Heather Gillette
Heather Gillette, originally from Hawai’i, is a Santa Ana College alumnus and earned her B.F.A and M.F.A. degrees from two of the most prestigious dance departments in the western United States: California State University, Long Beach and the University of Utah. Her training was guided under such noted dance pioneers and artists as Gloria Newman, Jeff Slayton, Risa Steinberg, Ford Evans, Donna White, and Abby Fiat. She is a certified Laban Movement Analyst, graduating from the Integrated Movement Studies program in Berkeley, CA, 2005, under the direction of Peggy Hackney, Janice Meaden, and Ed Groff.
As a former dancer, Heather was a company member with Benita Bike's DanceArt, Gloria Newman Dance Theater, Regina Klenjoski Dance Company, and Loretta Livingston and Dancers. As an active dance educator, Heather Gillette has served as adjunct faculty teaching modern dance at Utah State University, Brigham Young University, and CSU Long Beach, and specialized in teaching Laban/Bartenieff Fundamentals at Chapman University, UC Irvine, and UC Los Angeles.
Heather Gillette is most proud to be serving her alumni, Santa Ana College, since 2001. She was the founder/director (2001-2008) of the SAC Dance Touring Ensemble, has choreographed for the musical theater productions of Fame, Hair, Grease, and Schoolhouse Rock. A strong advocate for dance education and the performing arts, Heather has made it her prime goal and mission to lead and direct student dance majors in attending and participating in the most prestigious collegiate dance conference, the American College Dance Association. Since 2001, the SAC Dance Department has made it's prominent reputation with attending ACDA, both regionally and abroad. In 2014, she has been the department chair and currently teaches modern dance, choreography, somatics, and choreographs/co-directs the faculty and student dance productions.
Passionate about teaching, Heather Gillette’s pedagogical approach to dance training is through the Laban/Bartenieff somatic lens, emphasizing sensory awareness and re-patterning developmental sequences to enhance movement efficiency. Helping students discover their greatest potentials, celebrating achievements, however great or small, and building strong relationships with colleagues is what Heather finds great value and deep meaning in her work. She thrives on creating experiences that promote new possibilities and success, building a common ground of community that connects us all.
