The Department of Theatre and Dance offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in both theatre and dance. These programs combine traditional studies with practical training. Ambitious seasons of theatre productions and dance concerts feature student performers and student designers, directors, and choreographers. Guest artists of national and international fame often participate in curricular and extracurricular activities. Recent guests have included Chris Aiken and Angie Hauser, Art Bridgman/Myrna Packer, Rennie Harris, Heidi Henderson, Kathleen Hermesdorf, Deborah Jowitt, Darrell Jones, Susan Marshall & Co., Bebe Miller, David Dorfman, Joe Goode, Kevin Wynn, and Shelley Senter in dance; Ami Dayan, Terry Berliner, Lee Blessing, Jim Moody, Tim Miller, Holly Hughes, Jane Page, Joan Schirle, Karen Finley, and Mark Medoff in theatre.
Students interested in theatre and dance are urged to consult with an advisor in the appropriate field to obtain both advice and the most current information concerning program opportunities and expectations.
Course codes for this department are THTR and DNCE.
The undergraduate degrees in theatre emphasize knowledge and awareness of:
In addition, students completing a degree in theatre are expected to acquire the ability and skills to:
The University of Colorado Boulder has an exciting and diversified dance program which offers BA, BFA, and MFA degrees. We are a contemporary dance program—one that values and provides study in a range of styles that influence the multifaceted nature of concert dance today. Our training reflects the influences of both West African traditional dance and Western European (ballet) folk dance traditions. Our curriculum is designed to develop concrete skills in performance and choreography and to instill an appreciation of the role that dance plays in human culture around the world. The following areas of knowledge and experience are central to all undergraduate degrees in dance:
In addition, students completing a degree in dance are expected to acquire the ability and skills to:
BA and BFA students are expected to take at least one course each in contemporary, ballet, jazz, and African dance technique before the end of their sophomore year. Dance majors must earn a C- or better in all required courses. Students who have not placed in the major technique class (DNCE 2021, 3041, or 4061) by their second semester in dance program are strongly advised not to continue in the major program in dance. Placement into and successful completion of major technique is a prerequisite for enrollment in other required dance courses.
The BA degree program in theatre requires 44 credit hours in theatre, 3 in dance and 3 in dramatic literature and/or global arts outside the department. It is a broadly based program of theatre practice and study for the student who may wish to pursue in-depth studies in another area as well. It also serves as the core of studies for a student who wishes to pursue further theatre training in one of the BFA areas of concentration. A grade of C- or better is needed in each required course toward the BA degree, as well as an overall theatre GPA of 2.00.
Students must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the required courses listed below.
Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours
Recommended sequence of courses during the initial year of theatre major program, BA and BFA:
Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information on eligibility. The concept of “adequate progress” as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. To maintain adequate progress toward a BA in theatre, students should meet the following requirements:
The BFA degree programs in theatre offer preprofessional training to a limited number of highly motivated and talented students aiming at professional careers. The BFA student pursues one of three possible areas of concentration: performance, theatre design, technology and management, or musical theatre.
Admission is limited not only due to student capacity, but also to ensure the type of individual attention necessary for effective training. Interested students should identify themselves as early as possible.
Formal application to the musical theatre concentration should be made concurrent with application to the university. Auditions/interviews will be held at the regular spring auditions for the College of Music. Formal application to the performance concentration should be made at the beginning of the second semester. Formal application to the design/technology/management concentrations should be made at the beginning of the third semester.
Admission is based on talent, academic record, motivation, and audition-interviews. Contact the department for information concerning auditions for these BFA tracks.
The college counts only 67 credit hours of THTR credits toward the total hours required for graduation. A grade of C- or higher is needed in each course required to fulfill the requirements of the BFA degree, as well as an overall theatre GPA of 2.00.
In addition to the general College of Arts and Sciences requirements for the BA degree, requirements for the BFA degree are as follows. (Courses taken as part of a student BFA concentration cannot also be counted towards fulfillment of the BA electives.)
67 credit hours are required in THTR, plus 9 in other disciplines. Students accepted into the performance concentration each year constitute an ensemble and as a group follow the required sequence of courses. Specific details about this sequence are available from the department. Students in this concentration must fulfill BA requirements in theatre, with specified electives, and are required to audition for theatre season productions each semester.
Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours
64 credit hours are required in THTR, plus 15 in other disciplines. Students in the design, technology, and management concentration must fulfill BA requirements in theatre as advised and will use the electives in the BA requirements to fulfill prerequisites for the following:
Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours
Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours
60 credit hours are required: 26 in THTR courses, 4 in DNCE courses, and 30 in the College of Music. See department website for audition information and application, www.colorado.edu/theatredance/theatre/education.html.
Theatre/Dance
Music
Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information on eligibility. The concept of “adequate progress” as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. To maintain adequate progress toward a BFA in theatre, students should meet the following requirements:
All potential BFA musical theatre students must declare in writing, during the application process, their intention to audition by submitting the appropriate pre-audition materials (www.colorado.edu/TheatreDance/theatre/application2.html). Students who are accepted into the BFA musical theatre concentration must confirm their decision to enroll as TBFA MUS immediately upon acceptance following the audition. They must also meet immediately with a departmental advisor.
