Photo by Theophile Cherrier.

Students spent a year collaborating with the Conservatoire National, working directly with choreographer Leïla Ka ahead of a packed Nuit Blanche Festival premiere.

By USC Kaufman Communications

Earlier this summer, a group of students, faculty, and patrons from the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance traveled to Paris in conjunction with USC’s bi-annual Maymester study-abroad program. The May-June trip represented the culmination of a yearlong intercontinental artistic exchange with the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP).

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to perform on the international stage,” said USC Kaufman Dean Julia M. Ritter. “Partnering with the Conservatoire National was a chance to do something special and build on a relationship that we anticipate will last for a long time.”

The ambitious international collaboration, “City of Angels/City of Light: A Transatlantic Dance Exchange,” brought together world-renowned artists and two well-respected institutions from Los Angeles and Paris. Presented in partnership with USC Visions and Voices and the renowned CNSMDP, and in celebration of Kaufman’s 10th anniversary year, the collaboration, which included a three-week residency, marked a significant milestone for USC’s dance school. Organizers included Jackie Kopcsak (USC Kaufman), Dane Martens (USC Kaufman), Edwin Hill (USC Dornsife), Muriel Maffre (CNSMDP), and Marion Ballester (CNSMDP).

At the heart of the cultural exchange was the Paris-based choreographer Leïla Ka, known for her bold artistic voice and transformative work. Ka began her career in urban dance before creating a choreographic language noted for its theatricality and physical intensity.

Over the course of her residency at USC in Fall 2025, Ka led the re-staging of an existing work, which the students performed in Paris in June. The re-staging of Ka’s original duet, C’est toi qu’on adore (It’s you we adore), was expanded to enable a larger cast of students from USC Kaufman and CNSMDP to present together as an ensemble.

“Kaufman programming is so much about who we can work with and expose young artists to, people that will give them a unique spin on the creative process but also open their eyes to a whole new way of thinking,” said Kopcsak. “It pushes us to be that much more engaged as an international school of dance.”

Kaufman offered a sneak peak of Ka’s piece during the dance school’s Fall 2025 BFA Showcase in December. Also, this fall as part of Ka’s artistic residency, audiences were invited to catch a glimpse of the creative process with an exclusive work-in-progress presentation at Kaufman. The event featured a post-performance discussion panel.

Accompanied by the USC Kaufman Board of Councilors and patrons, Kaufman dancers traveled to the City of Lights for a week to celebrate the intersection of dance, art, and architecture. There the patron group was immersed in the vibrant creative dialogue between Kaufman and CNSMDP, enjoying rehearsals, behind-the-scenes access, and exclusive visits to some of Paris’s most celebrated cultural landmarks.

The itinerary included a private guided tour of the Fondation Louis Vuitton, Frank Gehry’s iconic contemporary art museum; an exclusive “In the Footsteps of a Dancer” backstage experience at the Palais Garnier, exploring the opera house’s grand public spaces, magnificent auditorium, and legendary underground lake, while engaging in a private conversation with a former dancer of the Paris Opéra Ballet; a VIP lunch at Halle aux Grains, the acclaimed restaurant atop the Bourse de Commerce; and a chance to meet former ballerina Yumiko Takeshima, founder of YUMIKO, the internationally recognized handmade dancewear company.

The journey for all participants culminated in a sold-out performance at Le Carreau du Temple as part of the Nuit Blanche Festival, where the USC Kaufman and CNSMDP students joined forces to premiere Ka’s new work and a piece by South African choreographer Robyn Orlin for the students of CNSM.

“Paris is one of the most culturally rich places an aspiring artist can visit and experience,” said USC Kaufman Board of Councilors Co-Chair Robert Braun. “To see our students performing in front of hundreds of people from around the world was a testament to their dedication and work ethic. Amazing in every respect. It was the quintessential Kaufman experience.”