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Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation from Dickinson, Theatre Arts majors – Acting & Directing option will be able to:

• practice collaborative skills in various theatrical contexts to work as a member of an ensemble;
• analyze dramaturgy, history and context and apply to creation of performance;
• apply physical and vocal technique to creation of performance;
• describe approaches, both creative and historical, classical and contemporary, to theater production.

Upon graduation from Dickinson, Theatre Arts majors – Design & Technology option will be able to:

• analyze and interpret text, movement, and devised work which form the foundation of live performance;
• apply the principles and techniques of technical theatre and design to actualized performative work;
• collaborate with others on the necessary aesthetic elements for production, working through the process from conception through execution as a collectively created production comes to life;
• attain basic skills necessary for work in technical theatre including but not necessarily limited to wood and steel construction, lighting technology, soft goods manipulation and construction, painting and dyeing, craftwork, sound engineering, and media making.

Upon graduation from Dickinson, Dance majors will be able to:

• define, repeat, translate and embody with anatomical knowledge the physical practices of various dance forms;
• identify the diverse functions that dance performs in culture and articulate how social, political and cultural factors shape the field of dance;
• analyze the distinguishing characteristics of various dance forms;
• apply tools of dance composition, skills of collaboration, and productive modes of critical feedback and current professional standards to create dance production and performance.

Upon graduation from Dickinson, Dance & Music majors will be able to: 

• develop and articulate coherent interdisciplinary interpretations of the outcomes of musical and dance thought and activity (compositions, cultural discourse, performances, texts) through the lenses of performance and/or theoretical, cultural, and historical analysis;
• identify, critically assess, and apply relevant scholarly methodologies to cogently analyze the intersection of dance and music;
• deploy elements of music and/or movement to create successful, original music and/or dance compositions.

Major

Theatre Arts Major
11 courses

CORE (8 credits)
101, 201, 203, 205, and 319
Two from 121-221 Movement Studio (.5 credit each)
One from each of the following:

1. 131-133 (.5 credit)
2. 231-236
3. 190 or 220 (.5 credit)

PRE-APPROVED CLUSTERS
For Acting and Directing Emphasis (3 credits)
Three of the following: 300, 303, 305, or 495 (full credit, fall and spring)

For Design and Technology Emphasis (3 credits)
One additional course from each of the following:

1. 131-133 (.5 credits)
2. 231-236
3. 190 (.5 credit)

One additional full credit from:

• 131-133 and 190 (.5 credit each)
• 231-236
• 495 (.5 credit each), 500, 550, 560
• ARTH 101, 102, 122, 123 

Dance Major (11 credits)
102, 204, 215, 300, and 316
131-133 (.5 credit)
190 or 220 (.5 credit)
One of the following: 231-236
Four semesters of dance technique, at least two from 121-322 Movement Studio/Lab (.5 credit each)
Two 220 courses (.5 credit each)
One of the following: 203, 214, 304, or 495 (full credit, fall and spring)
 

NOTES:  All students intending to propose a senior project (THDA 495) as part of their theatre major should be aware of the pre-requisite of two 0.5 course credits in Production and Performance.  Students will not be given permission to complete a senior project in theatre without these two units of Production and performance credit.

Students may propose individualized clusters; however, these must be submitted for approval by the department of theatre and dance by the end of the student's 5th semester in residence. If a student does not propose a cluster by this point, they MUST complete one of the pre-approved clusters as listed.

For students interested in the ºìĞÓÖ±²¥app Ballet Certificate Program with Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB), please see the curriculum requirements on the certificate webpage.

Minor

Theatre Arts:  Two from 131-133 (.5 credit each) or one from 231-236; 201; 203; 205; 300 or one course in Movement Studio; and 319

Dance: 102; two from 131-133 (.5 credit each) or one from 231-236; 204; 316; one course in dance technique; and 220 or 304

Suggested curricular flow through the major

Theatre
First Year
Theatre as Social Exploration (THDA 101)
Acting I (THDA 203)
Modern Dance (THDA 121-221)
For Design/Tech emphasis- Topics in Design (THDA 130) Fall semester only

