Student/Alumni Stories

Taryn Manning (CMD ’97) is in Netflix’s critically acclaimed television show Orange is the New Black. She made her film debut in the 2001 movie Crazy/Beautiful, followed by a leading role opposite Britney Spears in Crossroads. To see more of her impressive accomplishments across genres, please click here to view her website!

Nicole Berger, Director of the Commercial Dance Conservatory, choreographed for NBC’s Rutherford Falls starring Ed Helms.

Raven Alanes (CMD, ‘23) worked on the Symphonies for Schools: Music & Deafness program for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Lilah D. Horton (CMD, ‘21) was selected as last year's Dance Artist of the Year by the Orange County Register as part of a competition that included 100 nominated dance artists from all over Orange County’s public, private, and charter high school community. She was the first-ever Artist of the Year from OCSA's Commercial Dance Conservatory in the 30-year tenure of former Director Jim Kolb.

The Orange County Register announced the winners, finalists, and semifinalists for the 8th Annual Artist of the Year Awards, and OCSA had five winners out of seven arts categories this year! The Artist of the Year program honors talented students across the county for their accomplishments in the arts.

Danielle Silver (CMD, '22) was named The Artist of the Year for dance.

For more on Danielle Silver as Artist of the Year, please click here.

Maya Alvarez-Coyne (CMD, ‘21) was crowned Miss California’s Outstanding Teen and received first place in both talent and interview categories.

Natasha Mynhier (CMD, '11) released a film titled "In A Beat." The film features the underrepresented lens of a Black autistic boy on his first night home alone.

Jim Kolb, who retired last year after serving as OCSA’s Commercial Dance Director for more than 30 years, received the 2020 Teacher of the Year Award from the Arts Schools Network. As director, Mr. Kolb reshaped the Commercial Dance Conservatory to include a well-rounded curriculum with instruction in all aspects of the industry, including tap, lyrical, hip hop, musical theatre, and other styles.