Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies

Degree

B.A.

Division

Interdisciplinary

Program Options

Area of Concentration, Joint Concentration, Secondary Field

The program in Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS) explores the dynamic nature and multivalent possibilities of performance as an interdisciplinary field, operating at the intersection of theory and practice.

About Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies

TDPS conceives of performance expansively, valuing broad connections over narrow specialization. We train students to engage with multiple forms of performance in traditional theatrical contexts, as well as broader ways of thinking and being in society. TDPS students learn to communicate effectively in speech, writing, and embodied practice, to collaborate effectively with others, and to apply their skills in critical analysis to both the production and the consumption of the performances that surround us. The program is broadly interdisciplinary, involving faculty with many different areas of expertise, from dance practice to philosophies of embodiment and from contemporary and experimental theatrical performance to histories of performance and theatrical practice. TDPS prepares students for collaborative endeavors in many fields after graduation, including but not limited to careers in the performing arts and arts-adjacent professions.

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This theatrical production company provides opportunities for students in the Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies Area of Concentration and students from across the campus to engage with the performing arts. Learn more and see upcoming performances.

Learn More

Featured Course

THEA 3000

Introduction to Stage Management

In this course, students will learn the basics of Stage Management, from pre-production to post-production. Students will gain insight into the role of the Stage Manager, including pre-production research and paperwork, running general and technical rehearsals, functioning as the hub of communication for a theatrical production, maintaining the artistic integrity of a production during performance, and all post-production responsibilities. This course will emphasize the importance of the Stage Manager in the collaborative process.

TDPS Curriculum

Recent courses

Acting II Audition Techniques
Acting Techniques of Voiceover
Afro-Modern Dance
Ballet I
Basics of Theater Production
The Cultural Politics of Listening
The Elements of Dance
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Heritage and Tourism Performance

Intermediate-Advanced Contemporary Dance
Introduction to Stage Management
Russian Theatre and Drama in the International Context – Transmissions and Transformations
Sound Studies: An Introduction
Theater History I
Voice and Movement for the Actor
Western Art Music Tradition
Arts Management