In remembrance: Glorya Kaufman, USC Life Trustee and benefactor

Glorya Kaufman, a USC Life Trustee and globally admired arts benefactor whose historic contribution established and endowed the USC Kaufman School of Dance and its iconic instructional facility, the Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Aug. 5.

Kaufman possessed a lifelong passion for and engagement with dance, believing in its ability to heal the body, mind, and spirit of individuals, as well as foster connections across cultural divides. The nonprofit Glorya Kaufman Foundation, which she established in 2008, has supported prestigious dance and art initiatives and nurtured children through dance at community organizations like L.A.’s Inner-City Arts, Covenant House California, Mar Vista Family Center, and most recently at Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services with the opening of the Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center in 2023.

“Glorya’s enthusiasm for dance was infectious, and she propagated that passion by creating opportunities for individuals everywhere to experience the transformative effects and joy of the arts,” USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim commented. “She was a cherished trustee with whom I was lucky to share time just last week at the [USC Board of Trustees] gathering. Her legacy will continue to influence generations of USC Kaufman students for years to come.”

When inaugurated in 2012, USC Kaufman was the first new institution to be established at USC in almost 40 years. Aiming to become the premier dance school on the West Coast and the Pacific Rim, the school opened in the fall of 2015 with 33 students in its first class. The school’s residence on the USC University Park Campus, the Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center, was launched a year later.

Recently, the school commemorated Kaufman at a gala and fundraising event that commenced a yearlong 10th anniversary celebration recognizing the institution’s development over the past decade, including a network of alumni consisting of over 200 individuals.

‘I danced on my father’s feet before I could walk’

“I was raised in dance,” she expressed to The New York
“““html

Times in 2013. “All the pieces concerning me claim I danced on my father’s feet before I could stroll, and that’s true. …

“I was raised appreciating what dance offered,” she shared. “I believe dance instilled confidence in me. … It imparts traditions and cultures, and that makes you — I’m not fond of the term ‘tolerant’ — but it makes you receptive. Dance broadens your horizons.”

Kaufman opted not to reveal the magnitude of her 2012 donation to USC, among the largest in American dance’s history, stating: “I don’t want individuals to concentrate on a figure. I wish for them to reflect on what my contribution will achieve for the students who will gain wonderful opportunities because of it.”

The landmark donation to USC wasn’t her initial substantial contribution to local arts initiatives. In 2009, she provided a noteworthy contribution to Los Angeles’ Music Center, allowing prominent dance troupes, such as New York’s Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, to perform in Southern California through her Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance series. In what was then the most considerable arts donation to the University of California system, she funded UCLA’s School of the Arts and Architecture in 1999 for the renovation of its dance facility, which was dedicated to her.

Kaufman also contributed to the Alvin Ailey company and to the Juilliard School.

“Glorya was a pioneer in every sense, especially in acknowledging the significant influence that dance has on people’s lives daily,” USC Kaufman Dean Julia M. Ritter remarked. “Her philanthropy was genuinely transformative for many — certainly for the students at USC Kaufman, but also for the audiences who have reaped the rewards of her commitment to excellence in dance education and performance.”

“In just 10 brief years, Glorya redefined her vision for outstanding dance education in Los Angeles into one of the most distinguished dance programs in the nation,” Ritter stated. “She took immense satisfaction in realizing that her enthusiasm for dance allowed Kaufman students to graduate with profound artistry and expertise to share with audiences both nationally and internationally. It isn’t an exaggeration to claim that she sculpted today’s global artistic terrain through her encouragement of the creative voices of a new generation of dancers. Her legacy will live on through every USC Kaufman graduate who embodies her principles on stages across the globe.”

Committed to charitable initiatives

Originally from Detroit, Kaufman was married to builder Donald Kaufman, co-founder of the Fortune 500 construction firm Kaufman & Broad, now KB Home. Following her husband’s passing in 1983, she devoted herself to charitable causes. One of her first major contributions was a challenge grant to reconstruct the Los Angeles Public Library’s Donald Bruce Kaufman-Brentwood Branch Library, named for her late spouse in tribute to his love for reading.

Kaufman’s donations benefited numerous nonprofits in the Los Angeles region, including St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Cedars-Sinai/USC Glorya Kaufman Dance Medicine Center, the Jules Stein Eye Institute, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, City of Hope, and the American Jewish University. Her contribution established the Glorya Kaufman Eye Clinic at the Venice Family Clinic, which provides free eye exams and glasses for children in the area.

She was a founding member of the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, a supporter of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and served on the Board of Directors of the Geffen Playhouse, where she funded an outdoor reception area. Additionally, this year she inaugurated the Glorya Kaufman Community Center, a cutting-edge multi-purpose facility in Culver City.

Twice honored as Brentwood’s Citizen of the Year, Kaufman received accolades from the National Dance Education Organization, the Westwood Village Rotary Club, and the Fulfillment Fund. In 2008, she earned City of Hope’s highest accolade for her philanthropic efforts. In recognition of her commitment to dance education, Kaufman attained honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from USC in 2013, Fordham University in 2011, and Juilliard in 2010. She was elected to the USC Board of Trustees in 2012.

Kaufman is survived by her children, Laura, Gayl, Curtis, and Zuade, a 2005 USC master’s degree graduate; along with her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A private ceremony will take place for family and friends.