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Student Blog

Boy lifting girl in long dress.

November 15, 2018

Student Blog: Starring in Backstreet Boys’ “Chances” video

Backstreet Boys’ new “Chances” music video features two USC Kaufman BFA students, Madison Vomastek and Jake Tribus. The dancers lead the video’s plot through a train station and into a whirling duet number. Madison recounts her experience in this student blog post.

Dancers in a studio with choreographer at the front, directing.

November 13, 2018

Student Blog: Finding natural balance with Matthew Neenan

The opportunity to work with Matthew Neenan for three weeks during his residency was a dream come true. This semester I have been nursing an injury, and since I wasn’t dancing throughout the beginning of the process, I was lucky enough to be his rehearsal director.

five dancers standing with their left arms lifted above their heads

November 7, 2018

Student Blog: Dignifying your lens with Marjani Forté-Saunders

One of four new Artists in Residence at USC Kaufman this semester, Marjani Forté-Saunders just finished her first three weeks in the Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center. BFA student Ardyn Flynt details her experience working with Forté-Saunders in the studio. 

Dancers in all black on a dark stage.

October 24, 2018

Student Blog: “Busking” with Aszure Barton

Over the course of a week, a few of my fellow USC Kaufman students and I had the opportunity to collaborate with Aszure Barton on her work Busk. Since Jonathan Alsberry staged the work on us last spring, we knew the choreography and were able to dig a little big deeper this time around, especially now that Aszure is an artist in residence.

bfa-students-balanchine-karz

October 2, 2018

Student Blog: Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante

USC Kaufman BFA students learn one of George Balanchine’s ballets from repetiteur Zippora Karz about once each semester; since our sophomores, juniors, and seniors are already well-acquainted with her process, we asked two BFA freshmen to write about their experience learning Allegro Brillante this month. Maria Rosenberg and Benjamin Peralta each give their take on the neoclassical work, set to Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 3.

September 14, 2018

Student Blog: Training and “Ten Duets”

By Rachel Harris

What better way to start the semester than by auditioning and working with Kidd Pivot company member Jermaine Spivey to learn Crystal Pite’s “Ten Duets on a Theme of Rescue”? 

forsythe-enemy-in-the-figure

August 31, 2018

Student Blog: Revisiting Forsythe’s “Enemy in the Figure”

By Kaylin Sturtevant

This past summer was one of my most exciting so far–I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to travel to Vancouver, British Colombia and assist Professor Thomas McManus in re-staging a work by William Forsythe on acclaimed company Ballet BC.

Mark Daftari and Coco Alvarez-Mena

August 20, 2018

Student Blog: AXIS Connect in Los Angeles

By Coco Alvarez-Mena and Mark Daftari

Several USC Kaufman students are attending this year’s AXIS Connect intensive, led by Barton Movement–its first half, in Los Angeles, took place in USC Kaufman’s studios, where they feel right at home. Below, two rising BFA seniors describe their experiences from week one.

Patrick Corbin

August 16, 2018

Student Blog: Training in Taylor

By Ardyn Flynt

Patrick Corbin is, well, a joy. To take his class in the context of the Paul Taylor intensive at USC Kaufman was to spiral, contract, undercurve and giggle at the antics between him and fellow Taylor company alumna, Rachel.

pillow-gaga

July 23, 2018

Student Blog: Gaga at Jacob’s Pillow

By Evan Sagadencky

Deciding which summer intensive is just right for you is extremely difficult. When I found out that Jacob’s Pillow would be hosting a Gaga program with Ohad Naharin himself, Batsheva – The Young Ensemble and the current USC Kaufman faculty member Bret Easterling, I knew that I had to attend.