UCSD - University of California - San Diego

05/28/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/28/2026 05:16

Day of Dance Performances Celebrate Joy, Freedom and Second Chances

Published Date

May 28, 2026

Article Content

"We're in a time right now where more people need to be making art," affirms Ana Maria Alvarez, head of the dance program in UC San Diego's Department of Theatre and Dance.

Alvarez has been mentoring nine student choreographers to become courageously curious, using dance to explore deep questions about themselves and the world. Their pieces will debut at the annual New Directions performance, happening June 4-6 at the Epstein Family Amphitheater.

For the first time, this year's showcase will include a special spotlight on the university's student dance organizations. Nearly 300 students who have a passion for dance will perform at the event, called V12ION, which takes place at the Epstein Family Amphitheater from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, June 6.

Saturday's double feature, dubbed the "Day of Dance," was developed with support from the Department of Theatre and Dance, ArtPower at UC San Diego, the Office of the Dean of Arts and Humanities and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life. The all-day celebration grows connections among UC San Diego's dance community while engaging audiences through the power of embodied storytelling. This new tradition joins dozens of arts and performance events across campus that bring people together through shared creative experiences.

'It's time to shine'

James Selby, an undergraduate choreographer for New Directions, can confidently say that dance has changed his life.

After immigrating to the United States nine years ago, he decided to follow his childhood dream of becoming a dancer. In his mid-thirties, Selby enrolled in a local community college that offered dance courses. Despite the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, he started with online classes, eventually transitioning to in-person lessons as time passed.

There were moments when Selby doubted himself. "I often felt too old, insecure or afraid that this dream was unrealistic," he shared. "But I never stopped showing up for myself. Even on difficult days, I would tell myself: 'You are going to class. No matter what happens, show up for yourself.'"

Selby transferred to UC San Diego last fall at 41 years old to study dance. He has choreographed a work for New Directions called "It's Time to Shine," which shares his personal story - how dancing once served as a form of emotional numbing, but has evolved into an immense sense of freedom, connection and joy. Five dancers will perform the piece, including Selby, in a style that blends jazz, improvisation, contemporary and groove-based movement.

"One of the biggest messages I hope people take from my story is that it's never too late to pursue your dreams," said Selby. "Your age, your body, your background or your past do not define your ability to grow, transform and achieve something meaningful."

A total of eight works will be presented at New Directions, with subjects ranging from the path to overcoming self-doubt to how desire can be channeled into personal strength and how to process the loss of a loved one. The showcase, directed by Alvarez and led by students, offers an opportunity for students to collaborate across disciplines, with choreographers, sound designers, stage managers, dancers and lighting designers working together to bring the show to life.

New Directions is an annual showcase featuring works choreographed by students in the Department of Theatre and Dance. The program offers courses in a range of styles, from West African and Flamenco to jazz and contemporary approaches.

Dance teams across campus connect for a hip-hop showcase

In addition to the New Directions dance student showcase, V12ION (pronounced "vision") introduces audiences to the vibrant community of dance teams at UC San Diego. Hundreds of students will take the stage on Saturday, June 6 to showcase their latest projects and participate in an energetic dance battle.

Inspired by past showcases hosted on campus, V12ION was hosted last year in partnership with UC San Diego Campus Events at Warren Mall. The event is organized by the Division 12 Dance Team, a project team described as a home base for students who wanted a space to "inhale, exhale and dance."

Their goal for this year's event is to cultivate connections. "We want to bring the community back together and reinforce the relationship between students and the Department of Theatre and Dance," said Rianna Nirel Ferrer, an interdisciplinary computing in the arts (visual arts) major who began dancing at age 11.

"A lot of dancers are non-majors; they just love dancing as a hobby," explained team member Brandon Tran. A real estate development and urban studies and planning student, Tran started his UC San Diego dance journey through KADOFF (Korean-American Student Association Dance Off) before joining Division 12. He continued, "San Diego is known for team dancing, and we wanted to cultivate that within UC San Diego, give them space to show everyone what they've been working on."

Many dance team members enroll in grace shinhae jun's hip-hop course in the Department of Theatre and Dance to master foundational movement and learn about dance culture. Jun acts as a support for the students' vision. "I hold space for them, sharing advice and connections to community practitioners."

Tickets for New Directions can be found on the Department of Theatre and Dance website. The V12ION dance team showcase is open to all, with no fee for entry.

UCSD - University of California - San Diego published this content on May 28, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 28, 2026 at 11:16 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]