Workshops

Ages 13 – 19

(Level 5 – 7)

Advanced/High-Intermediate Dancers

REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum 6-8 years of ballet training.

August 4-8

Contemporary Choreographic Workshop With Mark Tomasic

Monday to Friday 1:00 – 6:00pm daily

Click Here to Register

The Westside Ballet Contemporary Dance and Choreography Workshop will be a dynamic and engaging experience where participants build strong fundamentals in contemporary dance technique with a focus on proper alignment, strength, flexibility, dynamic range, musicality, and somatic awareness. Participants will also explore the art of creating choreography and understand how their unique movement style and structural elements contribute to a dance’s overall impact and message. Guided improvisation, choreographic assignments, and sharing and feedback sessions will engage participants throughout the week. The workshop culminates in an informal showing to share developed work with invited guests. 

Mark Tomasic, MFA, is Chair of the Dance Department at Santa Monica College. A former principal dancer with a career spanning over two decades, he performed in major works by Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, George Balanchine, Donald McKayle, Agnes de Mille, and others. As a choreographer, Mark has created works for professional companies and academic institutions nationwide. He is a leading advocate and educator in physically integrated dance through his work with the Dancing Wheels Company & School, serving as Artistic Advisor and co-authoring the Physically Integrated Dance training manual. His choreography for Dancing Wheels has been presented nationally and internationally, with his 2022 work Proof receiving a major NEFA grant for touring and outreach. Mark holds an AA from Cuyahoga Community College, a BFA in Ballet from the University of Cincinnati, and an MFA in Dance from UC Irvine. His most recent work, in a still small voice, was acclaimed by audiences and featured Westside Ballet dancers in their 2025 Spring Showcase. 

_{Photography by Anne Slattery}

^{All offerings are pending enrollment and subject to change without notice.}