About the USC Dance Company

The USC Dance Company, more than 72 members strong, performs six major concerts per year at The Koger Center for the Arts, as well as guest performances throughout the east coast. Company members are auditioned twice a year and are selected for technical merit as well as artistic achievement. The USC Dance Company is recognized both nationally and internationally as a pre-professional dance ensemble as finely tuned as a symphony orchestra. The company members have performed in Spain and The International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, as well as the National Gala for the American College Dance Festival hosted by the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Alumni are currently dancing professionally, working as dance professors and administrators in universities and other educational and professional organizations.

Since its inception in 1977, the USC Dance Company has grown from the vision of its founder, Professor Susan E. Anderson, to become the multi-faceted company it is today. Throughout the USC Dance Company’s history, Professor Anderson has been the lead choreographer in the creation of full-length ballets such as The Taming of the Shrew, Star Crossed Lovers, Ondine, Planet Dance, Sylvia, Scheherazade, Phantom of the Opera and Peter Pan, which featured gold medalist Stanislav Issaev.

Stacey Calvert, Associate Artistic Director of the USC Dance Company, danced as soloist for the New York City Ballet in New York for two decades. Her work has received critical acclaim on a national level, especially her staging of George Balanchine's masterpieces for the USC Dance Company. She also created for the USC Board of Dance a gala fundraiser featuring “Ballet Stars of New York,” with principal dancers from the New York City Ballet performing alongside the USC Dance Company. Works in the repertory are Apollo, Who Cares?, Tarantella, Walpurgisnacht , Waltz Fantasy , Allegro Brilliant, Donizetti, La Source, Serenade, Mozartiana , and Western Symphony. This year she was instrumental in securing Alan Hineline’s Twist for our production which won entry into the nationals for the American College Dance Gala. She also presented “Ballet Stars of New York” for the Augusta Ballet, and in Charleston with the Symphony Orchestra.

Hailing from the Martha Graham Dance Company, Associate Artistic Director and Professor Miriam Barbosa has created award winning contemporary choreography to enhance the educational experience of the Company. Her stunning original work Seven Deadly Sins fused music, art and dance (complete with participation from the USC Symphony, Opera, Theatre, Scenic and Lighting Design programs) that brought the audience to a standing ovation. This past year she created a choreographic masterpiece, The Divine Comedy, which will be performed at the prestigious international dance Festival Cervantino in Guadalajara Mexico. Under her tutelage, the USC Dance Company was chosen to perform Martha Graham's Diversion of Angels at the “Share the Legacy Conference” in New York City. The connection with the Martha Graham Center began its partnership with the USC Dance Company because of Professor Barbosa receiving permission to stage Sketches From Chronicle, which became a documentary with the South Carolina Educational Television and has brought worldwide prominence to the USC Dance Company.

Kyra Strasberg, Distinguished Artist in Residence, is a former Principal dancer from the Boston Ballet. She is known for the artistry and human quality that she brought to the stage. Among her many roles are Odette/Odile, the Lilac fairy, Myrtha, the Sugar Plum Fairy, Medora, Cleopatra, and Fate in Choo San Goh’s Romeo and Juliet. Her Balanchine repertoire includes, Diamonds, Emeralds, Rubies, Tzigane, Mozartiana, Serenade, Who Cares?, and Apollo among others. She has worked with Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp, Bebe Miller, Ben Stevenson, Lila York, and Suzanne Farrell. Her incredibly well-rounded background makes her fantastically suited to teach and coach our students. Through her rich past, Ms. Strasberg continues to bring much energy and excitement to the USC Dance Company. She is responsible for bringing in this season Lila York’s modern classic, Celts.

This season will conclude with a European tour for the Company which includes performances at the Prague International Festival for the summer of 2009.