Sophomore Year
Topics in Design (THDA 230) Spring semester only
Directing (THDA 205)
Possibly Theater History Seminar (THDA 201) if not offered in senior year
For Design/Tech- ARTH 101 or 102, 122 or 123
For Drama Lit- course in dramatic lit in other department

Junior Year
Dramatic Literature (taken outside department or abroad)
If not going abroad: Advanced Directing (THDA 305) or Advanced Acting (THDA 300 - 303), Topics in Design (THDA 230) Spring semester only

Senior Year
Advanced Directing (THDA 305)
Topics in Design (THDA 230) Spring semester only
Theater History (THDA 201)
Advanced Acting (THDA 300 - 303)
Senior Project (THDA 495)
For Design Tech- independent study or ARTH classes
For Drama Lit- drama lit class

Dance
First Year
THDA 102: Introduction to Global Dance Studies
THDA 121:  Modern Dance l
THDA 220:  Dance Repertory

Sophomore Year
THDA 204:  Fundamentals of Choreography
THDA 215: The Thinking Body: Human Anatomy and Movement (taught alternate years)
THDA 221:  Modern Dance ll
THDA 130:  Introduction to Stage Technology (taught only in Fall semester)

Junior Year
THDA 316: Dance History Seminar
THDA 230: Design Principles and Practices for the Stage (taught only in Spring semester)
NOTE: If not going abroad: THDA 304: Applied Choreography
THDA 300: Acting II - Movement/Voice Technique and Devised Theatre
THDA 321: Modern Dance lll or another dance class (West African, Jazz or Ballet)

Senior Year
THDA 495: Senior Project (.5 course each semester, fall and spring)
THDA 421: Modern Dance 1 or another dance Class (West African, Jazz or Ballet)

Senior Portfolio Review. A preliminary review takes place in the fall, and the final review at the end of the second semester senior year.

Dance emphasis students are expected to take technique classes every semester and all majors should be active in the co-curriculum.

Honors

Major GPA of 3.5. 
The Honors projects may consist of:

1. A research based thesis in literature, aesthetics, dramaturgical analyses or history of any of the theatre arts; or
2. A creative project in acting, dance, design, direction, or choreography. Performance projects should be supplemented by production materials as requested by the department as well by a research paper relating the project to its specific theatrical context.

All honors students will take an oral examination at the end of their final semester in the general field of the honors project/paper.

Opportunities for off-campus study

Majors are strongly encouraged to study abroad, but study abroad is not a requirement. Students should consult with the chair of the department and the executive director of the .

Co-curricular activities/programs

Dance Theatre Group and the Mermaid Players are Dickinson’s co-curricular student theatre and dance organizations. Together with the department, they produce high quality, well-attended productions and concerts which are supervised by faculty and professional artists. They are open to all students regardless of class year or major field. The department also produces smaller-scale productions which are often supervised by experienced and committed students; these include the “Senior Projects,” “Lab Shows” and “Freshman Plays” theatre programs and the "Fresh Works" and "Salon" dance program. Auditions open to all students (with the exception of Freshman Plays, open only to first-year students) are held before each production. All students are encouraged to participate backstage by signing up on the call board (a bulletin board located near Mathers Theatre in the HUB) to work in the scene shop or costume studio. No experience is necessary and patient instruction, often from experienced students, is always available.

Courses

The following course is offered in summer semester in England program:

110 Theatre in England
A topics course in the history and performance of drama which uses performances in and expertise of the theatrical world in London as resources for its study. Taught only in the Summer Semester in England program. This course fulfills the Arts (Division I C) distribution requirement.
Attributes: Arts

Theatre Arts Courses

101 Theatre as Social Exploration
Theatre has always been, and continues to be, an artistic form in which society sees itself portrayed. Theatre artists reflect and are influenced by the way they see current social situations, but they also construct and present social criticism that points to a different or desired social future. This course will explore how theatre artists have contributed to movements advocating equality for individuals regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. A comparison will also be drawn by exploring how theatre artists' advocacy and perspective on such issues can be seen throughout theatrical history (in plays such as Shakespeare's Othello, Euripides' The Trojan Women, or Ibsen's A Doll's House, for instance.) By examining the rich tradition of dramatic performances—and especially through looking at performances on contemporary stages and in related dramatic forms--an appreciation for the role of the artist as an agent for social equality and change will be pursued through the course.
Attributes: Appropriate for First-Year, Arts, US Diversity

