UCLA Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance

UCLA Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance is an interdisciplinary academic unit within the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture dedicated to the study and practice of global dance, performance, and visual culture. The department emphasizes critical theory, ethnographic research, and embodied practice, fostering a unique environment where artistic creation intersects with cultural analysis. Its innovative approach challenges traditional boundaries between disciplines, preparing students to engage with diverse artistic traditions and contemporary issues.

History

The department was formally established in 1995 through the merger of the UCLA World Arts and Cultures program and the UCLA Department of Dance, creating a singular entity focused on the integration of theory and practice. This consolidation built upon the legacy of pioneering figures in dance ethnology and performance studies, including the influential work of Allegra Fuller Snyder, a professor emerita and daughter of Buckminster Fuller. Key developments included the founding of the Center for Intercultural Performance in 1995, which later evolved into the Center for World Arts under the directorship of Christopher Waterman. The department has been shaped by significant leadership, such as that of former chair Susan Leigh Foster, a renowned scholar of dance history and body theory.

Academic Programs

The department offers a Bachelor of Arts in World Arts and Cultures, a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, and both Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The undergraduate curriculum combines studio practice in forms ranging from ballet and contemporary dance to global traditions with rigorous coursework in cultural studies, critical race theory, and visual anthropology. Graduate programs are highly interdisciplinary, encouraging research that bridges performance studies, art history, and postcolonial theory. Unique offerings include the ArtsBridge program, which places students in Los Angeles community schools, and the World Arts and Cultures/Dance MFA program, a practice-based terminal degree.

Faculty and Research

The faculty comprises distinguished artists, choreographers, and scholars whose work spans continents and methodologies. Notable members have included Victoria Marks, known for her community-engaged choreography; David Gere, an expert on arts activism and HIV/AIDS; and Jacqueline Shea Murphy, a scholar of Indigenous dance in North America. Research initiatives often focus on decolonization, disability studies, and queer theory as applied to performance. The department is closely affiliated with the UCLA Center for the Study of Women and the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, facilitating collaborative projects. Faculty regularly present work at major venues like the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and festivals such as the American Dance Festival.

Facilities and Resources

Primary facilities are housed in Kaufman Hall and the Glorya Kaufman Dance Theater on the UCLA campus, which feature state-of-the-art studios, a black box theater, and multimedia labs. The department manages the UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive, a vast repository of audio-visual recordings related to global performance traditions. Students and researchers also utilize the collections of the Fowler Museum at UCLA and the Getty Research Institute. The Center for World Arts provides grants and supports fieldwork, while the department's digital initiatives include online archives documenting performances and community-based projects throughout Southern California.

Notable Alumni and Affiliates

Graduates have achieved prominence as choreographers, scholars, and cultural leaders. In dance and performance, notable figures include Kyle Abraham, founder of A.I.M and a MacArthur Fellow; Michele Byrd-McPhee, director of the Ladies of Hip-Hop Festival; and Rennie Harris, a pioneer of hip-hop theater. Alumni in academia hold positions at institutions like New York University and the University of California, Berkeley. Affiliated artists and scholars who have taught or collaborated with the department include Trisha Brown, Anna Halprin, and Ruth St. Denis, linking its legacy to pivotal movements in modern dance and performance art.