Nina Gumbs (BFA '22) in class | Photo by Alyssa Reyes

My time at USC Kaufman is, unbelievably, coming to a close. But until graduation comes, I will bask in the schedules that have carried me through my years here. A mix of dance technique, rehearsals and academic classes have been the backbone of my days from my first year to now. It is a structure that can be very rigorous, but I have come to love it!

My name is Nina Gumbs and here are what my days look like as a senior dance major with a minor in entrepreneurship.

Mondays

9:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.: Advanced Composition
10:30 a.m. – 11:50 p.m.: Ballet
12:00 – 1:20 p.m.: Jazz
1:20 – 2:00 p.m.: Lunch Break
2:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.: Repertory and Performance
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Break
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: The Movie Business: From Concept to Exhibition

As you can see, my Monday schedule is a full day! Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays tend to be the days I spend the most time at USC Kaufman due to the load of dance-centered classes during those days.

The class I take at the end of the day, The Movie Business: From Concept to Exhibition, is a School of Cinematic Arts course. It not only satisfies requirements for USC Kaufman, but also piques my interests as an entrepreneurship minor. I love learning about the movie making process and all the moving parts required to make a film. In this class, we discuss upcoming movies and the systems of production. We also have guest speakers from various fields within entertainment. I highly suggest this class to anyone who is interested in diving into the processes that make the movies we love become a reality.

Nina Gumbs (BFA ’22) dancing in an Improvisation class | Photo by Mary Mallaney

Tuesdays

10:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.: Musical Theater
12:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.: Hip-Hop
1:20 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Lunch Break
2:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.: Oceanography
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Communications Meeting
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Break
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Feasibility Analysis

Tuesdays and Thursdays tend to be less dance-heavy and more academically focused. Within my academics, I have a class in Oceanography and Feasibility Analysis.

Oceanography focuses on the human systems that influence the organisms within our great oceans. We look at current events and learn about various species and their importance, as well as the geographical systems of our earth’s oceans.

In my Feasibility Analysis business course, we learn about the tools needed to examine whether a business concept can come to fruition. We discuss various kinds of information that aid in the overall efficacy of a potential business idea. This is achieved through learning about business models, value propositions, customer discovery and the importance of finances.

In addition to my afternoon and evening classes, I have a bi-weekly meeting with USC Kaufman’s Head of Communications, Cecile Oreste. I work for two departments within USC Kaufman: Communications and Dance Operations. Both jobs are very different, but I learn something new every day from each of them.

Wednesdays

9:00 – 10:20 a.m.: Advanced Composition
10:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.: Ballet
12:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.: Jazz
1:20 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Lunch Break
2:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m. Rep and Performance
5:00 p.m. – 6:20 p.m.: Senior Seminar
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.: Extra Rehearsals

Wednesday is very similar to Monday, but with the addition of Senior Seminar. Senior Seminar is a course that is dedicated to preparing the USC Kaufman senior class for future endeavors, especially auditions and senior projects. Extra rehearsals at the end of the day tend to be for upcoming projects, for myself or other students. These rehearsals are independently scheduled and are not required weekly.

Nina Gumbs and Wyeth Walker (BFA ’22) perform “Nights Alone” by Benjamin Peralta (BFA ’22) | Photo by Mary Mallaney

Thursdays

10:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.: Musical Theater
12:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.: Hip-Hop
1:20 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Lunch Break
2:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.: Oceanography
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Break
4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Oceanography Lab

Thursday is the least dense day out of my week. In addition to the lighter dance schedule, all my classes are available via Zoom. Although “Zoom University” has become a cultural phrase, taking my classes from home allows me to be more comfortable after dancing in the morning.

Fridays

10:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.: Ballet
12:00 – 1:20 p.m.: Senior Lab
1:20 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Lunch Break
2:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.: Repertory and Performance
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Repertory and Performance Lab

Senior Lab is an open space for seniors to have extra time towards their senior projects or any other ventures they may be working on. Some days this lab time is used to rework repertoire, bring in guest speakers or even have a class meeting.

Repertory and Performance Lab takes place on Friday nights and on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. These extra rehearsal times are needed for when an Artist in Residence is creating work on the students or when we are preparing for upcoming performances.

I have grown accustomed to my fall schedule, but I am excited to see what my final semester schedule will bring in the spring!

By Nina Gumbs (BFA ’22)