USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance

Congratulations to Patrick Corbin and d. Sabela grimes on their promotion to Professor of Practice, and to Fiona Lummis Eddy and Gillian Finley on their promotion to Part-Time Senior Lecturer.

In a letter to Kaufman students, faculty, and staff, Dean Julia M. Ritter celebrated their contributions to the school. Read more on our website.

Dance On!

Big congrats to Jordan Johnson ‘19, named a 2026 Princess Grace Award winner in choreography!

Jordan is one half of LA-based creative incubator JA Collective, co-founded with fellow USC Kaufman Class of 2019 alum Aidan Carberry. He joins alumni Jake Tribus ‘21 and William Okajima ‘24 as the third USC Kaufman grad to receive this honor.

He’ll be celebrated at the Princess Grace Awards Gala on Jan. 30, presided over by Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Alvaro Montelongo ’19 (I Move, You Move, We Move) considers dance a longtime companion and a personal place of comfort, whether he’s in the studio, on the street, or at a dance party — and it’s all grounded in joy.

It was an infusion of joy (evident in even the briefest of interactions with Montelongo), that led him to write, produce, and choreograph a senior project at Kaufman as a culmination to his undergraduate dance education. Seven years later, the project, “Rooted,” continues to evolve.

Read more on our website.

✍️ Jana Brown
📸 courtesy of Montelongo

Take a cue from the kids: get up and dance today.

Love these pics from this past semester’s Kaufman Connections spring program. 32nd Street Elementary always knows how to show out in front of a crowd 😁

📸 Nathan Carter

Congratulations to Julia Lowe (‘27, Julia Lowe) on her recurring role in Netflix’s upcoming series The Body. As Julia balances her work on screen with her studies at USC Kaufman, she’s continuing to build an exciting career across dance and acting. We’re so proud to see our students pursuing their artistry in every medium. 🧡

🔗 Read more at the link in our bio.

Photo by Aidan Tooth

What does it take to keep performing artists healthy—both on and off the stage? ✨

Led by Dr. Marisa Hentis, Director of the USC Kaufman Performing Arts Physical Therapy Clinic, USC is advancing the future of performing arts medicine through the launch of the West Coast’s first Performing Arts Physical Therapy Fellowship.

This groundbreaking initiative expands specialized care for dancers and performing artists while providing the next generation of physical therapists with advanced clinical training. We’re proud to be part of this innovative partnership that supports the health, longevity, and success of artists.

🔗 Read more at the link in our bio.

Looking back at our Spring 2026 BFA Showcase and counting down the days until we’re back in the Kaufman studios. ✨

Photos by Cheryl Mann

Cardin Chung ’26 (Cardin), Rhaine Marquardt ’26 (Rhaine) and Emily Fluker ’26 (Emily Fluker) all recent BFA graduates of the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, have been recognized by USC — and beyond — for their excellence and future promise.

🏆 Cardin Chung — USC Discovery Scholar & Fulbright Scholar Award
🏆 Rhaine Marquardt — USC Renaissance Scholar & Discovery Scholar
🏆 Emily Fluker — USC Renaissance Scholar

We are incredibly proud of their achievements and grateful to celebrate this milestone with them. 🧡

🔗 Read more at the link in our bio.

Photo by Michael Baker

What an unforgettable evening in Paris 🇫🇷✨

This past Saturday, USC Kaufman students took the stage at Le Carreau du Temple (Le Carreau du Temple) as part of Nuit Blanche, performing the work of acclaimed choreographer Leïla Ka (Leïla Ka) alongside students from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris ().

We are incredibly proud of our dancers for representing the Kaufman community with such artistry, dedication, and generosity throughout this landmark international exchange.

Thank you to Leïla Ka, our partners at CNSMD, and everyone who made this extraordinary experience possible.

Photos by Théophile Cherrier (Cherrie T. M. L.)