Onye Stevenson (BFA '25) performs a solo work during Senior Spotlights 2025 | Photo by Rhaine Marquardt (BFA '26)

USC Kaufman’s Senior Spotlights — an annual performance organized by the school’s Career Services team highlighting the work of Fourth-Year BFA students — took place earlier this fall and featured solos, duets, and group pieces that put the focus on the technique and growth of the Class of 2025.

A hallmark of USC Kaufman’s holistic approach to student development, Senior Spotlights invites industry professionals from around the country to the studios at USC Kaufman to witness the school’s dance majors in a variety of works and styles of dance. A reception follows the performance, allowing students to network and talk one-on-one with prominent leaders in the field. Some of this year’s guests included Gilbert Small, Artistic Director of Gibney Company, Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Sidra Bell, founder of Sidra Bell Dance NY.

“It was a motivating,” said one USC Kaufman senior. “Presenting in front of people of that caliber is not something that happens every day. You want to take advantage of a moment like that.”

A forum for growth

USC Kaufman’s Career Services team — led by a mix of faculty and staff — works each year to amplify the prospects of the USC Kaufman graduating class. Senior Spotlights was developed to advance the careers of soon-to-be-graduates by giving them a platform to demonstrate their progress in front of a select group of dance makers and leaders, who, in return, get a chance to see burgeoning talent up close. The opportunity can lead to audition invitations and even company contracts.

This year’s performance featured multiple dance styles, including a mix of student-created choreography and works by guest artists and faculty. Overall, the program included 25 pieces, closing with a special excerpt of Old Waltz, a new creation exclusively for USC Kaufman’s Class of 2025, choreographed by Micaela Taylor for the school’s annual Fall Showcase at the Bing Theatre. Other highlights included the presentation of Ouchies, a group work created by choreographer and USC Kaufman alum Jakevis Thomason, and Erase, a solo for senior Shea Hancock by Artist-in-Residence Roderick George.

Making connections and “building bridges”

Associate Professor of Practice and Career Services lead faculty member Bruce McCormick opened the evening with brief remarks. He stated the importance of giving dance majors a chance to perform and interact with established dance practitioners on a personal level. Unlike other performances, McCormick said, this one “makes no secret of its intentions; it’s about building bridges for the next generation of performers, choreographers, and those who might one day employ them.”

Following the show and per tradition, dancers and guests mingled in the foyer of the Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center and enjoyed light bites and refreshments.