Two Women Join the Dance Faculty at the University of Southern California

The Glorya Kaufman School of Dance at the University of Southern California has announced the hiring of three new faculty members. Two of the three new faculty members are women.

Jackie Kopcsak is a ballet dancer and choreographer who has taught at the University of California, Irvine. She is a graduate of the University of Washington and holds a master of fine arts degree from the University of California, Irvine.

“As the school’s first Professor of Practice, Jackie is a perfect fit for this position,” said Jodie Gates, vice dean and director of the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. “Her background and training in classical ballet is beautifully informed, and her knowledge of dance history is integral to what USC Kaufman is all about. Her interest in preserving the tradition and linage of classical ballet will be fundamental to all of our student dancers.”

Saleemah E. Knight will be a lecturer at the dance school. She is a choreographer and performer who has worked on music videos for some of the nation’s top recording artists. She has also choreographed concert performances and fashion shows. Knight holds a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance from the University of Arizona and a master of fine arts degree in dance from the University of California, Irvine.

Director Gates stated that Knight “inspires and demands a very strong work ethic out of her students, and watching her work with young dancers is magic.”