102 Introduction to Global Dance Studies
This is an introductory course that explores dance forms from six different regions: Africa, India, North America, Europe, South America and Asia. Focus will be on how dance functions within various social structures and how these functions operate to re-inscribe, contest or legitimate race, class, and gender identity formations. Issues such as authenticity, hybridity, cultural tourism and globalization will be examined. Through an interactive classroom, guest artists and studio work, we will gain a deeper kinesthetic understanding of how dance can operate as a powerful cultural tool, glue or agent for social change.
Offered every two years.
Attributes: Appropriate for First-Year, Arts, Global Diversity, Sustainability Connections

111 Classical Ballet Beginning Level
Classes taught under the direction of the CPYB faculty. Instruction is based on the nationally recognized ballet syllabus originally developed by Marcia Dale Weary, founder and artistic director of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Careful consideration to alignment, placement and proper execution of steps will be covered in depth. Studio/classroom location is TBA.
This .5 class counts towards the Arts Requirement when taken with a .5 Movement Studio class. Credit/no credit
Attributes: Appropriate for First-Year

112 Classical Ballet Beginning Level
Classes taught under the direction of the CPYB faculty. Instruction is based on the nationally recognized ballet syllabus originally developed by Marcia Dale Weary, founder and artistic director of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Careful consideration to alignment, placement and proper execution of steps will be covered in depth. Studio/classroom location is TBA.
This .5 class counts towards the Arts Requirement when taken with a .5 Movement Studio class. Credit/no credit

121 Movement Studio
Movement Studio courses are offered at two levels: I. the foundational level assumes no previous dance experience; II. the intermediate level is open to students who demonstrate basic accomplishment in dance technique. All courses explore the principles of modern and contemporary dance techniques, emphasizing physical and embodied awareness, connection and expression. Materials will be selected from a variety of contemporary dance and movement training practices such as Pilates, Yoga, Somatics, Ballet, Hip Hop, and Jazz to promote performance of a range of movement dynamics, as well as musicality, strength, flexibility, and improved body alignment. Each course is designed to develop students’ movement skills in an active and supportive environment that promotes creative investigation and fosters a deeper understanding of dance as an art form and social practice. Each course may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor.
Each carries .5 academic credit. Two .5 academic credits of dance one in Movement Studio and one in the genre of their choosing will satisfy the requirement. Prerequisite: None for THDA 121/122; for THDA 221/222 permission of instructor
Attributes: Appropriate for First-Year

122 Movement Studio
Movement Studio courses are offered at two levels: I. the foundational level assumes no previous dance experience; II. the intermediate level is open to students who demonstrate basic accomplishment in dance technique. All courses explore the principles of modern and contemporary dance techniques, emphasizing physical and embodied awareness, connection and expression. Materials will be selected from a variety of contemporary dance and movement training practices such as Pilates, Yoga, Somatics, Ballet, Hip Hop, and Jazz to promote performance of a range of movement dynamics, as well as musicality, strength, flexibility, and improved body alignment. Each course is designed to develop students’ movement skills in an active and supportive environment that promotes creative investigation and fosters a deeper understanding of dance as an art form and social practice. Each course may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor.
Each carries .5 academic credit. Two .5 academic credits of dance one in Movement Studio and one in the genre of their choosing will satisfy the requirement. Prerequisite: None for THDA 121/122; for THDA 221/222 permission of instructor

123 Jazz Dance I
Studio courses in jazz dance offered at three levels: I. the basic level, which assumes no previous dance experience; II. the intermediate level, open to students who demonstrate basic accomplishment in dance technique; III. the advanced level, open to students who demonstrate substantial technical skill. All courses will focus on the movement vocabulary and dynamics of jazz dance. Elements of rhythm, body isolations, and various styles of jazz technique will be emphasized. Each course may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor.
Each carries .5 academic credit. This .5 class counts towards the Arts Requirement when taken with a .5 Movement Studio class.

