Program Overview
The Performance and Movement B.A. program combines dance and theatre for students seeking collaborative learning and professional skills in the performing arts. It offers focus areas in dance and theatre, social and partnership dance, and Hip Hop arts, allowing students to explore performance through diverse means and develop their artistic paths. The program emphasizes collaborative learning, practical experience, and individual guidance, preparing graduates for careers in performance, education, choreography, production, and arts entrepreneurship.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
This program offers a flexible degree experience merging dance and theatre for students seeking collaborative approaches to learning and professional industry skills in the performing arts. The focus areas cater to:
- Dance and theatre: Integrating both disciplines for dancers, actors, and writers/directors.
- Social and partnership dance: Preparing students for community engagement in social dance for social transformation.
- Hip Hop arts: Immersing students in various Hip Hop forms through in-studio practice and community engagement. Overall, the program allows students to explore performance through diverse means and develop their own artistic paths.
Outline:
The program curriculum varies depending on the chosen focus area. Here's a breakdown:
Dance and theatre:
- Dance: Modern, ballet, jazz, choreography, improvisation, dance history, dance theory.
- Theatre: Acting, voice and speech, movement for actors, theatre history, playwriting, directing.
Social and partnership dance:
- Dance: Ballroom, Latin, Afro-Latin, social dance pedagogy, dance history.
- Community engagement: Dance event production, community outreach strategies, social dance as a tool for change.
Hip Hop arts:
- Hip Hop: B-boying/B-girling, hip hop dance styles, hip hop music production, visual art, DJing, spoken word, hip hop history.
- Community engagement: Hip Hop pedagogy, community arts programming, hip hop activism.
General:
- University Core Curriculum: Humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, and interdisciplinary courses.
- Capstone project: Allows students to showcase their skills and learning in their chosen area.
Teaching:
The program boasts experienced faculty who are active professionals in their respective fields. The teaching approach emphasizes:
- Collaborative learning: Encourages peer interaction and group projects.
- Practical experience: Provides opportunities to apply learning through performances, workshops, and community engagement projects.
- Individual guidance: Offers personalized feedback and mentorship to help students refine their skills and achieve their goals.
Assessment:
Assessment methods vary depending on the course and focus area, but generally include:
- Performances and presentations: Demonstrating proficiency in dance or theatre skills.
- Written assignments and projects: Critical analysis, research papers, creative writing.
- Exams and quizzes: Testing knowledge of course material and concepts.
- Peer feedback and self-reflection: Encouraging self-evaluation and growth.
Careers:
Graduates are prepared for diverse careers in the performing arts and related fields:
- Performance: Actors, dancers, singers, musicians, comedians.
- Education: Dance and theatre teachers, workshop facilitators, artistic directors.
- Choreography and direction: Creating original work for stage or screen.
- Production and management: Stage managers, event producers, arts administrators.
- Arts entrepreneurship: Starting their own studios, companies, or artistic ventures.
Other:
- The program encourages students to study abroad for global learning opportunities.
- Various clubs and organizations are available for students to connect with like-minded individuals and pursue their interests.
- Students can participate in research projects with faculty, contributing to the field of performance and movement.
