From breaking to ballet to Bharatanatyam, USC’s dance community offers diverse styles and skill levels, open to all students. If you’ve ever wanted to pick up a new skill, pursue a longstanding love or simply meet new people, USC’s dance community has a place for everyone.
USC Adaa
USC Adaa is a performance-based classical Indian dance group that performs in the Kathak, Bharatanatyam and Odissi dance styles. All students, no matter prior experience, are encouraged to join. In previous semesters, Adaa has performed in The Asian Pacific American Student Assembly (APASA) Night Market, Trojan Access Day and Songfest.
Afro-Brazilian Capoeira Senavox
Afro-Brazilian Capoeira Senavox is an audition-based Afro-Brazilian martial art group. They typically hold multiple practices weekly where members practice flow, agility, self-defence, handstand, rhythm and culture. In 2024, the group performed in USC International Education Week.
SC Ballet Company
SC Ballet Company is a performance ballet company that holds auditions each semester. Members typically participate in company technique classes on Sundays alongside rehearsals throughout the semester. Additionally, the company offers apprentice membership positions that require no audition and access to weekly classes, select social events, and a performance opportunity.
In the fall, the company performs a rendition of The Nutcracker, and in the spring, they hold a showcase with various shorter pieces. Both showcases feature both pointe and flat ballet pieces. This spring, the showcase will include New York City Ballet and Paris Opera-inspired choreography.
Trojan Ballroom and Latin Dance Team
Trojan Ballroom and Latin Dance Team is a competitive, audition-based dance team. In the past, they have hosted auditions in the spring, which were accompanied by workshops and dance classes. Their workshops vary in difficulty and style from waltz to swing to tango. They held a fall showcase in 2025, which was coupled with lessons after the performance.
Additionally, the team participates in philanthropy around Los Angeles, like working with the afriACTIVE Foundation, a nonprofit seeking to prevent homelessness.
USC Break On 2: Latin Fusion
USC Break On 2: Latin Fusion is an audition-based Latin dance group that forms its team in the fall for the academic year. Break On 2 regularly hosts workshops and free salsa nights across the semester for dancers of all different levels. They also participate in various shows across the semester on and off campus. In past semesters, they have performed in events like Break Through Hip Hop’s showcase, BCO’s Nutcracker and Trojan Family Weekend.
Break Through Hip Hop
Break Through Hip Hop is an audition-based performance group that auditions semesterly and performs on campus. In previous semesters, Break Through Hip Hop (BT) has performed in Bovard Auditorium, often featuring pieces from other groups like USC Break On 2: Latin Fusion. The 2025 fall showcase was themed “BT Wakes up in Vegas.”
Their audition includes two rounds: the first is the dance audition, which is split into two days (one for learning and the other for performing), and the second is an interview. This past semester, they also offered an alumni workshop leading up to the audition.
The Cardinal Divas of SC
The Cardinal Divas of SC is the first and only Majorette Team at USC that performs at USC sports events, like football and basketball games. The Cardinal Divas perform in the majorette style of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and are a team of all-Black female dancers.
On Feb. 4, the team will also participate in the premiere of “MAJOR,” a dance-theatre show that explores the “physicality, history, sexuality and sensuality of majorette dance and celebrates what it means to be proudly Black and proudly femme.” The team holds its auditions at the end of the spring semester for the following academic year.
CHAOTIC THREE DANCE
CHAOTIC 3 DANCE is an audition-based competitive hip-hop team that has participated in World of Dance LA, Prelude, Maxt Out, Fusion and Ultimate Brawl. CHAOTIC 3 (also known as C3) auditions each semester, which include a dance audition round, split into a learning round and a performance round and an interview round. The team hosts workshops leading up to their audition, including a beginner’s workshop. They hold a “Friends and Fam” performance on campus prior to their competitions. In 2025, C3 won first place at World of Dance LA and attended the World of Dance Summit.
USC DANCE CALL
USC DANCE CALL is a dance group that offers student-led mock musical theatre audition classes. The group teaches choreography from musicals in workshop sessions to help students prepare for dance calls during theatre auditions. In past semesters, they have hosted workshops featuring choreography from “Illinoise,” “In the Heights,” “The Cher Show” and “Dirty Dancing.”
