New USC Dance School will partner w/ Juilliard, American Ballet Theater, and Others.

<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/arts/dance/the-philanthropist-glorya-kaufmans-gift-to-usc-dance.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/arts/dance/the-philanthropist-glorya-kaufmans-gift-to-usc-dance.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Q. Why did you choose U.S.C.? Was it because you were unhappy with U.C.L.A.?</p>

<p>A. I don’t like to talk about it. Let’s just say I was disappointed with U.C.L.A. They weren’t able to realize my vision. They couldn’t have a B.F.A. [program]. That really tells it all.</p>

<p>Q. But your experience with U.S.C. has been different?</p>

<p>A. With a private university I can accomplish what I couldn’t with a state university. We can hire anybody from anywhere to teach. We can get the best students in the world.</p>

<p>Q. So you have more control over quality?</p>

<p>A. Absolutely.</p>

<p>Q. How did the relationship with U.S.C. come about?</p>

<p>A. They were courting me, even though they were pretending they were not. The dean will say it was a coincidence, but I was very aware. I told them, “You don’t have a dance program,” even though I knew they had a little one. We talked about a school. They wanted infinity, and I gave them the moon.</p>

<p>Q: What role do you see the school playing in the Los Angeles dance scene?</p>

<p>A. It’s not just going to be Los Angeles. It’s going to be international. These dancers will be known all over the world. And L.A. will now have the reputation of being a little more cultural. You know New York and San Francisco have been putting us down forever.</p>

<p>Q. What do you see as your role in the new school?</p>

<p>A. I don’t do anything unless I’m involved, because that’s no fun. And besides, they’re using my name. I better like it! So I’m going to be part of the design of the building and the curriculum. I asked Stephen Rountree, president of the Music Center, if our students could use the Music Center facilities. My friend Joseph Polisi [the president of Juilliard] told me he wanted the two schools to work together. A few weeks ago I ran into Rachel Moore, the executive director of American Ballet Theater, and she said, “Glorya, I want to partner.” It’s just bigger than I thought. I could cry, I’m so excited.</p>

<p>I enjoyed the interview</p>

<p>Makes what I study seem kind of boring lol</p>

<p>The new dance major at USC is over two years away! First term slated for Fall 2015, according to USC website.</p>

<p>Is pole dancing part of the program?</p>