It’s only January. As an east-coaster I have three more months of winter to endure, and I can’t seem to stop fantasizing about sunglasses, warm breezes and sand beneath my toes. If only I lived in Southern California.

If you haven’t decided on a theme for your spring piece, a summer-themed routine may help keep you and your students amped through the dull, freezing winter. But whether you’re planning a show or you just need a quick break from the snow, here are some suggestions to bring the sunshine to the studio:

• * Try a lyrical combination to The Mamas and The Papas’ “California Dreamin'” in your advanced contemporary class.
• * “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,” Brian Hyland is the perfect song for your tiny tappers.
• * Teen dancers will love warming up to Jason Mraz’s “Summer Breeze” during pre-class stretches.
• * What summer-themed recital would be complete without The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ U.S.A?”

For more California-inspired ideas from Lauren Green, click here.

Photo:  In 1973, Twyla Tharp created her first crossover ballet: Deuce Coupe. Set to music by the Beach Boys, the work premiered February 8—smack in the middle of a numbingly cold Chicago winter. Though it was choreographed for the Joffery Ballet, Tharp’s modern company dancers performed onstage alongside Joffrey dancers.