The 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
The impact of USC Kaufman over the past decade has been felt in Los Angeles and communities worldwide. Our school’s unique model is second to none. Time and time again, dance leaders, professionals, and alumni 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. Today, our alumni network includes Broadway and West End stars, filmmakers, choreographers, educators, and artists shaping the future of dance on stages and screens around the world.
In May 2025, the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance launched its 10th Anniversary celebration with a special Gala honoring Founder and Lead Benefactor Glorya Kaufman. The year has already been spectacular, featuring highlights such as:
- Performances on professional stages, including The Soraya for both Martha Graham LA Dances 100 and Bolero X with Canadian contemporary company Ballet BC
- Launching our largest international collaboration to date with the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris for City of Angels / City of Light performances and events
- Engaging with alumni, prospective students, and supporters in New York City through the Alumni Showcase and Patron Tour
- End-of-Semester showcases featuring World Premieres by renowned choreographers
- Six student-choreographed performances
Over the next year, we will continue to celebrate a decade of academic and artistic excellence with special events, performances, and community engagement. In addition to our renowned faculty, USC Kaufman continues to expand the artistic opportunities available to students each semester. Our Visiting Artists initiative brings some of the biggest dancemakers of our time to our studios. This year we are thrilled to welcome Houston Thomas, Yuanyuan Wang, and Jana Thompkins.
This June, we look forward to bringing a group of BFA students to Paris, culminating our international collaboration with a performance at the Parisian Nuit Blanche arts festival.
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
