BFA Students performing William Forsythe's "The Vile Parody of Address." | Photo by Carolyn DiLoreto

October 12 and 13 marked the first Midterm Showings of the 2017-2018 school year. These Works in Progress performances consisted of five shows over the two days, with Thursday night highlighting work by sophomore student choreographers and Friday focusing on repertory by master artists and Kaufman faculty.

Here’s a quick recap of the Student Works program…

The Friday program featured pieces covering the stylistic spectrum, from contemporary ballet to swing dance. Students performed in new works choreographed by faculty members E. Moncell Durden (“Stomping at the Savoy”, an exploration of vernacular jazz styles) and Christian Vincent (“Beautiful People”, as premiered at the USC Village Opening Ceremonies).

The audience also got a first-look at four masterworks: “Hissy Fits” by Dwight Rhoden, “Company B (excerpt)” by Paul Taylor, “Who Cares? (Concert Version) by George Balanchine and “The Vile Parody of Address (Excerpt)” by William Forsythe, which will be officially set for the BFA Fall Dance Performance November 14-19.

The Kaufman faculty and administration were thrilled with the students’ progress demonstrated in these showings and are looking forward to sharing the finished pieces at the end of the semester.

Kaufman students bow after end of Rep Works in Progress Performance

Kaufman students bow after end of Rep Works in Progress Performance

Kaufman students bow after end of Rep Works in Progress Performance

USC Kaufman students perform Christian Vincent's "Beautiful People"

USC Kaufman students perform Christian Vincent's "Beautiful People"

BFA Students performing in "Beautiful People" choreographed by Christian Vincent

USC Kaufman students perform Christian Vincent's "Beautiful People"

BFA Student Mariana Carrillo in "The Vile Parody of Address"

BFA Student Mariana Carrillo in "The Vile Parody of Address"

BFA Students Mariana Carrillo and Rae Srivastava in "The Vile Parody of Address"

BFA Students Mariana Carrillo and Rae Srivastava in "The Vile Parody of Address"

BFA Students Mariana Carrillo and Rae Srivastava in "The Vile Parody of Address"

BFA Students Ausia Jones and Jakevis Thomason in "The Vile Parody of Address"

Kaufman Sophomore, Lillie, performs William Forsythe's "Vile Parody"

Kaufman Sophomores, Jake and Rachel, perform William Forsythe's "Vile Parody"

BFA students Celine Kiner and Beau Foley in "Stomping at the Savoy" choreographed by E. Moncell Durden

Kaufman Juniors, Celine, and Beau perform Moncell Durden's "Stompin at the Savoy"

BFA students Alyssa Allen and Justin Epstein in "Stomping at the Savoy" choreographed by E. Moncell Durden

BFA students Ardyn Flynt and Mark Daftari in "Stomping at the Savoy" choreographed by E. Moncell Durden

BFA students Rachel Walton and Brandon Carpio in "Stomping at the Savoy" choreographed by E. Moncell Durden

BFA students Rachel Walton and Brandon Carpio in "Stomping at the Savoy" choreographed by E. Moncell Durden

BFA students Ardyn Flynt and Mark Daftari in "Stomping at the Savoy" choreographed by E. Moncell Durden

Kaufman Class of 2019 in "Stomping at the Savoy" choreographed by E. Moncell Durden

BFA student Ardyn Flynt in "Stomping at the Savoy" choreographed by E. Moncell Durden

Kaufman Sophomore, Adam, in George Balanchine's "Who Cares"

Kaufman Sophomore, Adam, in George Balanchine's "Who Cares"

BFA student Whitney Hester in "Who Cares?"

BFA student Rachel Harris in "Who Cares?"

BFA student Rachel Harris in Balanchine's "Who Cares?"

Kaufman Junior, Rachel, in George Balanchine's "Who Cares"

Kaufman Juniors, Madison and Rachel, in George Balanchine's "Who Cares"

BFA students Juan Posada Penagos and Jacqueline Schiffner in Balanchine's "Who Cares?"

BFA students Juan Posada Penagos and Jacqueline Schiffner in Balanchine's "Who Cares?"

BFA students Juan Posada Penagos and Jacqueline Schiffner in Balanchine's "Who Cares?"

BFA students Juan Posada Penagos and Jacqueline Schiffner in Balanchine's "Who Cares?"

BFA students Juan Posada Penagos and Jacqueline Schiffner in Balanchine's "Who Cares?"

Kaufman students Mariana and Noah in George Balanchine's "Who Cares"

BFA students Paolo Hernandez-Farella and Megan Yamashita in Balanchine's "Who Cares?"

BFA students Paolo Hernandez-Farella and Megan Yamashita in Balanchine's "Who Cares?"

BFA students Paolo Hernandez-Farella and Megan Yamashita in Balanchine's "Who Cares?"

BFA students Paolo Hernandez-Farella and Megan Yamashita in Balanchine's "Who Cares?"

BFA students Paolo Hernandez-Farella and Megan Yamashita in Balanchine's "Who Cares?"

BFA students Lillie Pincus and Alyssa Myers in Balanchine's "Who Cares?"

BFA students performing in Paul Taylor's "Company B"

BFA students performing in Paul Taylor's "Company B"

Kaufman students in Paul Taylor's "Company B"

BFA students performing in Paul Taylor's "Company B"

Kaufman students in Paul Taylor's "Company B"

BFA students, including Jakob Tribus, performing in Paul Taylor's "Company B"

BFA students, including Jakob Tribus, performing in Paul Taylor's "Company B"

BFA students, including Jakob Tribus, performing in Paul Taylor's "Company B"

BFA students, including Jakob Tribus, performing in Paul Taylor's "Company B"

BFA students, including Jakob Tribus, performing in Paul Taylor's "Company B"

BFA students Trevor Daw and Justin Epstein in Paul Taylor's "Company B"

Kaufman students Ardyn and Brendan in Paul Taylor's "Company B"

BFA students Trevor Daw and Justin Epstein in Paul Taylor's "Company B"

Kaufman Freshman, Zach and Juliette, perform Dwight Rhoden's "Hissy Fits"

BFA students in Dwight Rhoden's "Hissy Fits"

BFA students Shayna Weintraub and Camryn Pearson in Dwight Rhoden's "Hissy Fits"

BFA students in Dwight Rhoden's "Hissy Fits"

BFA students in Dwight Rhoden's "Hissy Fits"

Kaufman Freshman perform Dwight Rhoden's "Hissy Fits"

BFA student Mariano Zamora Gonzalez in Dwight Rhoden's "Hissy Fits"

Kaufman Freshman Zach performs Dwight Rhoden's "Hissy Fits"

BFA students Chryssa Hadjis and Edward Oyarce-Solomon in Dwight Rhoden's "Hissy Fits"

Kaufman Freshman, Zackery performs Dwight Rhoden's "Hissy Fits"

BFA students Chryssa Hadjis and Edward Oyarce-Solomon in Dwight Rhoden's "Hissy Fits"

BFA students Chryssa Hadjis and Edward Oyarce-Solomon in Dwight Rhoden's "Hissy Fits"

Kaufman Freshman, Simon and Simrin, perform Dwight Rhoden's "Hissy Fits"

Kaufman Freshman, Chloe and Sasha, perform Dwight Rhoden's "Hissy Fits"

Written by Sara Silberman