Alice Blumenfeld is an accomplished Flamenco dancer and scholar who has received various awards, including a National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Silver Award for excellence in dance as part of the YoungArts program and she was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts in 2008. In 2012, Alice was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in dance to further her studies in Sevilla, Spain.
What did you study while you were at NYU and do you have any specific memories that stand out during your time as a student?
I studied comparative literature at NYU. I had some really great professors, particularly my advisor, Lourdes Dávila. When I signed up to take the Spanish literature survey class, I got really lucky that I picked her class. She is not only a great professor who really pushed me to think and supported my research endeavors, but she was also a great professional dancer, so knowing her has really helped me both in my academics and finding my way in the dance world.
Another great memory was the trip that the honors students take during spring break of sophomore year. I chose to go to Madrid with Jacques Lezra, the comparative literature department head. It was my first time traveling outside the U.S., and Jacques gave us so many insights into Spanish life and culture since he grew up in Madrid. It was a great first introduction to Spain, and I really felt like I got to know the character of Madrid.