124 Jazz Dance I
Studio courses in jazz dance offered at three levels: I. the basic level, which assumes no previous dance experience; II. the intermediate level, open to students who demonstrate basic accomplishment in dance technique; III. the advanced level, open to students who demonstrate substantial technical skill. All courses will focus on the movement vocabulary and dynamics of jazz dance. Elements of rhythm, body isolations, and various styles of jazz technique will be emphasized. Each course may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor.
Each carries .5 academic credit. This .5 class counts towards the Arts Requirement when taken with a .5 Movement Studio class.

125 International Dance
This course will introduce the movement vocabulary and performance techniques of dance form(s) from different cultures. In this studio-based course, students will develop their skills as performers of specific styles/forms of dance from around the world. The historical and cultural significance of the dance form(s) will also be addressed. Each course may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor.
Carries .5 academic credit. This .5 class counts towards the Arts Requirement when taken with a .5 Movement Studio class.
Attributes: Appropriate for First-Year

130 Introduction to Stage Technology
An introduction to the backstage technology of the world of theatre and dance including the areas of costuming, lighting technology, and scenic construction. Students will learn basic construction techniques in hands on production work in the department’s scenic and costume studios and will learn lighting technology while working on performances in Mathers Theatre and the Cubiculo.
Two hours classroom and three hours lab per week.
Attributes: Appropriate for First-Year, Arts

131 Scenic Construction and Painting Techniques
This is a studio course which will meet flexibly for three hours each week. Students will learn foundational skills and techniques associated with creating the sets for shows and film by learning to understand and by using the basic tools, concepts and techniques associated with carpentry and painting. Students will learn through hands-on exercises. This is a practical, experiential course; throughout the semester the students involved will create the physical environments for our shows and films being produced at the college. Special attention is paid to the sourcing of materials, and what stream these materials end up in, once our “use� for it has expired.
Carries .5 academic credit. Two .5 academic credits of THDA 131-133 can be used to satisfy the Arts distribution requirement.

132 Costume and Soft-Goods Construction
A hands-on course in the machine and hand stitching skills required for building costumes and other fabric items for stage, this is a project based course. Students will work on individual projects to build the skills needed to work on projects for stage in the department’s production program.
Carries .5 academic credit. Two .5 academic credits of THDA 131-133 can be used to satisfy the Arts distribution requirement.

133 Craft Construction for Stage
This course will teach the basic skills to create masks, puppets, props, and other performance objects for the stage and is a project-based course. Students will learn basic sculpting as well as molding and casting working with a variety of materials. These skills will be applied to projects that will be used in departmental productions.
Carries .5 academic credit. Two .5 academic credits of THDA 131-133 can be used to satisfy the Arts distribution requirement.

190 Production and Performance
A laboratory experience in the creation and performance of theatre production. Under the guidance of faculty, students will explore the interpretive processes by which theatre productions are rehearsed, built and presented.
Carries .5 academic credit. Credit/no credit. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor based on an open audition process for performance or application process for production. Two .5 academic credits of this course can be used to satisfy the Arts distribution requirement.

201 Theatre History
The impulse to perform (and to be an audience) can be traced back to the very roots of human society. This course will explore the origins and evolution of theatre as a formal art within the context of western cultures. Beginning with the Theatre of Greece in the 5th Century BCE and proceeding up to the 20th Century, the broad relationship of art and culture will be illustrated through examination of both written plays and historical artifacts regarding play production in classical, medieval, early modern and modern eras. Students will learn through traditional classroom lectures and readings, and also through more performance-oriented exercises and explorations.
Attributes: Appropriate for First-Year, Arts

203 Acting I
An introduction to the principles and theories of acting combined with practical exercises and scene performance. This course fulfills the Arts distribution requirement.
Attributes: Appropriate for First-Year, Arts

204 Fundamentals of Choreography and Dance Composition
A studio-based course designed to introduce the student to various tools to generate and create original dance compositions. Basic elements such as time, space, energy, dynamics, movement generation, and quality are explored in addition to multiple structuring devices. Using an interdisciplinary lens, this course offers a different approach to art making from related fields such as visual art, literature, and media in order to treat dance composition as a relevant response to the contemporary moment.
Prerequisite: 102, or permission of the instructor. One studio course in dance is recommended.
Attributes: Arts

205 Directing
A study of the major techniques employed by stage directors. Visual theory, text analysis, collaborative techniques, and organizational strategies are examined and applied in class exercises including the direction of scenes.
Prerequisite: 203.

