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David Rousseve

David Roussève’s work ethic as a performance artist is synonymous with his mission as the newly appointed chair of UCLA’s Department of World Arts and Cultures .

“A lot of performance art is boring,” Roussève said.

“I have a social humanistic agenda with art: to make it accessible and entertaining for non-dance audiences while still saying something,” he said.

The first signs of change under Roussève seem to be to make the department’s curriculum even more relevant to students and to trends in popular culture, as evidenced by the fall schedule of classes.

Four hip-hop dance teachers from contemporary, historical and commercial dance focuses have signed on for the upcoming school year. This acknowledgment of hip-hop as a dance style worthy of further academic study goes hand in hand with Roussève’s goals for WAC.

“Your education as an artist is dependent on your education as a human being,” Roussève points out.

“On the dance side,” he continued, “(that means) offering students as wide a range of experience technically as possible, but it is vital that the department be as diverse as possible in terms of ethnicity, class and race.”

Rennie Harris, one of the most well-known hip-hop artists for the concert stage (he also performed as part of the UCLA Live lineup last spring,) will give WAC students a rigorous physical workout with his composition and technique classes.

Hassan Christopher, whom Roussève has worked with in the past, will trace the history of African-American based dances that led to contemporary hip-hop styles.

To cover the commercial sphere, twin brothers “Frit” and “Frat” Fuller – experienced music video choreographers who have worked with hip-hop artists such as Janet Jackson – plan to teach a class in the spring.

The staff additions are only the beginning of the visions Roussève has for the department.

In response to student demands for more opportunities to showcase their own work and perform in general, there is a tentatively planned student dance and performance festival at the end of the school year.

“In the longer run, I hope to bring guest artists who can create a fully produced piece for the students to perform,” Roussève added.

“It will take a few years, but I hope to really foster a community spoke to the WAC wheel, such as working with arts and social agencies in the broader L.A. community.”

Roussève’s experience as a WAC professor over the last seven years means that most of the students in the department are already familiar with their new chair. It seems that for many, to know Roussève, is to respect him.

“David (Roussève) is a major reason I came to this department,” said graduate student Peter Carpenter, with whom Roussève has worked closely as a thesis advisor.

“I think it’s fantastic for him, as a nationally respected artist, to be leading a department that focuses on artistic practice and critical theory,” Carpenter said.

While acknowledging that Roussève’s new duties as chair may further limit the finite amount of time the professor will be able to offer each of his students, Carpenter doesn’t foresee having any problems due to a reduction in face time.

“When I get 10 minutes of David’s attention in office hours, or in the classroom, I feel like it’s worth an hour. He really cares about the choreographic intention of his students,” Carpenter said.