Dancing in the center of the room, Michael Franco, dance major, prepares for “Sound track: The Sequel,” a performance by the dance department which will be performed this weekend at Campus Theatre.

Music blasts from the sound system as Franco’s legs fling backward and his arms whirl at his sides.

Dancers practice as if they were actually on stage. Their eyes see the center of the room as the stage, the side of the room as the curtained-off portion of the stage.

“It’s high energy,” Franco said. “We have to stretch a lot and take care of our bodies. A lot of these pieces take a lot of energy out of us because there is so much movement.”

The performance, which features about 40 students from the dance department, 10 to 12 guest dancers from Cerritos, and a high school dancer, tries to turn music into a visual experience.

Dancers perform to songs such as the hip-hop style of “Like I Love You” by Justin Timberlake, the poignant “Going Under” by Evanescence and gospel, for example, “Maybe God’s Trying to Tell You Something.” The show was put together by professors in the dance department with help off campus. Bernice Boseman, director; Lisa Walker, artistic director and Da Tell, assistant director, are in charge of the 12-piece concert dance.

“The total goal with each rehearsal is to be overprepared,” Tell said. Auditions took place in February and rehearsals followed not long afterward.

The dancers practice anywhere from 12 to 15 hours each week and it can extend anywhere from 20 to 24 hours a week before the show takes place.

“I don’t really sleep at all,” Aya Tateishi, who is still in high school, said.

“Basically, I get all my sleep on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Not even on Sundays sometimes.”

The dance department had a dance performance called “Soundtracks” last year.

“Soundtracks: The Sequel” is the second installment.

“That was the best experience ever,” Franco, who was in the production last year, said. “We had so many happy dances.”

Trying to put together a concert dance can be time-consuming.

It is essential for dancers to know not only their parts, but their peers’ as well, so they know what to do next.

Marlysis Lawson, dance major, said teamwork plays a critical role in putting together a successful production.

“If we don’t come together, the piece won’t look nice,” Lawson said.

“We’re all one person on stage. If we didn’t have unity with each other, nothing would ever get done.”

“We almost become a family,” Tell said. “We go through the whole thing of getting to know people’s personalities.”

Boseman said she hopes that people will have a better understanding of dance after they’ve gone to the performance.

“I hope that people walk away from the performance at the Campus Theatre with the understanding that dance can be fun and entertaining,” Boseman said.

“Dancing can be artistic. Also, there are many layers to dance,” Boseman said.

Tickets for the performance is $9. More information may be obtained at 1(800) 832-ARTS or 1(310) 329-5345.