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The study of theatre and dance is at the center of the liberal arts experience; a gateway to a wide variety of disciplines and skills. By its definition, theatre and dance are multidisciplinary, multicultural and collaborative in nature, and provide students with the opportunity to explore and participate in different cultures, artistic forms and ways of thinking.
Theatre Mission Statement:
Theatre is a social necessity that enriches all who participate. It synthesizes
body, mind and spirit to examine and celebrate world cultures. In an atmosphere
of freedom, discipline and passion, faculty and students explore performative
expression and representation as a way of reaching new understandings of historical
and contemporary cultures both in the classroom and in production. We believe
that theatre is at the heart of the liberal arts experience. It gives students
not only the tools with which to approach other disciplines with creativity
and rigor, but through the process of creating performance it engenders personal
responsibility and empowerment; it develops a sense of community both within
the creative ensemble and between performance and audience; it teaches students
to recognize and honor difference and diversity; it immerses students in unfamiliar
cultures through the performance of their arts; and it helps students to find
and develop their own voices and identities.
Dance Mission Statement:
The educational and artistic mission of the dance program is to investigate
the capabilities and communicative/expressive powers of human movement within
a cultural context. The curriculum involves the study of dance in a broad spectrum
including technical, creative, historical, and scientific perspectives. A diverse
view on technique is balanced with theory courses incorporating the anthropological,
kinesiological, philosophical and psychological aspects of the human body. Major
areas emphasized include contemporary dance, martial arts and dance, health-related
movement forms, and ballet. The creative process is at the core of how the student
analyzes and integrates the function of dance in a social and cultural context.
Performance and choreography are stressed within the program as a means for
students to demonstrate understanding of the role movement plays in life.
For specific courses, please see the following links: