Jodie Gates

Jodie Gates

USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, Vice Dean & Director of Dance

Jodie Gates was a celebrated principal dancer and muse for celebrated choreographer Robert Joffrey, originating many roles while dancing with The Joffrey Ballet. Ms. Gates additionally danced with Frankfurt Ballet and Pennsylvania Ballet, and has worked with Merce Cunningham, Agnes de Mille, Paul Taylor and Gerald Arpino. Ms. Gates created over 60 original dance works and staged ballets of William Forsythe in Teatro Alla Scala, San Francisco Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet. Ms. Gates is an esteemed dance educator, named the first director of the newly established Glorya Kaufman School of Dance at University of Southern California. She's also the founder and artistic director of the award-winning Laguna Dance Festival.