Alicia Graf Mack is the new dean and director of the dance division of Juilliard, and she is making some overdue changes to the prestigious program in an effort to increase equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. Alicia aims to graduate students who are technically versatile and entrepreneurial enough to create their own opportunities in a world where there are fewer jobs in dance companies. While some of the previous methods were somewhat problematic because of who was left out, Alicia is taking great care to uphold the techniques of the masters. She is a warm, gracious teacher who understands balance and wants to create an environment where students feel themselves and are not judged for who they are or what they want to do with their lives. One essential goal is to create connections between students, teachers and choreographers of all genders, races and cultures.
