Dr. Sasha Anawalt

Biography

Sasha Anawalt is an acclaimed critic, writer, and media entrepreneur who co-founded USC Annenberg’s arts journalism master’s program. Over her twenty years at USC Annenberg, she specialized in arts journalism and helped expand the curriculum to include food journalism and the culture of the Los Angeles area. Anawalt served as the chief dance critic for the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner and KCRW (NPR’s affiliate in Santa Monica), as well as writing for LA Weekly. She authored the book "Joffrey Ballet: Robert Joffrey and the Making of an American Dance Company," which was acknowledged as a significant contribution to dance writing. Her documentary film inspired by the book aired on PBS's American Masters in January 2013. Anawalt directed the USC Annenberg/Getty Arts Journalism Program for thirteen years, where she identified and mentored numerous arts journalists who have gained national and international recognition. She also served on the Pulitzer Prize jury for criticism during a year when Jonathan Gold received the award. Anawalt has been recognized with the Rabkin Foundation’s award for visual arts criticism and the James Beard Foundation’s award for local food journalism. Her work has been featured in prominent publications, and she has conducted interviews with legendary figures in the arts and culinary domains.

Research Interests

Experience