South Coast Conservatory, in both their Laguna Nigel and their San Clemente locations, has been offering professional dance instruction to students ages 3 to adult, from beginning to professional level since 1992. South Coast Conservatory (SCC) is the largest privately owned performing arts school in Orange County and the home of Southern California’s renowned Dance Discovery Foundation. With over 1,300 actively enrolled students, SCC offers a wide range of classes and programs, including training in musical theater, tumbling, hip hop, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, adult and Pro-Am Master Classes as well as hosting and facilitating the South Coast Ballet Theatre, jjAE, and Dance Discovery Companies: Compass Dance, NXT LVL and Their Cru. Faculty includes working dancers, choreographers and Professors from some of the most prestigious Universities in the area.
According to Jena Minnick-Bull, Director of South Coast Conservatory, their passion for dance changes lives through their unique approach to training, choreography, performance, and making a lasting connection with their students. Open since 1992, they have expanded multiple times, training students in commercial and classical dance, presenting professional level productions, and placing their students in competitions, in college programs, commercially, and professionally. They have many teachers still performing and choreographing in the industry, as well as having advanced degrees in dance and performing arts. Additionally, many of their students go on into other non-dance endeavors, with their experience at SCC having far reaching effect on their lives.
In Jena’s opinion, South Coast Conservatory is separated from other dance studios by their Sheer Awesomeness!!! They offer the total training experience from age 3 to 93. They start them in pre-academy and offer them many progression options as they grow. They may be commercial, classical, contemporary, competitive, or recreational. SCC offers quality programs for all. They have a teacher training program, five pre-professional dance companies, six shows per year, and a beautiful professional facility. They have two locations with a total of 11 dance studios, a studio theatre, one pilates room, two retail stores, and student lounge areas. They have over 40 faculty members, each with stellar resumes, bringing the best of the industry to their community.
Jena’s proudest moment coaching involves one of her competitive 
students, Gracie Doran. At the age of 10, Gracie had a massive stroke due to a tumor. She could not speak, swallow, or move her right side – her right side was paralyzed! She needed thousands of hours of therapy and dance became part of that therapy. Jena and some of the other instructors at SCC showed her a way to dance where she could be herself. To understand what Gracie was dealing with, the SCC choreographers danced with weights on their arms and legs. Gracie says that dancing is in her blood – it is what she does, who she is. Her journey has been a very proud moment for everyone – for her teachers, her parents and especially for Gracie. Watch her story on the YouTube address below, but arm yourself with tissues. You will need them but it will be worth the time and the emotions. Even now, every time Jena watches Gracie dance, she cries. (Gracie’s Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y_CtmzerGk) No wonder Jena considers this her proudest moment.
Jena believes the biggest mistake a dancer can make is improper turn outs and not marking what they are learning. She has worked with and watched many dancers in ballet, contemporary, jazz, lyrical, etc. Turn out is constantly demanded of the body to execute the steps. However, many students use their knees to turn out instead of the muscles through and around their hips. Using their knees causes chronic knee injuries. The way to fix this problem is by developing stronger muscles in their hips and thighs through conditioning at the barre and in center. Every starting position begins from the core and hips. Every tendu begins with pulling the hip back as the heel stretches in the opposite direction. Then they repeat, repeat, repeat until the muscles do not need to be reminded any more – at least 1,000 times, each direction, in plie and straight legs.
Marking is building weak muscle memory, forcing a student to have to re-learn slowly. So they don’t allow marking, unless injured, staging, or concentrating on music cues instead of movement. SCC asks for 100% correct execution or do not do it at all.
Jena’s goals for 2016 for the Conservatory is to reach 85% capacity for their second location, keep student retention above 82% at both locations, obtain a space for their third location and start obtaining permits, and get placed at the Dance Awards in Vegas. It is will be their first time at the Dance Awards, so they will aim high and bring their best.
Jena started dancing at age seven. When she was 9 years of age, her family was in poverty. She cleaned mirrors, rode the bus, helped sew costumes and more – all just to have the privilege of dancing. It was challenging and rewarding. The discipline, artistry, and goal setting that she learned through dance, shaped her. She used her dancing to get a scholarship for college, help her start her career in business, and then again to help build the company she loves so much. She has grown and will continue to grow. In the core of it all, is a passion for dance and performing arts that keeps her going. She has watched many children, including her own, grow into amazing people at SCC. She has seen hundreds of students’ smiles, performances, falls, and triumphs. Each student at SCC has a unique and beautiful story. Jena is honored to have impacted their lives, the way that dance has impacted hers. She continues to do what she does because of the way their community has supported SCC’s endeavors in changing lives through dance and performing arts. Jena thanks her mom, who enrolled her in ballet, never let her quit, and still encourages her today!
Jena founded a non-profit organization, Dance Discovery Foundation (DDF), in 2010 for the purpose of dance education outreach in their public schools, scholarship programs, and community support of emerging dance companies. SCC is the primary sponsor of DDF. SCC and DDF host a Rising Stars class for special needs dancers; work with the Gang Reduction Intervention Program (GRIP) hosting hip hop workshops at schools and in community centers; raise money every October for Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC); and have raised almost $100,000 for CHOC in the past 12 years. They donate money from their December show “The Gift” to Families Forward of Orange County, giving to families in need around Christmas time. They also offer scholarships to students to get them further in their pursuit to a dance career. Their most recent donation was to a Tisch student at New York University on scholarship. They plan to do more and more in many years to come.
If you would like more information about the South Coast Conservatory, visit their website at scconservatory.com or Dance Discovery Foundation’s website at http://www.dancediscoveryfoundation.org/#about, call them at 949-367-0099 ext.1021, or email Jena Minnick at sccconservatory.com. You can also “Like” them on Facebookc and connect with them on Instagram.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Jena Minnick-Bull of South Coast Conservatory.
Written By Cyndi Marziani
Owner
BDancewear.com
