About
Heather Gillette is Department Chair of Dance at Santa Ana College and a proud alumna
of the institution. Originally from Hawaiʻi, she holds B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees from
California State University, Long Beach, and the University of Utah—two of the most
distinguished dance programs in the western United States. Her professional training
was shaped by influential dance pioneers, artists and educators including Peggy Hackney,
Risa Steinberg, Gloria Newman, Jeff Slayton, Ford Evans, Donna White, and Abby Fiat.
Heather is a Certified Laban Movement Analyst, having completed the Integrated Movement
Studies program in Berkeley, California, under the direction of Peggy Hackney, Janice
Meaden, and Ed Groff.
Heather has served at Santa Ana College since 2001 and has been Department Chair since
2014. In this role, she provides visionary leadership focused on student success,
academic excellence, and the continued growth and relevance of the dance program.
She founded the Santa Ana College Dance Touring Ensemble and guided its development
into locally recognized component of the department. Now in its 25th year, the ensemble
continues under the leadership of adjunct faculty member Joshua Estrada-Romero.
A strong advocate for experiential learning and professional preparation, Heather
has led the department’s sustained commitment to participation in the American College
Dance Association (ACDA). Under her leadership, Santa Ana College dance students have
consistently represented the institution at regional and national ACDA conferences,
strengthening the department’s visibility and reputation.
Courses
As an educator, Heather leads general education coursework in Dance History and Appreciation
and Dance as Communication, choreographs and co-directs faculty and student dance
productions, and teaches technique classes in modern dance, hip-hop fundamentals,
hula, choreography, and somatics in dance. Her pedagogical approach is grounded in
the Laban/Bartenieff somatic framework, emphasizing sensory awareness, developmental
patterning, and movement efficiency. Central to her leadership philosophy is mentoring
students toward confidence, agency, and artistic integrity, while fostering a collaborative
departmental culture rooted in equity, community, and creative possibilities.
