Seaside Children's Dance Ensemble
About Us
Seaside Children’s Dance Ensemble (SCDE) is the dance company affiliated with Seaside Arts Center. These world-class dance artists are proficient in several styles of dance, including ballet and historical modern. Most unique, the dancers of SCDE specialize in performing and preserving historically relevant dance as a living and embodied practice, focusing particularly on the choreography of modern dance pioneer, Isadora Duncan. Seaside Children’s Dance Ensemble members are among a limited number of dancers worldwide who continue Duncan’s legacy, and Seaside Arts Center is the only school in Southern California to offer this unique and specialized training. The dancers of SCDE also participate in the choreographic process and as they progress through the program learn to mentor younger artists and develop their skills as dance teachers. SCDE performs frequently around San Diego county and travels as necessary for additional performance opportunities.
Who was Isadora Duncan?
Widely considered the mother of Modern Dance, Isadora Duncan (1877-1927) broke down the Ballet paradigm in western performance dance by creating a more expressive, personal, and individual performance art. She danced barefoot, in loose flowing tunics, to music not composed specifically for dance. A daring revolutionary in art and in life, Isadora sought a natural and organic form of movement. Her art was inspired by Ancient Greek and Renaissance art and imagery, and acknowledged gravity and weight.
Born and raised in California, Isadora traveled to Europe, where she danced on the most distinguished stages of her day. She also concentrated on educating children, teaching them not only about the art of dance, but how to bring their own creative energy into their lives. Isadora said “To dance is to live; what I want is a school of life.” She started three schools and her legacy continues as an oral tradition, passed from generation to generation.
