USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance

The Spring 2021 Welcome Experience, which supports students as they acclimate to the University of Southern California, will take place Jan. 11 through Feb. 20. As part of the Welcome Experience, USC Kaufman will be offering USC students a variety of free introductory classes starting Jan. 16.

During the fall semester the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance’s community engagement initiative, Kaufman Connections, forged on despite having to adapt to an online format. In addition to engaging community artists, the program organized a virtual hip-hop dance celebration for 32nd Street Elementary School students and their families.

2020 tested the resolve of the entire University of Southern California community. Nevertheless, the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance proved to have a busy and successful year. USC Kaufman embarked on a multitude of unique artistic endeavors, despite the world pivoting to the virtual space in March. As 2020 comes to an end, USC Kaufman revisits some of these memorable moments.

The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance seeks three full-time faculty members, as well as candidates for the Claude and Alfred Mann Endowed Professorship in Dance, a part-time position for an internationally acclaimed artist with expertise in Choreography, Composition, and/or Concert Dance. 

This past summer, USC Kaufman alum Rachel Harris created Make Space with her sister Jacquelin. This community would soon provide workshops as an outlet for dancers seeking unity and creativity in a time of stress and isolation.

This past semester, sophomore musical theatre students worked with USC Kaufman faculty members Kate Dunn and Dawn Stoppiello, Tony Award-winner Peter Darling and Artistic Director Jacob Jonas to produce short dance films to musical theatre songs.

Since their graduation and virtual celebration in May, members of the Class of 2020 have begun to establish themselves in the dance world and beyond. These artist scholars have embarked on opportunities with renowned companies, community outreach, teaching and training, commercial dance and more.

Today we celebrate Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving and support for the organizations and causes closest to our hearts. Here at USC Kaufman, we celebrate our students, their artistry and the life transforming educational opportunity provided by the USC Kaufman Dance Scholarship Fund and donors like you.

With college application deadlines on the horizon, USC Kaufman students joined Assistant Dean of Admission and Student Services Anne Aubert-Santelli to offer admission advice for prospective students. 

The Progressive Degree Program at USC allows BFA students to blend their dance training with other academic and career aspirations outside the art form. Read on to learn about current USC Kaufman students pursuing progressive degrees.

While this semester presented many challenges for the USC Kaufman community, a collection of students, staff and faculty came together to share what they are feeling thankful for at this time of year.

The University of Southern California offers BFA students a wide array of extracurricular activities. Students can explore interests and opportunities outside the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance to enhance both their academic and social experiences at USC.

On September 27, USC Kaufman hosted an information session for prospective international students over Zoom. Anne Aubert-Santelli, Assistant Dean of Admission and Student Services at USC Kaufman, led the meeting with help from current BFA students.

This fall, USC Kaufman awarded three students from the Class of 2024 with scholarships made possible through donor support, including two Glorya Kaufman Scholars and the recipient of the Felix Family Endowed Scholarship Fund.

The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance invites applications for Artists in Residence. USC Kaufman seeks collaborative, dynamic and innovative practicing artists to teach one or more dance techniques and/or dance studies in field(s) of expertise.

The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance offers a multitude of elective courses that are exclusive to dance majors. Next semester, they have opened up select classes to dance minors and to all USC students. Keep reading to learn more about these Spring 2021 virtual courses that are now open for registration.

Ate9 has been consistently taking the necessary precautions to slow the spread of the virus while keeping our community safe. They require us to wear masks, social distance and regularly wash hands. Once we began in person, everything just fell into place.

Learn about some of the contemporary faculty working with BFA students this semester, including Associate Professor of Practice Patrick Corbin, Assistant Professor of Practice Jennifer McQuiston Lott and Lecturer Bret Easterling.

We are excited to share our plans for the Spring 2021 semester. As the COVID-19 situation evolves and new information becomes available, we will update this page accordingly so please check back frequently. Unless otherwise stated, this information pertains to BFA in Dance students.

The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance will be offering a variety of new dance electives in the Spring 2021 semester. Learn about DANC 499 Special Topics classes open to all USC students, including Rhythm Nations, Iconic Dance Films of the Twentieth Century, Mindfulness for Dancers, and Dance Masters Forum.

The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance will be offering a number of engaging virtual dance electives in the Spring 2021 semester. Read on to discover some of the new DANC 499 Special Topics courses, which are open to all students at USC!

The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance announced the members of its newly formed Artistic Advisory Committee and Curriculum Committee. According to Dean Robert Cutietta, both of these groups will play an integral role in the school and its continued success.

The University of Southern California recently announced that they have permanently designated Professor Jodie Gates as the “Founding Director of the Glorya Kaufman School of Dance” in recognition of her fundamental role in creating our dance school.

Learn about some of the hip-hop faculty working with BFA students this semester, including lecturer Tiffany Bong, Assistant Professor of Practice E. Moncell Durden, Associate Professor of Practice d. Sabela grimes and lecturer Amy O’Neal.

Due to COVID-19, many dancers have had to adjust the ways in which they practice and interact with the art form. The HAVEN Global Sanctuary for Dance arose in response to the global pandemic. It works to catalyze leadership and innovation for the dancers of tomorrow, including many USC Kaufman alumni.

The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance is a dance conservatory in a university setting. Students in the BFA program take a myriad of dance classes along with school-wide general education requirements. This allows BFA students to explore subjects outside of dance, as well as add minors to complement their dance training.

Learn about some of the ballet faculty working with the Class of 2024 this semester, including lecturer Gillian Finley, Assistant Professor of Practice Bruce McCormick and Artist in Residence Jermaine Spivey.

Artist Francesca Harper joins the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance as a guest choreographer this semester. Harper promotes work rooted in artistic expression, empowerment and social justice. She brings this awareness to her work with USC Kaufman seniors.

The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance has appointed Jackie Kopcsak as Assistant Dean of Faculty. In this position, she will be involved in faculty assignments, mentoring, merit reviews, promotions and hiring, among other responsibilities.

Zackery Torres (BFA ‘21) tackles topics of gender and inclusivity in their new book An Evolving Conversation on Gender: Dance Edition. The book seeks to break down the complexities of gender and provides information to start conversations in various dance communities.