The Theatre
and Dance Department offers courses and co-curricular activities in dance and
theatre. Our introduction and history
courses are traditionally academic, while others, such as acting, directing,
stagecraft, design, dance technique and choreography classes, emphasize
projects in the practice of theatre or dance along with reading, writing, and
discussion. Students with an avocational
interest in performing arts interact with serious vocational students in all
aspects of our programs. Students at all
levels of experience are welcomed; some become accomplished artists and
artisans over the course of up to four years of intense involvement, while
others find their undergraduate experience enriched by enrollment in a single
course or involvement in a single play or dance concert, and look forward to a
life as more knowledgeable and enthusiastic audience members.
The Theatre
Arts major offers students a choice of a number of options within the basic major. Students may elect an emphasis in
Acting/Directing, Dance, Dramatic Literature or Design and Technology. It is expected that majors will be active in
the Mermaid Players and/or the Dance Theater Group.
The
Inter-arts major in Dance & Music provides interdisciplinary study that
combines work in both the Theatre and Dance department and the Music
department.
Introductory courses appropriate for
prospective majors
THDA 101,
Introduction to Theatre
THDA
102, Dance and Culture
THDA
202, Fundamentals of Dance
THDA 203, Acting
THDA 210,
Topics in Design and Technology for the Theatre
One course
in dance is a prerequisite for Advanced Acting, and THDA 205, Directing is a
prerequisite for Advanced Directing.
Theatre Arts majors should take THDA 101, Introduction to Theatre or
THDA 102, Dance and Culture before Theatre History Seminar or Dance History.
The best
way to become involved in theatre or dance at Dickinson is to participate in
the Mermaid Players or Dance Theatre Group.
Introductory
courses that fulfill distribution requirements
Division IC:
THDA
101, Introduction to Theatre
THDA 102, Dance and Culture
THDA 200, Fundamentals of Dance
THDA 203, Acting
THDA 210, Topics in Design and Technology for the
Theatre
Writing
Requirement:
THDA 313, Theatre History
Seminar
THDA 316, Dance History Seminar
U.S.
Diversity Requirement:
THDA 316, Dance History Seminar
For course descriptions and requirements for the major, refer to the Academic Bulletin: Theatre and Dance.
Co-curricular activities
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 “Lab Shows” and “Freshman Plays” theatre programs and the
"Fresh Works" 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 shop. No experience is necessary and patient
instruction, often from experienced students, is always available.