Masters Pro Dance Workshop

Masters Pro Dance Workshop, Join Us for Year 14!

a no-frills hybrid dance workshop for dancers over 30 years old (or close to 30)

October 17-18, 2026

Welcome to Masters Pro Dance Workshop hosted by the world-famous Department of Dance at California State University, Long Beach and your “Head Instructor” Andy Vaca. As we move into our 14th year, we are excited to welcome dancers for two exciting days of dancing, with the choice to participate the entire weekend or either of the two days.

MPDW is a two-day dance workshop largely structured like the dance camps that many dancers attended in high school or college. MPDW material includes routines in pro dance team-style, hip hop, jazz, contemporary, and includes a Camp Dance and drill down experience. For educators, material taught is suitable and/or adaptable for your students. Routines and routine showcases will take place on Saturday (Day 1) and Master Classes plus the completion of Camp Dance and Drill Down and �� student performances will be Sunday (Day 2)—Check out the sample schedule. The best part about MPDW is that you get to decide how far you want to push yourself— we have a strict “no judgement” policy! Don’t want to do floorwork? Then stay on your feet! Afraid that you’ll pull a hamstring? Then keep that leg low! Just smile, try your best, and have a great time.

The Chance to Make a Difference

For 13 years, Masters Pro Dance Workshop has supported and challenged mature dancers by creating a safe and exciting environment in which to move. We have also raised more money for �� Dance scholarships than any other fundraiser in Department history! MPDW connects our alumni and greater Long Beach dance community to our talented students while helping young dancers fulfill their goal of completing a degree from �� Dance.

Not Yet 30 Years Old? Though we are never super strict about the “over 30 years old” rule, we do ask that you come in the spirit of dancing with a community of dancers who largely do not dance on a daily basis and will be here for kicks (low ones) and giggles!

Registration is only a few clicks (all links will update soon):

Tap the REGISTRATION dropdown below for the link to MPDW registration
Tap the PAYMENT/DONATION dropdown
Tap the Cashnet link
Tap “Registration” on the Cashnet page

Cannot attend but want to donate?

Just tap the PAYMENT/DONATION dropdown, tap the , then choose “To Donate” on the Cashnet page.

Please help us out by spreading the word and inviting your friends and fellow dancers to register and/or donate. This is honestly my favorite weekend of the fall semester, and I hope to see you dancing with me in the studio! Thank you so much,

Andy Vaca, Head Instructor and MPDW Director
Professor, Department of Dance
California State University, Long Beach

All participants will have the opportunity to learn two dances and a “camp dance” from our all-star staff from the commercial, concert, and pro dance team world. There will be routines in different levels and different styles, with an emphasis on engaging choreography as opposed to technical “tricks.” All routines will be 50-60 seconds long, and often feature special “Flashback Material” utilizing steps and moves from the past! For those of you who are still dancing and teaching, you will take away some great material to share with your students, and experience teaching techniques and energy that will certainly add to your personal teaching methodologies. And, of course, there is Drill Down, which is taught in two levels, and the always-popular “Camp Dance”. All routines will be taught on Day 1 with Day 2 featuring a special guest choreographer class in addition to the completion of Camp Dance and final Drill Downs. For those only attending Day 2, a video will be sent ahead of time so you can learn part 1 of the Camp Dance before arriving.

MPDW also brings you to one of the largest dance departments in higher education in the United States: the �� Department of Dance. Each studio has ceiling fans, natural lighting (good for “mature” faces), raised floors (good for creaking bones), and lots of space. No dancing in parking lots, tennis courts, or gym floors for these bodies! MPDW will allow you to experience dancing in one of the most beautiful training grounds in the United States.

Saturday, Oct. 17

8:00 Registration
9:00 Intros/Warm-up
10:00 Routine A
11:30 Routine A Showcase
12:00 Lunch
1:30 Camp Dance, Part 1
1:50 Routine B
3:20 Break
3:30 Routine B Showcase
4:00 Day 1 Awards/Photos and dinner plans

Sunday, Oct. 18

9:00 Warm-up and Camp Dance, Part 2
9:45 Drill Down
10:15   Guest Choreographer class (1 hour)
11:15 Break
11:30   Special Performance by �� Dancers
12:00  Drill Down Final; Guest classes and Camp Dance recording
12:45  Awards/Photos

Your staff include luminaries of the pro dance team and concert dance worlds! Though the staff is subject to change, look forward to working with professionals such as:

Diane Bonds—former USA Program Director and choreographer for the world-famous Los Angeles Laker Girls, collegiate dance instructor, and a double alum of �� Dance (undergrad and grad)
Nate Hodges—Artistic Director of RhetOracle Dance Company and an Associate Teaching Professor of Dance at the University of Nevada, Reno where he teaches jazz and musical theater courses; an MFA grad of �� Dance.
Mina Ortega—Director of the USC Trojan Dance Force and Co-Artistic Director of Pro Action Dance
John Peters—John is the choreographer for the Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders and one of the most award-winning choreographers in the dance spirit world having been in the business for 40 years
Lauryn Ujkic—Former Captain for the Charger Girls and a Pro Bowl Cheerleader, instructor for Pro Action Dance
Andy Vaca—choreographer with over 35 years of dance team experience, instructor for Pro Action Dance, and the former President of the American College Dance Association
MJ Wolff—an award-winning studio choreographer, and a jazz dance instructor at ��.

Registration for MPDW must be done ahead of the event and will close at 3pm on Oct. 16 or when the event reaches capacity (100 in-person dancers). After registering, do not forget to pay and/or donate to our Scholarship Fund (the PAYMENT/DONATION tab).

REGISTER NOW:

Please click the link below in order to submit payment for MPDW, $135 payment (two days), $85 (Day 1 only), or $55 (Day 2 only). You can also donate directly to the �� Department of Dance Scholarship fund via this link. If you are unable to donate at any of these levels at this time but would still like to participate, please donate what you can and contact Andy Vaca at Andrew.vaca@csulb.edu. We greatly appreciate any amount that you are able to give!