By Hannah Doerr

In early October 2025, USC Kaufman traveled to New York City for the fourth annual USC Kaufman NYC Alumni Showcase and Patron Tour. Centered around the alumni showcase, donors spent a long weekend in the Big Apple celebrating dance and the arts. The trip also coincided with a Kaufman NYC admissions recruitment event, where prospective students had the opportunity to take workshops taught by current Kaufman faculty and attend the alumni showcase.

Our growing community 

Ten years in, the Kaufman family has grown immensely, with an alumni network that extends all over the world. This annual New York City trip is just one of the ways Kaufman engages with its East Coast–based alumni and supporters.

Kaufman alumnus Alvaro Montelongo (BFA ’19) participated in this year’s alumni showcase not only for the chance to perform but also to reconnect with the Kaufman family and meet the new generation of alumni.

“Kaufman is about creating hybrid dancers and helping you find your unique voice and strengths within the dance umbrella,” Montelongo said. “It’s really cool to see how each alumnus has blossomed from the seed of this philosophy and is thriving in whatever they choose.”

As part of the founding class of BFA students, Montelongo seeks to cultivate the growing alumni network, valuing the support it provides both artistically and professionally.

“We are a family, and we are here for each other,” Montelongo said. “We want to keep that good time going — the knowledge-sharing environment and safe space to create and to make things and to mess up together.”

The annual NYC alumni showcase 

At the fourth annual alumni showcase in New York City, Montelongo performed a solo choreographed in collaboration with fellow alumnus Jessica Muszynski (BFA ’19).

“I had been traveling, and on one of my stops in Montreal I was with Jessica, and I said, ‘I need a solo,’ so we went to the park and choreographed it,” Montelongo said.

He noted that it was nice to perform in New York City again, doing a solo that suited his unique style. He performed alongside other alumni, including Eli Alford (BFA ’22), India Dobbie (BFA ’22), Chryssa Hadjis (BFA ’21), Paulo Hernandez-Farella (BFA ’19), Eileen Kim (BFA ’23), Ava Noble (BFA ’23), Lillie Pincus (BFA ’20), Hayden Rivas (BFA ’24) and Wyeth Walker (BFA ’22).

The performance was held at Gibney Studios and featured a beautiful blend of styles from dancers across graduating years.

Followed by a reception, the event allowed alumni to mingle with Kaufman donors and supporters, as well as prospective students and their families. It was a wonderful coming together of the East Coast–based Kaufman community.

The patron tour 

Kaufman’s Advancement team hosted a weekend-long donor patron tour centered around the alumni showcase. Board members, donors and Kaufman leadership traveled to New York City to engage with the Kaufman family.

Over three art-filled days, patrons attended various dance shows at New York City Center and the Joyce Theater, along with a Broadway show of their choosing. In the evenings, they dined at exclusive restaurants with special VIP guests such as choreographers and other art-makers. One morning included a private visit to Lalique’s Maison d’Artiste.

The weekend concluded with the alumni showcase and reception, where attendees saw firsthand the legacy of the USC Kaufman School of Dance and the impact of their support.

NYC admissions recruitment 

USC Kaufman hosted Discover USC in New York City on Sunday, Oct. 12, at Gibney Studios. Kaufman faculty and alumni taught seven free open-level technique classes in a variety of styles over the course of the day. Faculty members Thomas Ford and Shannon Grayson taught contemporary and hip-hop, respectively. Kaufman alumni Alford and Dobbie taught ballet and jazz, respectively.

After the classes, Kaufman Admissions officers Elliott Scher and Miki Frank conducted an information session and Q&A. More than 90 prospective students participated in the workshops. The eager applicants and their families were also invited to the alumni showcase that evening, where they could get a feel for the Kaufman community and hear from alumni.

Upcoming trips 

In addition to the annual New York City trip, Kaufman engages with its global community through performance-based travel and patron tours. In 2026, board members, donors and Kaufman leadership will travel to Paris, France, to support the Kaufman BFA students as they perform at Nuit Blanche as part of the school’s transatlantic collaboration with the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse (CNSM) de Paris. The patron tour will also include sightseeing, art museums, performances and exclusive dining experiences.

If you are interested in supporting Kaufman and traveling with us, please reach out to Natasha Liu, director of individual giving, at natasha.liu@usc.edu for more information.

Thank you to our donors for making travel and performance opportunities like these possible.