Bringing Her Moves Back

CSUDH Communications alumna Adrianne Valencia has finally found her groove as a dance choreographer back here at her alma mater. But it was not without a few extra steps and miscues along the way.

Looking back as a 19-year-old living in the Bay Area, Valencia recalls only having vague dreams of getting a college degree and establishing a career as an artist. However, it did not take long for her to decide being an art/animation major at San Jose State University was not as fulfilling as her other passion – hip hop dance. That is when Valencia dropped out of SJSU in order to turn her hobby into a reality and follow her dreams of dancing professionally.

"[It was] a change that needed to be made," said Valencia.

Valencia got the best of both worlds in 2012, when she began attending Sacramento City College, where she was able to pursue an associate's degree in Communications and do what she loved by joining the dance organization SAC Modern. She eventually continued her training with hip-hop dance crews like Press P.L.A.Y. and the Super Galactic Beat Manipulators.

By 2015, Valencia received her associates degree in Communications with an emphasis in media studies from SCC and then transferred to California State University, Dominguez Hills, to continue her education as a Communications major.

During her time at CSUDH, Valencia made a lot of friends in the dance department and attended quite a few of their events but never actually took any dance classes.

"I did go to a lot of concerts and showcases," said Valencia, "but it never crossed my mind to be enrolled in any of the classes."

Valencia received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with an emphasis in Media Studies from CSUDH in spring 2017 and after graduation returned to her hometown of San Francisco. It was there she got the opportunity to dance professionally with Jabbawockeez Trybe, which contracted her to go on tour to Las Vegas, China and Universal Studios Horror Nights.

Despite being told that hip-hop dance is considered a male-dominated culture and dance style, Valencia feels lucky to have danced with Jabbawockeez Trybe so that she could prove people wrong and pursue her dreams of dancing professionally.

"Women are now breaking through that glass ceiling," said Valencia, "which [makes it] possible for women to dance hip hop."

Valencia was subsequently invited this past year to assist teaching a master hip-hop class here at CSUDH, her alma mater, where she choreographs hip-hop routines for a dance class with Marco Carreon, a dance professor at CSUDH.

Now, at 25, Valencia is an inspiration to many dancing students here at CSUDH. She enjoyed showing students at CSUDH her professional hip-hop moves. She encourages students to pursue their passions and reminds them anything is possible, even if someone tells them it isn't.

"My biggest advice and recommendations is to not stop what you love to do," said Valencia. "A lot of people told me I couldn't do it but I did."