Craig Kaufman left Point Park University in December of 2005 and set out, like so many other graduates from the prestigious dance program, to see what he could see in the world of professional dance. It's not that long, but he's already returning to Point Park as one of the choreographers for the University's widely respected Pittsburgh Connections series. In the intervening five years, Kaufman danced professionally with two of Chicago's leading companies, first with Thodos Dance Chicago, and for the past three years at Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, the brilliant jazz company founded by the late Gus Giordano. What makes Kaufman's journey especially interesting is his transition from an essentially modern company, to one of the country's leading jazz troupes.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Kaufman's new work A Path Home explores the always complex experience of choosing where to go next, how to get there, what to look for, or in other words, how to choose a path. Set on an ensemble of eight dancers, the piece is a multilevel collage of energy and changing mood, inexorably bound to a path already chosen, but yet to be discovered.

Shortly after receiving the commission from Point Park, Kaufman contacted 'ohana Dreamdance producer John Nevin, who had worked with Kaufman's fiance Mollie Mock (also a Point Park alum) on her and Jeremy Blair's successful work Reflect, currently in the repertory of Thodos Dance Chicago. After completing the sound design for the work, the two sat down in the Heart & Soul studios to talk about the project. Here's some of that interview: