Come enjoy a night of dance as City College continues a 30-year tradition hosting “Collective,” a spring dance concert that takes place April 19 and 20 at the Center Stage Theatre.

Directed for the first time by dance instructor Tracy Kofford and hosted by the physical education and health departments, “Collective” involves 30 City College student performers as well as community and professional dancers.

“I thought, what a great way to highlight our students and also bring in professional companies to make a community dance concert,” Kofford said. “Bringing everyone together as a ‘collective’ dance community under the umbrella City College.”

There will be 14 pieces danced by City College students, UCSB students, Danah Bella DanceWorks, Santa Barbara Dance Theater, Fusion Dance Company and Nebula Dance Lab.

Like the variety of local, national and international dancers that will perform, the Spring Dance concert boasts a myriad of dance styles.

Kofford said “all aspects of dance” will be showcased and that there is a dance piece for “everyone to connect with.”

Dancer, performer and choreographer Katie Elster will perform in three routines including styles from contemporary to hip-hop.

“I have been dancing since I was 4 years old in many styles– ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, modern, contemporary, and pom,” Elster said. “But my favorite is hip-hop.”

Elster’s will perform her own choreography featured in a contemporary routine called “Shadows of Us.”

She said her favorite part of dance is the story that gets to be told. She said she loves teaching choreography, allowing others to interpret her story through dance and inviting them into her thoughts.

She said dancing allows her to express emotion and become a new character. Acting, dancing and emotion are interconnected.

“I’m all about the performance aspect of things, but technique and movement are nothing without the story and the emotion connected to them,” said Elster.

Anyone from the community is welcome and audience members have the opportunity to participate in this ongoing story.

The concert will be on Friday, April 19 at 8 p.m. The two Saturday, April 20 shows take place at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for general admission and $15 for students.