Inspiration through dance

Deirdre Newman

While most students at Orange Coast College are sitting in

straight-back chairs and listening to professors lecture, the

advanced jazz dance students are shaking and shimmying all over the

room.

The two-hour class, taught by Linda Sohl-Donnell, focuses on

preparing the students for professional dance careers.

“My singular goal is to give them a full dance experience in terms

of technique, phrasing, all the work that allows them to have a

career in dance,” Sohl-Donnell said.

The petite, spirited teacher uses similes and metaphors to convey

the look and meaning the dances should evoke.

“It’s like splitting a chicken breast,” is how she described one

sharp hand movement during a combination.

Later, she illustrated the contrast of emotions the dancers should

possess.

“There’s lots of floaty stuff, so make sure you don’t lose the

edge,” Sohl-Donnell said. “You have to be willing to let go. It’s a

suspended bird moment.”

One of the main things she focuses on is motivating her students

to re-investigate their alignment and technique.

“A lot of them have danced for quite a while,” Sohl-Donnell said.

“I’m asking them to do something different. It’s hard for dancers who

already have experience and training to change something about their

technique.”

Nonetheless, many of her students say they admire her teaching

style.

“She’s a great teacher,” said Amanda Smith, 20. “She corrects

every student -- she doesn’t just focus on the ones who are good or

bad.”

Joel Aguirre, a dance teacher himself at Saddleback High School

and Laura Roberts School of Dance, said Sohl-Donnell inspires him to

keep dancing.

“She’s not just a teacher, she’s like a mom to us,” Aguirre said.

“She helps us with technique, placement, how to use our body...When

you’re depressed, she makes you laugh.”

* IN THE CLASSROOM is a weekly feature in which Daily Pilot

education writer Deirdre Newman visits a campus in the Newport-Mesa

area and writes about her experience.