211 Classical Ballet Intermediate Level
Studio classes in classical ballet taught at the intermediate/advance level by teachers from the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) at the Dickinson Dance studio (The Site). The class is geared towards students who have had at least ten years of consecutive ballet training. Taught by CPYB instructors, students have the opportunity to maintain and hone their ballet technique. Students will focus on maintaining proper alignment in the body while exploring a greater range of motion and momentum. All classes will be taught at the Dickinson Dance Studio 25-27 High Street “The Site�.
This course satisfies the Arts distribution credit when taken with a .5 Movement Studio class. Credit/no credit

212 Classical Ballet Intermediate Level
Studio classes in classical ballet taught at the intermediate/advance level by teachers from the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) at the Dickinson Dance studio (The Site). The class is geared towards students who have had at least ten years of consecutive ballet training. Taught by CPYB instructors, students have the opportunity to maintain and hone their ballet technique. Students will focus on maintaining proper alignment in the body while exploring a greater range of motion and momentum. All classes will be taught at the Dickinson Dance Studio 25-27 High Street “The Site�.
This course satisfies the Arts distribution credit when taken with a .5 Movement Studio class. Credit/no credit

214 Special Topics in Dance
This course examines and applies theoretical and/or scientific study to the dancing body through experiential investigation, reading and lecture.
Prerequisite: Dependent upon topic.
Attributes: Arts

215 The Thinking Body: Human Movement and Anatomy
This course employs an experiential approach to the science and expressive potential of human movement. It is meant to give students a foundation in anatomy and kinesiology basics. Simultaneously, significant time will be spent in explorations designed to deepen body-mind connections. We will focus on the act of embodiment - how does factual knowledge of the body help us move more efficiently and utilize healthy biomechanics? Through course readings, movement exercises, guest lectures, writing, partnered activities and self-directed independent studio time, we will connect how broad analytical frameworks of the human body apply to the personal and individual experience of movement.
Attributes: Health Studies Elective, NRSC Non-Div 3 Elective

220 Dance Production and Performance
A laboratory experience in the creation and performance of dance for the concert stage. Under the guidance of faculty or guest professional choreographers, students will explore the interpretive processes by which dances are created.
Carries .5 academic credit. Credit/no credit. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor based on an open audition process for performance or application process for production. Two .5 academic credits of this course can be used to satisfy the Arts distribution requirement.

221 Movement Studio II
Movement Studio courses are offered at two levels: I. the foundational level assumes no previous dance experience; II. the intermediate level is open to students who demonstrate basic accomplishment in dance technique. All courses explore the principles of modern and contemporary dance techniques, emphasizing physical and embodied awareness, connection and expression. Materials will be selected from a variety of contemporary dance and movement training practices such as Pilates, Yoga, Somatics, Ballet, Hip Hop, and Jazz to promote performance of a range of movement dynamics, as well as musicality, strength, flexibility, and improved body alignment. Each course is designed to develop students’ movement skills in an active and supportive environment that promotes creative investigation and fosters a deeper understanding of dance as an art form and social practice. Each course may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor.
Each carries .5 academic credit. Two .5 academic credits of dance one in Movement Studio and one in the genre of their choosing will satisfy the requirement. Prerequisite: None for THDA 121/122; for THDA 221/222 permission of instructor

222 Movement Studio II
Movement Studio courses are offered at two levels: I. the foundational level assumes no previous dance experience; II. the intermediate level is open to students who demonstrate basic accomplishment in dance technique. All courses explore the principles of modern and contemporary dance techniques, emphasizing physical and embodied awareness, connection and expression. Materials will be selected from a variety of contemporary dance and movement training practices such as Pilates, Yoga, Somatics, Ballet, Hip Hop, and Jazz to promote performance of a range of movement dynamics, as well as musicality, strength, flexibility, and improved body alignment. Each course is designed to develop students’ movement skills in an active and supportive environment that promotes creative investigation and fosters a deeper understanding of dance as an art form and social practice. Each course may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor.
Each carries .5 academic credit. Two .5 academic credits of dance one in Movement Studio and one in the genre of their choosing will satisfy the requirement. Prerequisite: None for THDA 121/122; for THDA 221/222 permission of instructor

223 Jazz Dance II
Studio courses in jazz dance offered at three levels: I. the basic level, which assumes no previous dance experience; II. the intermediate level, open to students who demonstrate basic accomplishment in dance technique; III. the advanced level, open to students who demonstrate substantial technical skill. All courses will focus on the movement vocabulary and dynamics of jazz dance. Elements of rhythm, body isolations, and various styles of jazz technique will be emphasized. Each course may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor.
Each carries .5 academic credit. This .5 class counts towards the Arts Requirement when taken with a .5 Movement Studio class.

