition, students first learned moves from different dance styles including jazz, Tahitian, Indonesian, and salsa. They were then asked to replicate them to the lead choreographers so the most suitable dance style would be assigned to each student.

All dancers who auditioned will take part in the performance. They will each learn four different dance styles and have two months to prepare for the live show which will see them donning traditional costumes.

“We are one of the few colleges that offer these performances every semester,” said Susilowati. “We prepare them [students], not just to dance in the studio, but also to be good performers.”

"Global Motion" will premiere at the BroadStage in Santa Monica, California, on November 18 and 19. More information and tickets can be found here.