Beneath the California sun stands a testament to motion, a place where dreams take flight: the Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center. This isn’t just a building. It’s a vibrant hub where passion meets precision.
The Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center’s story began in 2012. Philanthropist Glorya Kaufman gifted millions to USC. She wanted to create a dance school that would rival the best. It was USC’s first new school in 40 years. Kaufman also donated to UCLA and Juilliard. But she chose USC to establish a BFA dance program. She desired excellent control over quality. Also, she wanted to help Los Angeles become an international dance center. Her gift built the Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center. It also endowed the school.
Classes began in the fall of 2015. The Glorya Kaufman School of Dance offered a BFA degree. Technique, performance, choreography, and dance history classes opened to all USC students. Robert Cutietta became the inaugural dean. He also headed the USC Thornton School of Music. Jodie Gates, a dance leader in Southern California, became the vice dean and director.
The Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center opened on October 5, 2016. The two-story building cost $46 million. It was designed for just 80 students. The dance center features a performance studio and five rehearsal studios. There is also a training area, dressing rooms, classrooms, and offices.
The building’s design reflects USC’s Collegiate Gothic style. But the interiors embrace dynamic movement. Designers wanted to capture dancers’ strength and focus. Jewel tones animate the instructional spaces. Ruby, amethyst, amber, sapphire, and turquoise inspire vitality. The L-shaped building creates an exterior courtyard. This encourages students to socialize.
Harlequin Floors provided wall-to-wall flooring. This was for the performance studio and dance studios. When the first students arrived in 2015, the building wasn’t ready. Harlequin provided a floating sprung floor system. This was used in a temporary space.
In 2014, there was groundbreaking for the Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center. However, it wasn’t completed in time to welcome its first students. Classes were held in a space provided by the USC School of Dramatic Arts.
The building has few corners. Glorya Kaufman wanted the building to reflect movement. The interior features mauves, lavenders, and blues. Blond wood and soft white architectural curves also appear.
The Dance Center boasts six large studios. One transforms into a black box theater. There is a training studio, student lounge, dressing rooms, classrooms, and offices. Large windows fill the dance studios with natural light.
The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance curriculum emphasizes hybridity. It prepares students for lifelong dance careers. The curriculum includes ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, and Afro-Cuban dance. Gaga Technique, tap, jazz, ballroom, and Bollywood are taught here. Students also study improvisation, choreography, and music. Conditioning, dance leadership, and new media are also included.
William Forsythe suggested adding hip-hop to the curriculum. Now, hip-hop is a BFA requirement. Funkamental Metakinetics is also taught. This movement system is based on improvisation and Black vernacular dance practices.
The Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a living, breathing testament to the power of dance. It is a place where tradition meets innovation. It is a space where the next generation of dancers finds its footing.