224 Jazz Dance II
Studio courses in jazz dance offered at three levels: I. the basic level, which assumes no previous dance experience; II. the intermediate level, open to students who demonstrate basic accomplishment in dance technique; III. the advanced level, open to students who demonstrate substantial technical skill. All courses will focus on the movement vocabulary and dynamics of jazz dance. Elements of rhythm, body isolations, and various styles of jazz technique will be emphasized. Each course may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor.
Each carries .5 academic credit. This .5 class counts towards the Arts Requirement when taken with a .5 Movement Studio class.

230 Design Principles and Practices for the Stage
A study of the language, principles, elements, and tools designers use to both formulate and communicate ideas as part of the collaborative process. Students will learn the basic elements of composition for stage design and will see how these elements function in the areas of costuming, lighting, scenery, and sound.
Two hours classroom and three hours laboratory per week.

231 Sustainably Sculpting with Sound and Space – Design for Live Performance & Film
In this course we will learn, experiment, and develop skills in spatial designs and sound designs; how the intentional manipulation of sound and space sculpts worlds on stages and through the lens of the camera. Spatial and sound designs have become key components in live performance, from theater and dance, to concerts, galleries, and events, while making up one of the core elements in creating contemporary media. Throughout the semester, the student will study contemporary practitioners, theory, sustainable approaches and techniques of the interrelated fields of scenography and sound before developing their own style and work in visual and sonic story telling through hands-on creations in both film and live work. Special attention will be paid toward where material comes from, where it goes, as well as our relationship to our landscape and community.
Attributes: Arts

232 Media Making - Creating with Cameras, TV’s, Computers and Projectors
Students will learn the foundational skills associated with cameras, broadcast, film editing, and playback through TV’s, computers and projectors. This course serves as an introduction to the concepts and techniques involved in various forms of filmed production work. In this hands-on course, the student will study contemporary context, past and present practitioners, procedures, tools, and theories surrounding mediated work while making various creations of their own. Through studio exercises, experiments, readings, and presentations, the student will be given the opportunity to develop both a broader understanding of the conceptual and theoretical work that mediated culture has on our society, but also allow the student to engage with an artistic practice of their own.
Attributes: Arts, Film & Media Studies Elective

233 Sustainable Light Design
This class explores the artistry of light within a live performance context as well as the use of light design in film. Students will gain an introductory understanding of the basic tools and equipment used in film and on stage to create lighting designs, while studying both technique and theory associated with the art forms through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This class is divided into theoretical exploration and hands-on studio work which stresses the conceptual and artistic elements of these abstract design forms while giving the student the basic technical skills required to create work with light while keeping an eye toward the environmental consequences, impacts, and benefits that light may have. Studio projects will fluctuate between conceptual work to gain a broader understanding and foundation of tools and techniques, to realized, large scale designs on the mainstage and for the camera.
Attributes: Arts

234 Object Lessons: Design and Creation of Performance Objects for Stage and Screen
Masks and puppets have had ritual and performative meaning in human tradition since before the written word was able to record their significance. This course is both a historical and cultural look at the creation and use of masks and puppets in a variety of cultures across the world, introducing students to many traditions of performance objects through both study and through creation and performance. There will be a strong focus on both natural, traditional materials for mask and puppetry as well as repurposed materials for construction. Although not required, previous experience in Craft Construction or co-enrollment in Craft Construction is both welcomed and encouraged.
Attributes: Arts

235 Costume Design as Artistic Practice
This course connects students with the process of costume design from concept to creation to performance. The first half of the semester will be connected with the department’s production program where students will assist the resident designer and observe the process of manifesting design ideas on stage while studying design skills in a studio setting. The second half of the semester will focus on students designing for other students in semester showcase productions and/or Freshworks.
Prerequisite: 132 or permission of the instructor.
Attributes: Arts

