Sadie Grace Shelburne (she/her)

Raleigh, NC

BFA Class of 2025

Where did you train?

I trained at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and CC & Company Dance Complex. During the pandemic, I participated virtually in Stacey Tookey’s mentorship program, The Bridge. I attended summer intensives with BODYTRAFFIC, Chuthis, the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Hubbard Street and the American Dance Festival.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by the ways dance gives the performer and audience an embodied means of processing and understanding life’s complex joys and pain. Movement has the power to transcend stubborn perspectives, reveal humanity and renew hope. I am a better person because of dance.

Describe yourself in three words.

Soulful, intentional, deep-thinking.

Tell us a fun fact about you.

I never learned how to ride a bike, but I promise I will if I ever go to Amsterdam!

What does it mean to be a part of USC Kaufman?

Being a part of USC Kaufman means an opportunity to become the dancer I want to be. USC Kaufman provides the highest level of training while innovating, cultivating unique talents and refining dance practice. The broader USC environment offers global research, creating openness and new understanding to shape dance artistry and content. I am excited to deepen my artistic and academic preparation in order to grow towards a career that makes a purposeful contribution.