River Novin (he/him)

Lomita, CA

BFA Class of 2030

Where did you train?

My journey began in a small break dancing studio in Long Beach California called WeBreak. The first few years stepping into dance I was a BBOY, taking wins in battles, training with OGs, and developing a love for dance. It wasn’t long before I joined a Hip Hop team called Culture Shock LA. I spent a lot of time building my foundation and meeting so many amazing people. My time there was what uncovered my love for the culture and community of dance. After that I spent a lot of time going from team to team including Maker Empire, The Lab, GRaVy Babies, Hila Company, GRV, then developing my own team called FLOW. My training has wide ranges in Hip Hop, I also spent over a year working on my technical skills like Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary.

What inspires you?

The thing that inspires me is the people around me. Without the love, support, and good hearted people around me I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. They give me the drive to continue my craft, and inspire me to grow not just as a dancer but as a person. Especially my family. My siblings, parents, and other family members have always had my back with whatever I wanted to do, and when they saw my drive for dance the support I felt gave me the motivation to keep going. Another really big source of my inspiration comes from my friends who are just as passionate about dance as I am. To share the same purpose, and grow side by side with these people is such a gift. I love all of my family and friends so much, they inspire me to be myself.

Describe yourself in three words.

No Hands Guy.

Tell us a fun fact about you.

I only order one thing every time I go to a boba spot. Jasmine Milk Tea!

What does it mean to be a part of USC Kaufman?

It feels surreal. Ever since I discovered Kaufman I saw it as this place where only the best of best come together. It intimidated me. But knowing that I’m going to be a part of this is a feeling I can only describe as pride. All the hard work and years I’ve put into this art form has led up to this, and I’m just very proud of myself for accomplishing this feat.