University of Southern California Name New Dance School Director

Jodie Gates

Jodie Gates, a dancer, choreographer and educator who is a former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet, has been named vice dean and director of the new Glorya Kaufman School of Dance at the University of Southern California.

 Ms. Gates is currently a professor of dance at the University of California, Irvine,  and is the founder and artistic director of the Laguna Dance Festival in Laguna Beach, Calif. In addition to the Joffrey, she has been a principal ballerina with the Frankfurt Ballet, the Pennsylvania Ballet and other major companies.

 Ms. Gates will begin her position in August at the school of dance. The school was established in November 2012 by a gift from Glorya Kaufman, a philanthropist and dance patron.