Welcome to the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, a dynamic community of artists and scholars dedicated to advancing dance as a complex global phenomenon through broadly diverse and inclusive experiences.

Since 2015, USC Kaufman has transformed the lives of hundreds of Dance majors and minors and introduced thousands of students to dance as a discipline for cultivating artistry, knowledge, health, and wellness. Kaufman graduates are transforming the field; BFA alumni perform with renowned national and international dance companies, share the stage with superstars like Beyonce and Lady Gaga, win prestigious honors like the Princess Grace Award, and choreograph for multi-million-dollar advertising campaigns. Other graduates leverage their dance literacy to lead successful careers as filmmakers, entrepreneurs, engineers, and health professionals. The achievements of all students are a testament to the commitment of our award-winning faculty of artists and scholars, who never cease their pursuit of innovative pedagogical strategies while providing professional mentorship informed by their expertise across all facets of the performing arts.

As we approach our tenth-anniversary celebration in 2025, we are mindful that the dance landscape here in Los Angeles and beyond is changing in fast and exciting ways. Kaufman faculty and staff are dedicated to helping students advance that change, offering guidance and support across the many learning environments of The Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center. Kaufman trains the next generation of artists through our distinct model of conservatory-style training focusing on hybridity and the invention of new paradigms for experimentation and discovery. Artists-in-Residence regularly join the faculty and enrich the dimensions of our creative community committed to the highest levels of artistic accomplishment and new knowledge creation through embodied practices. Paired with the academic excellence at the University of Southern California—a powerhouse for interdisciplinary research—the Kaufman School delivers exceptional and unparalleled dance education to all students. 

The 2024-2025 academic year marks the beginning of our celebrations honoring our visionary founder and benefactor Glorya Kaufman and ten years of dance innovation at USC Kaufman. Now comes a new chapter. As the next cohort of young artists joins Kaufman, we marvel at how the school and its alumni network have grown substantially over the last decade. Our reach and impact continue to expand; as we deepen our connections to local communities, interdisciplinary, global partnerships are also taking shape, new curricular pathways are opening, and our performance and study abroad opportunities are multiplying – from Paris to London to South Korea. Kaufman stands poised at the cusp of incredible trajectory of growth. We could not be more excited for what is to come and to share this next phase of our journey with our community and supporters.

Dr. Julia M. Ritter
Dean
USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance