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.

As we gather once again for a new academic year, we do so with hearts both heavy and hopeful. We mourn the loss of our benefactor, Glorya Kaufman, and we celebrate her legacy, built on her infectious optimism about what dance can achieve through dedicated, accomplished artists. Glorya’s vision and generous spirit continue through the scholarships that open doors for students, her enthusiasm for innovation that pushes the boundaries of knowledge, and our beautiful facility — her home for dance at USC — the design of which serves as a daily reminder of what becomes possible when passion meets purpose. 

With Glorya in our minds, our mission remains steadfast. USC Kaufman has always delivered exceptional dance education. Building on last year’s community dialogues that informed our Strategic Plan, our pursuit of collective artistic excellence moves forward. The implementation of our new Strategic Plan will commence this year and will foreground meaningful engagement with students, faculty, and staff to ideate, transform, and guide USC Kaufman into its next decade of distinction.

Our 10th Anniversary celebrations are also in full swing. Our partnership with USC Visions & Voices has never been stronger, and we eagerly anticipate collaborating again on “Decades of Dance” — a celebration honoring milestone anniversaries: 20 years of Visions and Voices and 10 years of USC Kaufman. Together, we have introduced thousands of students, USC colleagues, and members of the larger LA community to the transformative beauty of dance.

Our most ambitious transatlantic partnership to date launches this fall, thanks to the efforts of Professor Jackie Kopcsak, Assistant Dean of Programming & Special Projects. Kaufman will embark on an exciting international exchange with the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSM). We will welcome an exceptional cohort of graduate students and host two esteemed Paris-based artists, Bintou Dembélé and Leïla Ka, for residencies yielding two new creations. Allons de l’avant!

This year promises new discoveries, meaningful connections, and the kind of intellectual growth that Glorya championed by founding our school. She held a special fondness for new beginnings, and we honor it now. I look forward to a wonderful 2025-26 academic year.

Welcome to a year of possibility, purpose, and progress, and Dance On …

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