Teaching Intermediate / Advanced Ballet Technique
Sr. Costas is the Artistic Director and Choreographer of @Contempoballet known for work that is sensually dramatic, theatrical, prismatic, rhythmic and choreographically dense. Contempo Ballet is based in Los Angeles, California. Jose brings over 30 years of professional dance experience to his company, Contempo Ballet, Orange Coast College, and now to Dance Arts of Orange County. Jose teaches a two hour ballet class Friday mornings here at Dance Arts of Orange County from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM. Welcome, Jose Costas!
Costas has a Master of Education from the Catholic University of Puerto Rico and upon moving to the United States in 1984, also earned a Master of Dance from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts. While at Tisch School of the Arts, Costas had the opportunity to work with internationally renowned choreographers Lar Lubovitch, (Blue Danube), Ohad Naharin (Tabula Rasa) and Anna Markard (re-staging Kurt Jooss’ The Green Table).
Upon completion of his degree, Costas was hired as a principal dancer with Ballet Hispanico of New York. At the invitation of his mentor, Tina Ramirez, Costas later became the Artistic Director at the Company’s Ballet Hispanico School of Dance and he formed Ballet Hispanico 2, which allowed dance students to continue developing their performance skills after graduation.
While at Ballet Hispanico, Costas created lead roles in Cafe America by George Faison, Cada Noche Tango and El Nuevo Mundo by Graciela Danielle, Inez De Castro by Vicente Nebrada, and Solo by Susan Marshall. Dance Critic, Anna Kisselgoff from the New York Times described Costas’ performance in Solo as, “Brilliant!” Eva Yaa Asantewaa from the Village Voice called his performance in Cada Noche Tango, “Sensational!”
Critics from the New York Post, Village Voice and New York Times said Costas was a “superb technician”, a “three-dimensional actor”, and had “delectable stage presence.” One critic noted, “Jose Costas looks so good in his role of El Duende, you can barely take your eyes off him.”
In addition to these accolades, Costas was the recipient of numerous grants and awards including:
He also seized the opportunity to work with choreographers, Talley Beaty, Alberto Alonso, Amanda Miller, Ramon Oller and William Forsythe, all of whom shaped him as an artist.
Costas achieved every performer’s dream when he made his debut on Broadway as a Featured Dancer in Brigadoon’s National Tour, choreographed by five-time Tony Award nominee and Academy Award winner, Rob Marshall.
After ten successful years as a principal dancer in New York, Costas moved to Los Angeles in 1994 where he accepted a position with Cal State Dominguez Hill as a full time lecturer teaching in the Dance and Theatre Department. There he created outreach community programs and formed his own pick-up company, Jose Costas Dance Company, which allowed him to continue to express himself both as a choreographer and performer.
In 1999 Costas accepted a position with Orange Coast College, where he is currently a tenured professor in the Dance Department and has been responsible for choreographing some of the department’s most daring and cutting edge performances including the recently acclaimed #barrasybarreras.
Since his arrival in Southern California, Costas has been intensely focused on developing his own choreographic voice and style; this has given him the opportunity to create his own professional dance company, Contempo Ballet. Costas is delighted that the company will keep its base in Orange County where he has worked for nearly two decades. Costas says, “I have fallen in love with the arts community in Orange County, and it has welcomed me with open arms. There is no other place I would rather be.”
To bring and keep quality dance instruction to the community for all ages and all levels in a place where people can learn to dance, meet new people, have fun and feel comfortable. We provide our students with up-to-date technique and style to the latest dance trends. Where beginners come to learn and professionals continue their passion of dance.