SCC Dance Presents Spring Dance Concert for One Night Only!
April 24, 2026 -- (Fairfield, CA) The Solano Community College (SCC) Dance department
is pleased to present the inaugural Dance, Create, Collaborate (DCC) festival on Friday,
May 8 at 7:30 p.m. The concert directed by Ginger Cain will showcase the work of students,
guests, and SCC faculty choreographers.
DCC will present dance pieces performed by SCC current and former dance students
and guest performers, including the Vallejo High School Dance Program, Ballet Folklorico
Netzahualcoyotl, and Las Positas College Dance Program.
Student choreographers include Harley Lespron and Jenna Mitchell, who are excited
to bring their dances to the stage and were selected by Ms. Cain for the dance production
class as well as guest choreographer Cherise Bryant Ortiz. The students enrolled in
the dance production class have had the opportunity to work with these dance artists.
“This was my first time having the opportunity to teach and bring my choreography
to life and all of the students worked so hard to bring that vision to the stage,”
said Lespron. “They were dedicated, excited, focused, and one thing that stuck with
me the most was how positive and fun the whole group was. I will never forget them
or Ms. Ginger.”
Jenna Mitchell’s choreography is inspired by the themes of popular dystopian young
adult novels like The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner. She also designed the costumes
for this dance, set to the song “Mad World.”
“The dancers are embodying the fight, success, and failures of these characters as
they push through the situations thrown their way,” said Mitchell. “The entire experience
at SCC was extremely fulfilling. I was able to create choreography and costume designs
that I have not had the opportunity to make in a long time.” Director Ginger Cain has been teaching in the classroom for over 40 years. She has
been a full-time professor at Solano Community College since 2001. She holds B.F.A
from Cornish College of the Arts, and a MA from St. Mary’s College in Health, Physical
Education, and Recreation. She has a lifetime teaching credential in Dance from the
Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges.
She has directed many dance production concerts at Solano College and College of
San Mateo. She and her students from current and past years were invited to participate
in dance concerts at Diablo Valley College, Contra Costa College and most recently
Santa Rosa Junior College. Ginger had a Hip Hop performance dance group “Synergy” that performed outside the school for five years. This group was invited
to perform “Mission in The Mix,” with Micaya and others.
Ginger has performed professionally in many genres of dance and has had many performance
opportunities to dance the works of many famous dance choreographers such as Donald
McKayle, Bill Evans, Loretta Livingston, Blanche Brown, Angie Bunch, Tandy Beal, Berle
Davis, and others. One of her favorite experiences was being a dancer in the Boulder
Jazz Company, The Young Audiences of San Jose, San Jose Civic Light Opera and Peninsula
Civic light Opera.
“I am grateful to share my talent and joy of dance with others,” said Cain. “I love
working with so many folks in preparation to perform. Seeing the progress of my students
from start to finish brings me a sense of accomplishment to see their success and
sharing of lifetime memories.
The SCC Dance festival is sponsored in part by an Institute for Teaching grant awarded
to Cain from the California Teachers Association in July 2024.
“This grant is an incredible opportunity to showcase artistic expression to our campus
and the surrounded community,” said Cain. “With this funding, we can offer students
a chance to showcase their talents and experience the joy of performance in a professionally
supported environment.”
The grant will facilitate the festival’s comprehensive experience, including the
use of a state-of-the-art theater with top-tier technicians, photographers, videographers,
and lighting designers selected by Cain. It will also ensure that all cast members
receive a professional digital and DVD recording of their performance, along with
high-quality photographs.
“I am incredibly proud of Professor Ginger Cain and her vision for the ‘Dance, Create,
Collaborate’ festival,” said Dr. Kellie Butler, SCC’s Superintendent-President. “This
award highlights the vital role of dance as a form of expression that transcends language
and fosters community. It’s exciting to see Solano Community College offer such transformative
experiences for our students and beyond.
The Dance, Create, Collaborate festival will be held at Solano College Theatre on
Friday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. There is no fee to attend, though guests are welcome to
purchase t-shirts or tote bags, or donate to support the SCC Dance program.
Stay connected to SCC Dance by following these accounts on social media: SCC_Dance
on Instagram, and SCC Dance on Facebook.
For more information, please call (707) 864-7100, or visit:
www.solanocollegetheatre.org/eventscalendar/dance-create-collaborate-festival