Spring Dance Theatre takes to the stage
Dance Major Joshua Romero choreographed many dances at CSUF
By: Keturah Miller
Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: Features
"If dance were any easier, it would be called football," graduating senior and Cal State Fullerton dance major, Joshua Romero said.
Born and raised in Hacienda Heights, Calif., it wasn't always a dream of Romero's to be a dancer.
At St. Joseph's Catholic School in La Puente, where Romero attended elementary and junior high grades, he played sports.
"When I was little, I played football, basketball and baseball, but dance stuck with me," Romero said.
Romero comes from a family with a musical background, but the arts were not easily adopted for Romero.
Romero attended Bishop Amat High School in La Puente and took one of their co-ed hip-hop classes.
The hip-hop class was not technical, however. Romero learned about lifts and worked on partner exercises.
Although there was not any formal competition, Romero said he enjoyed taking the class just for fun.
After graduating from Bishop Amat in La Puente in 2003, Romero attended CSUF and decided to take Dance 101 with instructor William Lett.
An undeclared major with a growing fascination for art and dance culture, he approached counselors to look further into the department.
Macarena Gandarillas, a choreographer and dance department faculty member, taught a dance class that that solidified Romero's interest for dance.
"There was a need for guy dancers and after talking to Gladys Kares and Deborah Noble, they made me want to be more involved," Romero said.
Kares is the coordinator of the Spring Dance Theatre and a faculty member and Noble is a CSUF dance faculty member and an instructor.
After officially declaring dance as his major in his sophomore year, Romero said he was more convinced than ever that dance would become his passion.
"Gladys Kares inspires me and is one of the most interesting characters I have ever met," Romero said. "You can ask her a small question and she turns it into a big difference ... she is so easy to approach."
Born and raised in Hacienda Heights, Calif., it wasn't always a dream of Romero's to be a dancer.
At St. Joseph's Catholic School in La Puente, where Romero attended elementary and junior high grades, he played sports.
"When I was little, I played football, basketball and baseball, but dance stuck with me," Romero said.
Romero comes from a family with a musical background, but the arts were not easily adopted for Romero.
Romero attended Bishop Amat High School in La Puente and took one of their co-ed hip-hop classes.
The hip-hop class was not technical, however. Romero learned about lifts and worked on partner exercises.
Although there was not any formal competition, Romero said he enjoyed taking the class just for fun.
After graduating from Bishop Amat in La Puente in 2003, Romero attended CSUF and decided to take Dance 101 with instructor William Lett.
An undeclared major with a growing fascination for art and dance culture, he approached counselors to look further into the department.
Macarena Gandarillas, a choreographer and dance department faculty member, taught a dance class that that solidified Romero's interest for dance.
"There was a need for guy dancers and after talking to Gladys Kares and Deborah Noble, they made me want to be more involved," Romero said.
Kares is the coordinator of the Spring Dance Theatre and a faculty member and Noble is a CSUF dance faculty member and an instructor.
After officially declaring dance as his major in his sophomore year, Romero said he was more convinced than ever that dance would become his passion.
"Gladys Kares inspires me and is one of the most interesting characters I have ever met," Romero said. "You can ask her a small question and she turns it into a big difference ... she is so easy to approach."
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