COMMERCIAL
DANCE | NYC
SUCCESS STARTS HERE
BFA PROGRAM
Pace Performing Arts’ BFA in Commercial
Dance is the only one of its kind in New
York City. Commercial Dance offers
comprehensive training that bridges
the gap from classical dance technique
to the professional world of commercial
dance. Directed by Rhonda Miller, the
program is an exclusive blend of the highest
quality of professional dance training.
Students will be prepared for professional
careers on stage, television, and commercials
with training by working professionals in
current and pertinent dance styles such
as ballet, jazz, modern, theater dance, tap,
contemporary, hip-hop and aerial arts.
Additionally, our students are trained in
acting, vocal studies, technical theater
and a variety of other electives within the
Performing Arts department.
A NEW APPROACH
At Pace, we want to nurture your unique
attributes as a dancer. Our approach is a
balance of process (the work) and product
(the performance). Our small class sizes
and comprehensive curriculum provide
the individual attention you need to ensure
your growth as a dancer as well as help
you to achieve academic success.
SHOWCASE TALENT
We believe that an audience is a key
element to the development of the
performer. Students have the opportunity
to perform in more than 40 annual
productions in one of our many
performance spaces. Musicals, plays,
performance labs, the fall dance show
dancespace, and the annual Dance
Out Loud show are highlights of the
program‘s performance opportunities.
Students are also encouraged to pursue
internships and gain other real-world
experiences in the industry. With
permission, performing arts students
regularly work on and off-Broadway, on
television and film, and behind the scenes
of various entertainment corporations.
BFA in Commercial Dance
Major Angelica Salem ’15
has participated in Dance
Out Loud and has worked
with respected choreographer Jimmy Locust and
performed with Rhythm
City. In addition, Grammyaward producer Wyclef
Jean and producer Sedeck Jean have
signed her to their new record label, All
Handz on Deck, after hearing her music
in June of 2012. Angelica is currently in the
studio recording her album slated to be
released in 2014.
BFA in Commercial Dance
Major ’14 Ashtain Rothchild
was chosen for the only
intern position at Madison
Square Garden Company’s
Radio City Rockettes Branding
department. Some of Ashtain’s
dance experiences while at
Pace include dancing with
Nicki Minaj in Times Square, with Ne-Yo for
an Xbox 360 Kinect promo, and participating
in Fashion Night Out. Ashtain is also a 3-year
member of Broadway Dance Center’s hip-hop
instructor, Jamie Jackson’s company.
BFA in Commercial Dance
Major ’14 Madison Embrey
has worked in industrials for
Paramount Pictures, BMW,
Microsoft, and Working
Women’s Media, as well as
choreographed, taught for
and assisted with national
conventions and several
studios around the country. She was recently
crowned Miss Southern New York through
the Miss America Organization and will be
competing for Miss New York in summer
2013. “Every single day at Pace feels like a gift.
The faculty, friends, and education I’m
receiving are truly unparalleled!”
www.pace.edu/dyson/performingarts
COMMERCIAL
DANCE | NYC
REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE
“Your career begins the day you
enter the program, not the day
you graduate.”
This philosophy embodies the mission of
Pace Performing Arts. Recent selected credits
of our students and graduates include:
A CHANCE TO CONNECT
Every successful career is based as much on
what you know as who you know. Our
campus is located in the heart of the dance
community of New York City. You start to
build relationships and your network of
industry professionals the day you arrive at
Pace. With faculty permission and guidance,
our students are permitted to audition for
professional productions while still enrolled
at school.
Our guest choreographers and master class
artists are some of the top in the field.
Recent visiting artists include Mandy
Moore, Brian Friedman, Tiler Peck (NYC
Ballet), Gregg Russell, Cherice Barton, Jerry
Mitchell, Donna Drake and Curtis Holbrook.
From Left to Right: Lauren Gaul, Pace faculty, Brian Friedman,
Guest Artist and Rhonda Miller, Director of Dance.
• Nokia Flash mob in Times Square
with Nicki Minaj
• Radio City Rockettes (National Tour)
• Madison Square Garden intern for the
Radio City Rockettes Branding department
• Apple Flash mob NYC
• Choreographer and dancers for recording
artist “WeHo” Fashion Week NYC
• Recording artist signed with
Grammy Award winner Wyclef Jean’s
All Handz On Deck record label
• Featured dancer with Common
Thread Dance Company
• Featured dancers with Riedel Dance
Theater
• Reigning Miss Teen USA (2012)
• Crowned Miss Southern New York (2013)
REGIONAL THEATER PRODUCTIONS:
• A Chorus Line
• Legally Blonde
• 42nd Street
• Cats
A WORKING FACULTY
Our faculty is comprised of dance professionals
who have the passion and ability to train
and mentor dancers at the collegiate level.
Ballet class might be taught by a Broadway
dancer, or a dancer from either the New
York City Ballet or American Ballet Theatre,
and jazz class might be taught by a working,
commercial choreographer or a Radio City
Rockette. Seminar classes feature industry
guests such as agents, casting directors and
working directors/choreographers.
• Oklahoma
• Hairspray
DANCING WITH BRIAN
FRIEDMAN
“Brian Friedman has always been an
inspiration to me. Having him here at
Pace was already a dream come true,
but being picked by him to dance with
his incredible assistants was more than
I ever thought possible.”
www.pace.edu/dyson/performingarts
-David O’Neill, BFA
Commercial Dance