As we near the end of the fiscal year, we ask, if you are able, to consider making a gift to the USC Kaufman annual fund to helpful fulfill the dreams and visions of our ever talented, dedicated and hard-working artist scholars.

Joan E. Herman, a leader in business and healthcare consulting, has recently joined the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance Board of Councilors. Currently, she serves as the president and CEO of Herman and Associates LLC, a healthcare and management consulting firm, which specializes in consulting to private equity firms investing in healthcare.

Celeste M. Alleyne, an executive at Microsoft and great admirer of the arts, recently became the newest member of the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance Board of Councilors. In addition to her vast work in diversity, equity and inclusion, corporate communications, local government and higher education, dance is a great passion for Alleyne who studied under Virginia Wolf at the internationally acclaimed Boston Ballet.

Emmy Award-winning director and producer Nigel Lythgoe will deliver the commencement address for the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance BFA Class of 2022. The satellite commencement ceremony will take place at the University of Southern California’s Founders Park on Friday, May 13, 2022.

Last semester, Kaufman Connections continued to bring vibrant hip-hop culture into the classrooms of 32nd Street Elementary School. This community engagement initiative through the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance provides dance classes to students and aims to foster community, confidence and social-emotional learning for each child.

Julia Strickland, a lifelong patron and advocate of performing arts, became the newest member of the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance Board of Councilors.

The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance announced the creation of the The Robert N. Braun, M.D. and Joan A. Friedman, Ph.D. Endowed Dance Scholarship Fund and awarded scholarships from similar donor-created funds to nine BFA students this fall. In total, nearly 20% of all USC Kaufman BFA students receive scholarships from such funds.

As we look ahead and assess the successes and challenges of the past year, we turn our focus to what has always been one of our School’s highest priorities: strengthening the USC Kaufman Scholarship Fund so that students’ decision to attend USC Kaufman and take advantage of all the School has to offer are not hindered by financial barriers.  

Last month, USC President Carol L. Folt approved Dean Robert Cutietta’s nomination of Renae Williams Niles to the USC Kaufman Board of Councilors. In addition to being a founding member of the school’s original Board of Advisors, Williams Niles served as a USC Kaufman staff member. She joined the organization as Director of Advancement and eventually became the school’s first Associate Dean of Administration.

Each year on the USC Day of SCupport, USC alumni, parents and friends come together to demonstrate the power and generosity of the Trojan Family. On Tuesday, May 4, 2021 we invite you to unite with your fellow Trojans to support USC Kaufman artist scholars with a gift of any size to the USC Kaufman Scholarship Fund.

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.

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.

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.

Four USC Kaufman Board of Councilors members, Robert Braun, Bryn DeBeikes, Ellie Kitta and Brad Tabach-Bank, have agreed to pool their support and match up to $40,000 for every dollar raised to support scholarship before the start of the fall semester.

This February, more than 20 USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance supporters gathered in New York City to attend the revival of West Side Story on Broadway, in which alumni Satori Folkes-Stone (BFA ’19) and Madison Vomastek (BFA ’19) are cast members.

USC Trustee Rod Nakamoto and his wife Elsie have made a gift to the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance to create The Rod and Elsie Nakamoto Endowed Student Travel Fund. This fund will support student travel related to their studies, including performance opportunities for USC Kaufman, with an emphasis on international travel.

Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving fueled by community and collaboration, is December 3. Today we ask for your support of the USC Kaufman Scholarship Fund. This fund helps ensure that every academic year we bring together the most dynamic group of students possible.

This month, Glorya Kaufman received The Next Frontier of Dance Governance Honor at the 2019 World Choreography Awards. She was recognized for building global awareness of dance through her philanthropic efforts.

Jim and Sherrie Evans have been supporters of the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance since their son Brendan (BFA ’20) became a student at the school in 2016. They shared a bit about themselves and their USC Kaufman story.

From Thursday, Oct. 31 to Sunday, Nov. 3 USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance students and their families enjoyed a wide range of activities hosted on the USC campus for Trojan Family Weekend 2019.

On Sunday, Oct. 27, Dean Robert Cutietta welcomed USC Kaufman students and donors to attend the school’s First Annual Endowed Scholarship Brunch at Redbird restaurant at Downtown L.A.’s historic St. Vibianas.

As a new benefit, Dean’s Circle members at the Demi-Soloist level ($2,500) and above will have access to purchase VIP tickets to any of the four performances. They’ll also receive an invitation to our opening night party on April 17, 2020.

Natasha Liu joins the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance as Associate Director of Individual Giving. We spoke with her a little bit about joining our team, and her role as a part of the USC Kaufman family.

Patrick, B.S. ’72, and Bonnie Fuscoe have given $10 million to the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, and $1 million each to the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance and USC School of Cinematic Arts, respectively. Their gift honors the Fuscoes’ lifetime commitment to USC.

This fall, the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance enters its second year of Kaufman Connections. This partnership with 32nd Street Elementary School offers a 24-week, hip-hop dance program led by USC Kaufman BFA students, who are also known as “teaching artists.”

June 30 is an important annual deadline. It is the end of our fiscal year and a time where we reflect on the school’s many accomplishments, thanks to the generosity of our annual supporters and friends. With only one week left in fiscal year 2019, we hope you will consider donating to fund critical scholarships for incoming and current USC Kaufman students.

On Saturday, April 27, USC Kaufman Board of Councilors members, Founder’s Circle members, faculty, staff and the graduating BFA Class of 2019 joined together to celebrate the school’s meteoric rise since its grand opening in the fall of 2015.

Robert N. Braun, M.D., the newest member of the USC Kaufman Board of Councilors, is a well-established patron of the arts. Using his experience in these organizations, Braun will work alongside Dean Robert Cutietta and other board members to advance USC Kaufman’s mission.

On March 23, 2019, USC supporters Pasha and Laney Thornton hosted an Artists’ Salon for the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance and USC Thornton School of Music at their private residence in San Francisco.

From February 22-26, a group of USC Kaufman Board of Councilors and supporters traveled across the country to celebrate the School’s New York City Debut at the historic Joyce Theater.

Herman and Rasiej became Founder’s Circle members at USC Kaufman with the establishment of The Joan E. Herman and Richard Rasiej Endowed Dance Scholarship in 2017. Read more about these Founder’s Circle members in this Q&A with Herman.

Glorya Kaufman’s commitment to dance is no secret—from universities to performing arts venues nationwide, her philanthropic gestures have supported institutions in the dance community for years. This year, she continues her support with a new gift of tuition scholarships for BFA students.