The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance was founded in 2012 thanks to a transformational gift from visionary philanthropist Glorya Kaufman, whose commitment to dance and dance education is widely celebrated in both the United States and abroad. The newly built, state-of-the-art Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center is the home of USC Kaufman and the largest facility dedicated to dance at any private university. Students Adam Agostino and Helen Gratch, BFA class of 2019, dance. Photo by Rose Eichenbaum.
USC Kaufman’s Bachelor of Fine Arts offers dancers a rigorous conservatory experience within one of the world’s leading private research universities.
The BFA program is designed to prepare the artist, the innovator, and the entrepreneur. The hallmark of USC Kaufman is the development of a new movement model for dance, where intersecting dance techniques create hybrid forms expressed in new media, scholarship, studio practice and choreography. USC Kaufman provides students with foundational insight into the creative process; nurtures personal intellectual and artistic development; offers a robust performance repertory; and emphasizes the importance of conditioning for dancers and physical wellness. An unparalleled world-class faculty facilitates student interaction with renowned, practicing artists; engages students in interdisciplinary projects; and prepares students for successful futures by providing strategic career venture skills. With opportunities for interdisciplinary study interwoven into the curriculum, students are able to explore collaborations and innovations with established partners, including the USC Thornton School of Music, USC School of Cinematic Arts, Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.
USC Kaufman offers a wide variety of classes open to all USC students in dance technique, theory, choreography and performance. Technique classes range from ballet to hip-hop, contemporary dance to ballroom. General Education classes on the history and culture of dance provide a rewarding introduction to field. The school’s two minors serve as thought provoking supplements to major programs of study in other departments and schools. Students may minor in (1) Dance, or (2) Dance in Popular Culture: Hip-Hop, Urban and Social Dances. Information about how to apply for a dance minor–which does not include an audition–is available at kaufman.usc.edu.
USC Kaufman School of Dance
837 Downey Way, STO 327
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0851
(213) 740-9327
Email: uscdance@usc.edu
Administration
Robert A. Cutietta, DEd, Dean
Jodie Gates, Vice Dean and Director
Faculty
Professor: Jodie Gates
Professor, Artistic Adviser: William Forsythe
Associate Professor: Margo Apostolos, PhD
Assistant Professor of Practice: Patrick Corbin, MFA
Assistant Professor of Practice: E. Moncell Durden
Assistant Professor of Practice: d. Sabela Grimes, MFA
Assistant Professor of Practice: Jackie Kopcsak, MFA
Assistant Professor of Practice: Thomas McManus
Adjunct Assistant Professor: Saleemah Knight, MFA
Lecturers: Tiffany Bong; Alison D’Amato, PhD; Jesus Fuentes; Anindo Marshall; Achinta McDaniel; Angeliki Papadakis; Christian Vincent
Artists in Residence: Zippora Karz; Fiona Lummis; Victor Quijada; Desmond Richardson
Undergraduate Degree
General Education Requirements
The university’s general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program is effective for all students entering USC in fall 2015 or later, or transfer students beginning college elsewhere at that time and subsequently transferring to USC. It requires eight courses in six Core Literacies, plus two courses in Global Perspectives (which may double-count with courses in the Core Literacies) and two courses in writing. For more information about USC’s general education requirements, see General Education .
Entrance to the Degree Program
Admission to a degree program is granted through USC’s admission process, described in the Admission section of this catalogue. A supplementary portfolio of dance materials is also required for students seeking admission to the BFA program of USC Kaufman. This portfolio is submitted online.
Audition
Performance auditions are required of applicants to the BFA program in the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. These auditions take place in two stages. The first stage includes video auditions. The second stage, an in-person audition, is granted to final candidates. Refer to individual curriculum listings for details.
Bachelor’s Degree
Minor
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