Your Dance Resource Center

Small Team, Big Footprint & Amazing Results

Dance Resource Center executive director @raelledorfan smiling while dancing in blue sheer skirt.

A Note from our Executive Director

As we usher out one of the most significant periods of our time, we do so with an even greater awareness of self and community. Every step, every beat more meaningful than the one before, carefully placed and choreographed to continue enhancing our techniques and evolving as creative entrepreneurs.

In my seventh year as Executive Director of the DRC, I have been fortunate to hold the best ticket in town. With a front row seat, I have witnessed how we, dancers and enthusiasts, have created online programming to meet the times and explode platforms – Tiking and Toking to maintain connectivity. I have regularly engaged with our thoughtful City, County and non-profit leaders as we seize the power of opportunity and make fundamental changes in systems, pushing and enforcing agendas of cultural equity and inclusion. I have experienced my own team building on DRC’s rich history and setting the stage to ensure that the rhythm of our vibrant, colorful, unique city and dance community have limitless opportunities.

As we launch and/or strengthen diverse collaborations and partnerships, alongside our online hub for LA’s professional Dance Community – the preparation, as always a meaningful journey in itself. DRC is poised to provide equitable programming and enhanced services to performers, teaching artists, choreographers, companies, studios, administrators, producers, presenters, agents, philanthropists and more. We are elated to enhance DRC’s Member Directory – the first stop for all things dance in LA, and DRC’s DSD Marketplace – a boutique platform that supports dance artists who are the tempo of our city. A special thanks to our Members for providing the exquisite photos for our new website and to Paul Antico for his photo contributions.

Proceeding to the next act, I curtsy and say: bravo/a for your commitment, ambition, and resilience.

Together, let us cut the ribbon and embrace your DRC dance home – the Pulse of LA Dance & Movement. When you thrive, we thrive. When we flourish, you flourish. Vamos!

Dance Resource Center executive director @raelledorfan signature.

The Dance Resource Center is Lead By

Raélle Dorfan

Executive Director

rdorfan@danceresourcecenter.org https://raelledorfan.com

Named Executive Director of the DRC in 2018, Raélle has been a dance artist and arts professional for nearly two decades.

Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Raélle studied various forms of dance and musical theater before immigrating to California, graduating Summa Cum Laude from the UCLA World Arts and Cultures Dance and Choreography Department. Raélle has been a teaching artist and choreographer at Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles for a decade and prior to her role at the DRC, was Associate Director at Cadence Arts Network, Manager Director for Pentacle programs in Los Angeles and Education Director for RKDC at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. Raélle has performed at some of California’s most prestigious venues with Pacifico Dance Company and Fusion Dance Theater and served as judge and panelist for multiple performing arts programs and performances. She serves on the Board of Directors for The Simama Project in Nanyuki, Kenya and Fusion Performing Dance Academy in East LA. Raélle is committed to taking the legacy of the DRC to the next level to help dance take its rightful place as a creative, vibrant and thriving art form in Los Angeles.

The Dance Resource Center is Supported By

Jasmine Cortez

Membership and Marketing Associate

info@danceresourcecenter.org

Based in the Inland Empire, Jasmine Cortez is an arts administrator, dancer, and choreographer. Following the acquisition of her associates in Fine & Applied Arts, Jasmine joined Infuse Dance Crew where she competed at Hip Hop International, World of Dance, Urban Street Jam, and other various dance competitions. Later, she would join Animus Dance Company and perform in Rebekah Guererro’s “Ghetto: A Dance Film for Us”. Throughout her career, Jasmine has presented and performed in works throughout the IE including: American College Dance Association, Riverside Arts and Music Festival, Between the Tables, Kinetic Conversations, Celebrate Dance, and more.

Jasmine’s passion for arts administration arose in 2019 when she began working at a local studio to coordinate community concerts and flash mobs. She has since then worked to help dance make its mark in the vast field of visual and performing arts. Currently, she holds two positions – the Member and Marketing Associate for The Dance Resource Center of Greater Los Angeles and Programs Coordinator for UniverSOUL Hip Hop.

Jasmine is obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communications from California State University, San Bernardino with the hopes to continue utilizing her knowledge and skills in media and communications to best support and highlight Southern California’s effervescent dance community.

Maddie Skowronek

Social Media and Marketing Intern

info@danceresourcecenter.org

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Maddie Skowronek developed a deep passion for dance from a young age, moving to Los Angeles in 2022 to further pursue her academic and artistic endeavors. Currently in her third year at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Maddie is working towards dual degrees in Dance and Communication. She anticipates a key role as a producer in WACSMAH, UCLA’s only student-led production under the World Arts and Cultures/Dance department.

Beyond academia, Maddie’s journey is accentuated by her roles as a dancer and dance instructor. She has worked with entities such as Hollywood Vibe Dance Convention, IAF Contemporary Dance Company, and notably appeared in Chet Faker’s “Something Like This” music video. Recently, she danced and choreographed for ACA Hip Hop, a competitive group affiliated with UCLA.

In addition to her dance pursuits, Maddie has cultivated a strong background in marketing. She spearheaded the establishment of a Red Cross Club branch in Hillsdale, San Mateo, and led initiatives at The Hillsdale Effect, a nonprofit empowering Guatemalan businesswomen through education and financial support. Her responsibilities included managing social media strategy and advertising for these organizations, integrating her passion for photography, videography, and visual arts into effective marketing campaigns.

With a profound respect for the arts and a strong affinity for marketing, Maddie is enthusiastic about merging these passions to contribute meaningfully to the dance scene in Los Angeles. She is committed to personal growth in her role and strives to support the vibrancy of the city’s community.