236 Magic Garments: The History of Costume Design for Performing Arts and Media
This course will give students an overview of the history of costume design for live and mediated performance with a focus on how clothing impacts visual production and storytelling. There will be an examination of how different cultures and communities approach clothing as connected to performance as well as a deep look at the cultural significance of the use of clothing to denote character, status, and purpose.
Attributes: Arts

300 Acting II: Movement/Voice Technique and Devised Theatre
This course will explore the creative process through movement and language. The student will work individually and in groups to create performance pieces based upon principles of text and movement. The class aims to develop the expressive power of the voice and body while fostering interdisciplinary thinking and artistic experimentation and an appreciation for the historic intersection of dance and theater.
Prerequisite: 203 and/or 200-level movement.

302 Special Topics in Theatre and Dance
An examination of selected aspects of theatrical experiment, theory, and practice. Topics chosen at the discretion of the instructor and in consultation with students, e.g., advanced study in various aspects of production, design, performance, and staging as well as special topics in dramatic literature, history, and theory.
Prerequisite: Dependent upon topic.
Attributes: Arts

303 Acting II: Advanced Technique and Classical Drama
An in-depth examination of the process of acting. Technical, interpretive, and psychological aspects are explored through reading, exercises, and scene performances. Major theories of acting are presented and discussed in the context of developing a workable, individualized approach to acting.
Prerequisite: 203.

304 Applied Choreography
This course will focus on the principles of choreography as they may be applied to the development of original dance works for inclusion in the fully produced, mainstage Dance Theatre Group Spring Concert. Through weekly workshop/discussion sessions, readings, and rehearsals, selected elements of dance composition as well as issues of aesthetic perception and articulation are explored. The processes involved in generating movement material, running constructive and creative rehearsals, and working with lighting and costume designers, are our primary concerns. The course work will include an audition, showings, production of the dances, and the final performance.
Prerequisites: 204, 220. 1 credit.
Attributes: Arts

305 Advanced Directing
An inquiry into the process of translating a play from the printed text to the live stage. Detailed analytical techniques and major directorial theories are examined through readings, class discussion, and written assignments. Each student directs a one-act production under advisement of the instructor.
Prerequisite: 205 and 230.

311 Classical Ballet Advanced Level
Classes taught under the direction of the CPYB faculty. Entry into THDA 311/312 is by audition only. (CPYB Certificate) Instruction is based on the nationally recognized ballet syllabus originally developed by Marcia Dale Weary, founder and artistic director of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Careful consideration to alignment, placement and proper execution of steps will be covered in depth. All classes are taught at the CPYB Warehouse three days a week, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 3:00-4:30. Each course may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor.
This satisfies the Arts distribution credit when taken for a full credit, or for.5 credit with a .5 Movement Studio class. Credit/No Credit.

312 Classical Ballet Advanced Level
Classes taught under the direction of the CPYB faculty. Entry into THDA 311/312 is by audition only. (CPYB Certificate) Instruction is based on the nationally recognized ballet syllabus originally developed by Marcia Dale Weary, founder and artistic director of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Careful consideration to alignment, placement and proper execution of steps will be covered in depth. All classes are taught at the CPYB Warehouse three days a week, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 3:00-4:30. Each course may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor.
This satisfies the Arts distribution credit when taken for a full credit, or for.5 credit with a .5 Movement Studio class. Credit/No Credit.

314 Topics in Dance
Advanced study in dance history or dance ethnology.
Prerequisite: 102 and 104.

316 Dance History Seminar: Modernism and the Body
This course will focus on contemporary dance history using theoretical frameworks that interrogate how race, class and gender resist, assimilate, and converge to create the construction of American modern concert dance. We will explore how the politics of the dancing female body on the concert stage produced a radicalized agenda for contemporary dance. We will address key themes and questions throughout the semester, questions such as: What makes a body "modern?" How does the feminist agenda on the concert stage aid in the construction of a "modern" body? What was the role of appropriating from exotic cultures in the making of contemporary concert dance? What is the role of technology in the creation of modern dance? What are the effects of war and politics on the dancing body? Orientalism, the Africanist presence in Western concert dance, and the restaging of Native American dances by American choreographers will be addressed as part of the overall construction of American modern dance. Through response papers, in-class presentations, and an in-depth research paper, students will engage with significant issues contributing to the development of modern concert dance.
Prerequisite: 102. This course is cross-listed as WGSS 301.
Attributes: Sustainability Connections, US Diversity, WGSS Hist/Theories/Represent, Writing in the Discipline