Grupo Folklórico de USC
Grupo Folklórico de USC is an open-dance folklórico dance group that holds rehearsals throughout the semester for showcases like their Día de los Muertos celebration, Sones de mi Tierra showcase and the Ritmos de Navidad: Celebración Folklorica. They have also collaborated with groups like USC Break On 2 in previous showcases. Across the semester, USC Folklórico has also hosted cookouts, potlucks, boba and game nights.
SC KASA Dance Off
SC KASA Dance Off is a no-cut, performance-based dance team that forms a team in the fall semester, and is typically restricted to freshmen and sophomores. The audition takes place in the fall, and it is a culmination of the choreography from the workshops leading up to the commitment day. The team performs an open-style dance set alongside other universities’ KASA Dance Off teams, and in previous years, they have performed at the University of California, San Diego. They also host a “Friends and Fam” performance where they perform on campus prior to their collaborative performance. In the spring, former members host workshops, some for free and others for $4 for non-members.
NSQK
NSQK is an audition-based performance team that presents open-style sets. NSQK holds auditions both in the spring and fall semesters, with a dance audition in the first round and an audition in the second round. Additionally, they hold workshops leading up to the audition as optional preparation. In the past, they have performed at World of Dance LA, Maxt Out and Prelude SoCal. NSQK holds a “Friends and Fam” performance on campus prior to their performances at dance conventions.
USC Song Leaders
USC Song Leaders is the official dance team for USC football games, Trojan athletic sporting events, alumni, charitable, university and special events throughout the year. The team is formed through an audition process at the end of the spring semester for the coming academic year. The Song Leaders are included under The Spirit of Troy, which includes the USC Marching Band, USC Song Leaders, USC Spirit Leaders and the Trojans’ mascot Traveller.
Spade A Dance
Spade A Dance is an audition-based K-Pop dance cover team that auditions each semester. The audition consists of two differing style pieces with an optional showcase in the first round, and the second round is an interview. Spade A also hosts a workshop leading up to their audition. Accepted members audition for video projects, and then rehearse and video their covers. Their videos are available on YouTube and Instagram, and the team has met with groups like NCT Dream and TXT.
USC Traditional Chinese Dance
USC Traditional Chinese Dance is an audition-based performance dance team for Chinese traditional and folk dance. They perform both on-campus and off-campus at philanthropy events around LA. The group has performed at the APASA Night Market and self-hosted showcases.
USC Trojan Dance Force
USC Trojan Dance Force is an audition-based official dance team of USC Athletics, which performs at USC Men’s and Women’s basketball alongside other USC Athletics and Alumni events. Trojan Dance Force holds auditions in the fall for the coming basketball season. The team performs at all basketball games, and their pieces feature sideline dances and quarter performances. Their choreography features elements of hip hop, jazz, pom and character dance.
Trojan Dance Marathon
Trojan Dance Marathon is a student-led philanthropic event that raises money and spreads awareness for Children’s Hospital L.A. The club holds a dance marathon in the spring, and members also assemble care packages and participate in fundraising across the semester.
Trojan Tap Troupe
Trojan Tap Troupe is an audition-based, advanced performance tap group. They host guest teacher classes and guest perform in other showcases such as SC Ballet Company’s Nutcracker, where the team performed “March of the Toy Soldiers” and at the Xpressions Dance Company’s recital. In the past, they have hosted master classes with dancers like Howard Blume and Johnnie Hobbs.
Xpressions Dance Company
Xpressions Dance Company is an audition-based performance contemporary and jazz dance company. Xpressions holds auditions semesterly, and they perform in showcases in both the fall and spring semesters. Both showcases feature jazz, contemporary, hip hop and ballroom. The team typically rehearses weekly on Sundays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with at least one additional weekly rehearsal.
USC Zeher
USC Zeher is an audition-based competitive Bollywood Fusion dance team. Zeher is associated with the Desi Dance Network (DDN) circuit and competes in both the fall and spring semesters. In previous years, Zeher has competed in ATL Tamasha, Aa Dekhen Zara and Zazba. In past semesters, Zeher has offered workshops leading up to team auditions.