Visiting Artists & Guest Series

Connecting Students to Artists, Culture & the Creative Industries

At CSU Channel Islands, we believe learning about dance means engaging directly with the people who shape it.

Through master classes, workshops, performances, and conversations, our Dance Studies students connect with influential artists, cultural practitioners, educators, and creative industry professionals.

Our four signature guest series bring dance’s living histories into the classroom while introducing students to diverse artistic practices, professional pathways, and the many ways dance shapes our world.

X-perience Dance Series

Discovering the Possibilities of a Life in Dance

Established in 2022, the X-perience Dance Series introduces students to the many professional and creative pathways connected to dance.

From choreography and commercial entertainment to education, wellness, cultural preservation, and arts leadership, visiting professionals share their experiences and demonstrate how dance can inform a lifetime of creative possibilities.

Hip Hop Dance Master Series

Honoring the Foundations. Engaging the Culture.

The Hip Hop Dance Master Series connects students with pioneering artists, culture bearers, and contemporary practitioners who have shaped Hip Hop dance.

Through master classes, demonstrations, and conversations, students explore Hip Hop’s foundations, cultural histories, and continuing evolution.

Rooted in Black and Brown communities, Hip Hop is explored as both an artistic practice and a cultural movement grounded in identity, innovation, and community.

Featured Artists: Asia One | Ken Swift | Frankie Flave

Watch: Hip Hop Dance Master Series Through the Years

Living Room Sessions

Conversations About Art, Life & the Creative Journey

Inspired by Inside the Actors Studio, the Living Room Sessions offers intimate, in-depth conversations with influential artists, choreographers, and creative leaders.

Guests share the personal journeys, artistic choices, challenges, and defining experiences that shape a life in dance.

These conversations provide students with rare insights into the creative process while preserving the stories and experiences of artists whose work has influenced generations.

Featured Guests:

Mandy Moore — Emmy Award-winning choreographer (La La Land, So You Think You Can Dance, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour).

Anthony Thomas — Award-winning choreographer whose groundbreaking work on Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation helped redefine commercial dance.

Denise Minns-Harris — Dancer and cultural advocate preserving the legacy of legendary Lindy Hop and jazz dancer Al Minns.

Watch: Living Room Session with Mandy Moore

Dance Chats

Exploring Careers, Creativity & Community

Dance Chats brings working professionals from across the dance field and creative industries into informal, interactive conversations with students.

From performers and choreographers to educators, filmmakers, movement therapists, and arts administrators, guests share their experiences and offer insight into the many ways dance education translates into professional opportunities.

The series also highlights CSUCI alumni, connecting current students with graduates who are shaping their communities and building careers in the arts.

Learning From the People Making Dance History

Together, these initiatives connect academic study with professional practice, cultural knowledge, and creative exploration.

At CSUCI, we don’t just study dance history. We learn from the people making it.