319 Dramaturgy
What is a dramaturg? This course will answer that question through theoretical and applied investigations of dramatic texts in historical, literary, and performative contexts. Always keeping in sight the idea of theater as a collaborative production-focused art, students will practice research, text analysis, genres of writing for/about the theater and dramaturgical roles on various kinds and aspects of production. A dramaturgical casebook for a proposed play or department production will be the culminating assignment.
Prerequisite: 101 or 201 or permission of instructor.
Attributes: Writing in the Discipline

321 Movement Lab
Movement Lab is an advanced level dance technique course open to students who demonstrate substantial technical skill. Movement Lab is designed to further the student’s knowledge of contemporary practices in dance, to enhance efficient use of weight and momentum, to release held patterns in the body’s mechanics, and to strengthen dynamic range in performance. Movement combinations drawn from a variety of dance techniques and somatic modalities will address coordination, alignment, spatial awareness and musicality. Throughout the semester students develop a personal project aimed at addressing their individual goals for dance training as well as further developing their skills as self-directed artists and scholars. Each course may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor.
Prerequisite: Permission on the instructor. Each carries .5 academic credit. Two .5 academic credits of dance one in Movement Studio and one in the genre of their choosing will satisfy the requirement.

322 Movement Lab
Movement Lab is an advanced level dance technique course open to students who demonstrate substantial technical skill. Movement Lab is designed to further the student’s knowledge of contemporary practices in dance, to enhance efficient use of weight and momentum, to release held patterns in the body’s mechanics, and to strengthen dynamic range in performance. Movement combinations drawn from a variety of dance techniques and somatic modalities will address coordination, alignment, spatial awareness and musicality. Throughout the semester students develop a personal project aimed at addressing their individual goals for dance training as well as further developing their skills as self-directed artists and scholars. Each course may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor.
Prerequisite: Permission on the instructor. Each carries .5 academic credit. Two .5 academic credits of dance one in Movement Studio and one in the genre of their choosing will satisfy the requirement.

411 Classical Ballet Certificate/Pre-professional Program Audition Only
Classes taught under the direction of the CPYB faculty. Entry into THDA 411/412 is by audition only. (CPYB Certificate) Instruction is based on the nationally recognized ballet syllabus originally developed by Marcia Dale Weary, founder and artistic director of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Students admitted to the Certificate program are accepted into the CPYB school as full time students. As full time students, they are expected to follow and commit to the daily requirements of their instructors. All classes are taught at the CPYB Warehouse and Barn studio during studio hours on or after 4:30 Monday through Friday and at 9am Saturday with other possible classes until 4pm.
Classes count for those students enrolled in the CPYB Certificate program. Credit/No Credit
Attributes: Arts

412 Classical Ballet Certificate/Pre-professional Program Audition Only
Classes taught under the direction of the CPYB faculty. Entry into THDA 411/412 is by audition only. (CPYB Certificate) Instruction is based on the nationally recognized ballet syllabus originally developed by Marcia Dale Weary, founder and artistic director of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Students admitted to the Certificate program are accepted into the CPYB school as full time students. As full time students, they are expected to follow and commit to the daily requirements of their instructors. All classes are taught at the CPYB Warehouse and Barn studio during studio hours on or after 4:30 Monday through Friday and at 9am Saturday with other possible classes until 4pm.
Classes count for those students enrolled in the CPYB Certificate program. Credit/No Credit
Attributes: Arts

495 Senior Project
A culminating experience for students completing the Theatre major with emphasis in Dramatic Literature, Acting/Directing, or Dance. The specific nature of projects will be determined on an individual basis, but all senior projects will consist of at least two of the following: a) scholarship, b) technical/production work, and c) performance. Students will register for .5 course credit in the fall semester, during which planning and research will be conducted, and .5 in the spring, during which presentation of the project will occur.
Prerequisite: four .25 course credits in THDA 190.