For El Camino High School student Stephanie Czares-Robles, a day of dancing at MiraCosta College left her wanting to come back.
“I had so much fun dancing with MiraCosta and hope someday to go back and continue to dance with the school,” she said.
Stephanie was among 123 students from four local high schools who attended MiraCosta College's High School Day of Dance on Friday, October 23. The event welcomed dancers from El Camino, Mission Vista, Rancho Buena Vista, and Sage Creek high schools for a day of movement, learning, and a firsthand look at the college's dance program.
Organized by MiraCosta's Dance Department, the event allows high school students to learn directly from college faculty, explore different dance styles, and discover ways to continue their passion for dance beyond high school.
Throughout the morning, students filled MiraCosta's dance studios for faculty-led workshops in hip-hop, Latin dance, musical theatre dance, and ballet folklĂłrico. Two workshop sessions gave students the chance to experience different techniques, learn new choreography, and get a taste of college-level dance instruction.
But what makes the experience especially valuable is the faculty behind it.
“A lot of high school dancers don’t know that community college training can be university-level,” said Dave Massey, MiraCosta College dance professor.
MiraCosta's dance faculty have taught at institutions including UC Irvine, UC Riverside, CSU Long Beach, Chapman University, and Scripps College. According to Massey, students receive the same level of instruction at MiraCosta in smaller classes, allowing for more individual attention, faster progress, and opportunities to perform beginning in their first semester.
The experience also extends beyond the dance floor.
Following the workshops, students gathered in the theatre for a Q&A session, where they learned more about MiraCosta's dance program and opportunities to get a head start on college.
One pathway discussed was dual enrollment, which allows high school students to take college-level courses while earning both high school and college credit. Offered at participating high schools, MiraCosta's dual enrollment courses are tuition-free, with books and materials provided at no cost. The program gives students a chance to explore their interests, strengthen their college applications, and reduce the time and cost of earning a degree. Some students can even earn a college certificate or associate degree before graduating from high school.
Massey also emphasized that students don't have to wait until graduation to begin taking classes at MiraCosta, and that they can do so for free.
For the Dance Department, these early connections are an important part of helping students see themselves in college.
Since returning in 2023, High School Day of Dance has continued to grow. This year's event welcomed its largest group yet, up from 92 students in spring 2025. Moving the event to the fall also allowed the department to connect with graduating seniors before they make their college decisions.
According to Massey, the event has helped increase enrollment in both the college's regular dance courses and Summer Dance Intensive program.
The day also brings high school dance educators together, giving them time to exchange ideas, learn about other programs, and share what their students need. That feedback helps MiraCosta's faculty strengthen relationships with neighboring schools and find more ways to support young dancers.
For students like Stephanie, High School Day of Dance offers more than a chance to learn new choreography. It's an opportunity to work with experienced faculty, discover what's possible, and begin imagining their next steps.
And thanks to the Dance Department's efforts, those opportunities can begin well before high school graduation.
