USC Kaufman School of Dance
USC Kaufman School of Dance is the newest school at USC and graduated its first class of BFA students in 2019. The school’s vision, encapsulated in the philosophy of “The New Movement,” presents a fresh hybrid model for dance, expressed in studio practice, music, choreography, performance, new media, and scholarship. At USC Kaufman, students move seamlessly between multiple dance forms—from ballet to contemporary to Hip-Hop—and engage in interdisciplinary studies that weave together their dance practice and academic passions.
With just 100 students, USC Kaufman combines the artistic rigor of a conservatory dance education with the unparalleled academic opportunities of USC.
Celebrating 10 Years of the New Movement
Starting in 2025, the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance proudly celebrates 10 years of academic and artistic excellence. To kick-off this milestone year, we will hold a spring gala on May 3, 2025, to honor the school’s founder and lead benefactor, Glorya Kaufman. Beyond that, there will be special events and performances throughout the coming year to celebrate this visionary institution. To learn more about this event, visit our website kaufman10th.com
The impact of USC Kaufman over the past decade has been felt in Los Angeles and communities worldwide. Our school’s unique model of conservatory-level training at a tier one research university is second to none. Time and time again, dance leaders, professionals, and, most recently, alums, have shared how invaluable and life-changing a Kaufman education is. USC Kaufman has taken students to perform on iconic dance stages including The Joyce Theater in New York City and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in the Berkshires. And our alumni network now includes Broadway and London stars, filmmakers, choreographers, and artists performing on some of the biggest stages all over the world.
In addition to our stellar faculty, each semester some of the biggest dancemakers of our time come teach at USC Kaufman as part of our Visiting Artists initiative. This year we were thrilled to welcome artists Darrell Grand Moultrie, Micaela Taylor, Garen Scribner, a répétiteur for Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon, Janie Taylor and Claude and Alfred Mann Endowed Professor Kyle Abraham to create works with our students. This spring, in addition to our Spring Showcase, Kaufman students will perform at the Laguna Dance Festival, The Soraya Performing Arts Center as part of a special performance dedicated to celebrating 100 years of Martha Graham, as well as in our special 10th Anniversary Gala being produced by award-winning team including choreographer Kenny Ortega.
The USC Kaufman Community
The USC Kaufman community of alumni, parents, and donors helps ensure that we have the resources necessary to provide the best opportunities for our students to thrive at USC Kaufman and beyond. We are ever-grateful for our community whose support helps us attract, recruit, and retain top scholar-artists, produce transformative student dance performances, create meaningful cross-cultural travel experiences, and attract renowned faculty.
Areas of Support
USC Kaufman Annual Fund
The USC Kaufman Annual Fund contributes essential funds for use at Dean Julia M. Ritter’s discretion, in support of the school’s wide-ranging and ever-expanding educational activities....LEARN MORE
USC Kaufman Scholarship Fund
The USC Kaufman Scholarship Fund helps attract, recruit, and retain top artist-scholars, and reflects USC’s commitment to student excellence and diversity....LEARN MORE