HAMILTON Dancer Teaches Master Class for CSArts-SGV School of Dance

California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley's (CSArts-SGV) School of Dance is excited to announce visits from two dance professionals this coming January as part of the school's Master Artist Series, a program that brings notable artists, instructors and industry professionals to campus to educate and inspire students in their specific art disciplines.

Classical & Contemporary Dance Conservatory students receive advanced training from professional ballet dancer and instructor Sophie Monat, who serves as artist-in-residence from Jan. 16 - 20. In addition to a master class, select students have the opportunity to work closely with Monat to prepare a ballet piece for the Spring Concert on March 3 at Mt. San Antonio College. Monat is an exceptional industry professional, who has performed with the Lillie Opera Ballet in France, the National Ballet of Portugal and others. She served as ballet mistress to the New Jersey Ballet, and is currently a lecturer at Cal State Long Beach. Previously the director of the Classical & Contemporary Dance Conservatory at Orange County School of the Arts, Monat founded her own dance company, Monat Dance, in 2009.

Kamille Upshaw, a Juilliard-trained dancer who was a "swing" for Broadway's "Hamilton" delights the entire School of Dance by teaching repertoire from the hit production on Jan. 18. Upshaw is a product of a pre-professional arts education, having attended the Baltimore School for the Arts. She performed with Alicia Keys on the BET awards, and has most recently been seen in the new "Mean Girls" musical, which premiered at the National Theatre in Washington D.C. and is slated to premiere on Broadway this March.

Alison Dambach, CSArts-SGV's Chair of Dance, says she feels it is important that dance students are exposed to different choreographers, working artists and dance genres.

"Not only does it inspire the students to work with such elite artists, but it gives them the opportunity to refine their skills beyond our weekly curriculum. My goal here at CSArts-SGV is to give my dancers every possibility to grow and flourish, not only as dancers but as individuals. And I believe that these experiences will help them with just that," says Dambach.

The Master Artist Series continues throughout the spring with master classes by Broadway actor David Burnham, pianist Eugene Alcalay, actor Christopher McDonald and many others.

About California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley

California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) provides a creative, challenging and nurturing environment that offers bright and talented students unparalleled preparation for higher education and a profession in the arts. CSArts-SGV is modeled after the award-winning arts and academic programs of Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), one of the premier art schools in the country.

The public charter school opened on Aug. 14, 2017 in a unique public-private partnership with the Duarte Unified School District, and is a tuition-free, donation dependent program. CSArts-SGV is currently accepting applications for the 2018-2019 school year, which will serve students in grades seven through 12. The final Preview Day takes place on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. Students are encouraged to apply by the early admissions deadline on Feb. 2, 2018.

CSArts-SGV students study in one of the 10 arts conservatories offered including acting, classical & contemporary dance, commercial dance, creative writing, instrumental music, integrated arts, musical theatre, production & design, visual arts and vocal arts. Students receive opportunities to participate in master classes, guest artist presentations, field trips and performances, as well as a variety of campus clubs and activities. Small student/teacher ratios in academic and arts classes allow for personalized attention to students.

The public charter school was established in 2016 by the California School of the Arts Foundation, a nonprofit organization being established to operate a network of high achieving, comprehensive public arts charter schools, modeled after the nationally recognized Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA). CSArts-SGV is located at 1401 Highland Avenue, Duarte, CA. For more information, visit sgv.csarts.net.