Commercial Dance
Newbury Park High School
Commercial
Dance
TBD
TBD
Are you interested in pursuing dance as a career in entertainment? Do you want to learn the skills used by professional dancers in music videos, live performances, film, television, and social media? This course introduces students to commercial dance styles while building industry-ready technique, performance quality, and professionalism. Students will explore choreography, auditions, teamwork, show production, cinematography, and creative expression while learning about career pathways in the commercial dance and entertainment industry.
This Pathway teaches you ...
-
About careers in commercial dance, entertainment, and the performing arts industry
-
How to manage and participate in a production, including rehearsals, roles, and timelines
-
Choreography for film, music videos, and live performance, with an emphasis on camera awareness and storytelling
-
Music selection and basic video editing to support dance projects and digital content
-
Professional audition skills, including resumes, headshots, and performance etiquette
-
Collaboration, communication, and professionalism expected in industry settings
Real-world opportunities through this Pathway include ...
-
Field trips to live performances, rehearsals, or professional dance productions to observe industry practices
-
Field trips to studios, theaters, or production spaces to explore careers in commercial dance, film, and entertainment
-
Guest speakers from the dance and entertainment industry, such as professional dancers, choreographers, directors, casting professionals, or producers
-
Hands-on experience creating and managing dance productions, including choreography, rehearsal planning, and performance execution
-
Opportunities to learn choreography for camera, exploring spacing, angles, and performance for film and digital media
-
Exposure to industry tools and practices, including music editing, video editing, and production workflows
-
Career exploration through audition simulations, portfolio development, and feedback from industry professionals
This Pathway will prepare me for …
- Dance conditioning, injury prevention, and wellness practices to support performance and career longevity
- Opportunities to take additional performing arts or CTE courses that support entry-level industry roles such as assistant choreographer, rehearsal assistant, production assistant, or studio intern
- Preparation for postsecondary coursework in dance, choreography, performing arts, film, theater, and related creative industry programs
Community College District (VCCCD) local college
What our students are saying …
“As someone who took Beginning Dance the year prior, Commercial Dance was a great blend of technique and real-world application. From concept videos to producing NPHS' dance concerts, I learned so much that you wouldn't find in a regular dance class. Cameo is a great instructor that is able to educate her students from past experiences, especially this class.”
“The class is a great opportunity for dancers and filmmakers alike. Coming from a background in film, the class is a great resource in developing technical skills. With the combination of Ib dance, there are many peers to work with while producing music videos.”
“Whether it’s learning new styles of dance and behind the scenes of a production, or creating music videos, commercial dance is an incredibly fun class. As someone who previously had minimal dance experience, this class helped me evolve both as a performer and as a producer. Cameo does a fantastic job of teaching us the unseen work that goes into a production, including both the economics and stylization of the dance world.”
Check out our students’ work!
About the Pathway teacher
Cameo is a professional dancer, choreographer, and creative director with extensive experience in commercial dance, musical theatre, and live performance. Her professional credits include dancing on Gilmore Girls, national touring with Tap Sounds Underground under the direction of Gregg Russell, and international touring with Souell Productions. Her performance career spans television, stage, and touring productions, providing her with a strong foundation in both commercial and theatrical dance.
As a choreographer, Cameo has served as musical choreographer for numerous productions, including Thoroughly Modern Millie, Aida, West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, Footloose, Damn Yankees, The Pirates of Penzance, and Once Upon a Mattress. Her choreography emphasizes storytelling, musicality, and performance quality while preparing dancers for professional expectations.
In addition to her performance and choreography work, Cameo has spent over 22 years developing industry-informed dance programs at Newbury Park High School. She holds a Master’s degree in Cross-Cultural Education, bringing a global and inclusive perspective to her creative work. She has also served as an instructor and judge for the United Spirit Association.
Cameo’s mentorship has produced a strong network of alumni working across the professional dance and entertainment landscape. Former students have gone on to become NFL cheerleaders, industry choreographers, K-pop artists, professional performers, dance studio owners, high school dance educators and team coaches, actors, models, and social media influencers with national and international reach. These alumni successes reflect the program’s emphasis on industry standards, professionalism, and real-world preparation, as well as Cameo’s commitment to developing versatile, career-ready performers.
Cameo’s leadership and impact in the arts have been recognized through honors including CADTD Director of the Year and CVUSD Teacher of the Month. She is passionate about bridging professional training with industry practice and is excited to expand opportunities for dancers through a new Commercial Dance program that prepares performers for careers in music videos, touring, film, and live entertainment.
Cameo Carolan
ccarolan@conejousd.org