Santa Monica College's Dance Department is throwing open its studio doors this fall for a free public workshop series that pairs working choreographers and clinical researchers with anyone who shows up early enough to grab a spot. The Fall 2026 Masters of Dance series kicks off Thursday, September 24, and runs through mid-November, with sessions covering everything from injury-prevention science to the cultural roots of belly dance.
According to the Santa Monica Mirror, the series opens with Dr. Annette Karim leading a workshop on dancer screening and sensorimotor integration from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Core Performance Center room 304 on SMC's main campus. Karim is described in the report as an orthopedic clinical specialist and former professional dancer who has conducted movement screenings since 2006, including work with professional dance companies and Dance/USA in Los Angeles. Her session will focus on dancer-specific screening techniques used to assess movement patterns and coordination, the outlet notes.
Karim's credentials also include chairing the physical therapy department at Azusa Pacific University, according to Clinical Pattern Recognition. The article also links to a PubMed record.
A Contemporary Ballet Class From a Netflix Choreographer
The series continues October 7 with a contemporary ballet class led by Josie Walsh, also held in Core Performance Center 304, running from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The Mirror reports that Walsh's class will integrate floorwork and artistic expression with traditional technique, exploring alignment, groundedness, fluidity and contemporary movement pathways. Walsh currently serves as artistic director and choreographer of BalletRED Contemporary Ballet and as artistic director of the Joffrey Ballet School's West Coast summer programs, having previously danced with the Joffrey Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre and Zurich Ballet.
Walsh's reach extends into television as well. She choreographed a live contemporary ballet duet that aired on Netflix's Star Search in February 2026, according to the Joffrey Ballet School, which also notes she was previously named one of Dance Magazine's 25 to Watch.
Belly Dance Workshop Closes Out the Series With an SMC Alumna
The series wraps November 18 with Ariel Kasha's Sacred Movement: An Introduction to the Art and Culture of Belly Dance workshop, set for 12:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. in Core Performance Center 310. The class develops fundamental movement skills and rhythmic awareness while covering the cultural and historical contexts of belly dance, exploring Egyptian, Greek, Lebanese and American fusion traditions, per the Mirror's reporting. Kasha has more than 20 years of experience in traditional raqs sharqi and fusion belly dance and has trained and performed throughout the Middle East, studying traditions from Egypt, Morocco, Greece, Türkiye and Lebanon.
Kasha's ties to SMC run deeper than a single guest slot. She is a former SMC student who returned as a guest choreographer for the college's Global Motion World Dance Company in May 2026, staging a piece titled “Fusion” rooted in Raqs Sharqi traditions from Lebanon and Egypt, according to The Corsair. That ensemble itself has deep roots on campus: Global Motion was established more than 50 years ago by former SMC Dance Department Chair Judith Douglas to give community college students professional stage experience in multicultural dance traditions, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press.
Where the Workshops Fit Into SMC's Bigger Dance Picture
All three sessions take place at the Core Performance Center on SMC's main campus at 1900 Pico Boulevard. The building has earned LEED Platinum certification, according to Santa Monica College's own materials. It's a different venue than the school's flagship performance space, the Eli & Edythe Broad Stage at 1310 11th Street, which has hosted major dance showcases — including a gala Hoodline covered marking a ballet founder's 100th birthday.
The series is sponsored jointly by SMC Associates and the SMC Dance Department, the Mirror reports. SMC Associates is described as a private organization that funds speakers and programs.
The workshops are open to the public as either participants or observers, but seating is limited and allocated on a first-arrival basis, the Mirror notes. All three sessions are free, though organizers caution that presentations are subject to change or cancellation without notice. More information is available at smc.edu/dance, and the series can also be reached by phone at 310-434-4100 or 310-434-8763.
A Department Built for Transfer-Bound Dancers
The guest workshops sit alongside a full academic program for enrolled majors. The department's offerings are listed in Santa Monica College's academic listings. The college is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