The minor in theatre is designed to provide the student with a broad overview of theatre. Requirements include a minimum of 18 credit hours from the courses below; 9 hours of which must be upper division with a minimum grade of C- in each THTR course and a minimum of 2.00 GPA for all THTR courses. Transfer students may apply a maximum of 9 transfer hours with a maximum of 6 upper-division hours to the theatre minor. Students select courses from the theatre curriculum based on their interests and course availability.
Required Courses (total 18 credit hours) to include:
BA and BFA students are expected to take at least one course each in contemporary, ballet, jazz, and African dance technique before the end of their sophomore year. Dance majors must earn a C- or better in all required courses. Students who have not placed in the major technique class (DNCE 2021, 3041, or 4061) by their second semester in dance program are strongly advised not to continue in the major program in dance. Placement into and successful completion of major technique is a prerequisite for enrollment in other required dance courses.
Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours
Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for more information on eligibility. The concept of “adequate progress” as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. To maintain adequate progress toward a BA in dance, students should meet the following requirements:
The BFA in dance is designed to meet the needs of highly talented students interested in preparing for a professional dance career while in an academic setting. The degree requires 67 credit hours in dance and 12–13 hours in theatre. Admission is limited by faculty consent to ensure the type of individual attention necessary for effective training. Students apply during the third semester while taking DNCE 2033. Students should be advised that 9 or 10 semesters are often needed to complete the BFA program. More than 120 hours may be needed for graduation.
Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours
Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for more information on eligibility. The concept of “adequate progress” as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. To maintain adequate progress toward a BFA in dance, students should meet the following requirements:
The minor in dance is designed to provide the student with a broad overview of dance. Requirements include a minimum of 20 credit hours; 9 of which must be upper division; a minimum grade of C- in each dance class; and a minimum of a 2.00 GPA for all dance and approved non-dance courses. Transfer students may apply a maximum of 9 transfer hours with a maximum of 6 upper-division hours to the dance minor. Students select courses from the dance curriculum based on their interests and course availability.
Required Courses (total 10 credit hours) to include:
Elective Courses (total 10 credit hours)
The MA and PhD degrees are offered in theatre. The MFA degree is offered in dance. A joint MA/MBA degree is offered in theatre with the CU Leeds School of Business.
Departmental Requirements. Students wishing to pursue graduate work in theatre or in dance should carefully read both requirements for advanced degrees in the Graduate School section and the following departmental requirements. Students should note that departmental requirements are sometimes more comprehensive than those minimums established by the Graduate School.
Prerequisites. Applicants are admitted to the graduate program in theatre and in dance on the basis of their academic records and recommendations. Students admitted who are unable to offer a substantial number of credit hours of work in the area of their intended specialization or allied fields must expect that a significant number of additional courses and credit hours are required of them in order to make up deficiencies.
Applicants for the MFA program in dance must audition in person; international students may audition in digital format. Applicants are expected to show a high level of proficiency in dance performance and choreography. Contact the dance office for specific audition dates; auditions are usually held in February for admission the following fall. The deadline for applications from U.S. citizens is December 15; from non-U.S. citizens, it is December 1. Applicants who want to apply for graduate part-time instructor (GPTI) positions must apply by December 1.
Diagnostic Meeting. Every student will have a meeting with faculty upon entering the program. Topics discussed in the meeting and other available information are employed to design the best possible course of study for the student. This evaluation may indicate course work as necessary above and beyond the required hours for the degree.
Advisor and Graduate Committee. For every student who declares an intention to work toward an advanced degree, an advisor and committee are designated so that a degree plan may be designed before the end of the first semester of residence.
All candidates for a degree have the responsibility of making certain that the appropriate persons or committees have been appointed to supervise the various steps in their graduate programs. Detailed instructions are available from the department.
Course Requirements. All master’s degree students in theatre are required to complete THTR 5011, 6009, and two of the following: THTR 6011, 6021, 6031, or 6041. Students can choose either a thesis or nonthesis track program.
After any undergraduate deficiencies have been removed, students must earn 30 semester hours, at least 16 of which must be in THTR courses at the 5000 level or above. Four to six thesis credit hours may be counted toward the 30-hour requirement. At least 24 of the 30 hours must be at the 5000-level or above.
Doctoral students in theatre are normally expected to earn 30 credit hours of course work beyond the master’s degree at the 5000-level or above. When approved by the student advisory committee, credits from other departments on campus may count, provided the course is taught by a member of the graduate faculty in that department.
Doctoral study in theatre is based on the following core of required advanced courses.
Beyond the core courses, studies are determined by students and their advisors, consistent with Graduate School and departmental requirements. Doctoral students are required to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to the completion of a second-semester college level before taking the comprehensive exam. In addition to the 30 hours of course work, 30 dissertation credits (THTR 8999) are required.
Course Requirements. The three-year program requires a minimum of 60 credit hours, at least 30 of which must be taken in dance at the 5000 level or above. The program focuses on performance/choreography and secondary areas of specialization. At least 6 credit hours must be taken outside of dance in an approved allied field. The program is designed to accommodate recent BA or BFA graduates and practicing professionals desiring a graduate degree who have a bachelor’s degree.
The MFA in dance is based on a required core of courses including contemporary dance, ballet, African dance, Alexander technique, choreography, history, readings in dance, seminars in dance and music, research strategies, pedagogy, and a creative project or thesis. Contact the department for detailed information.
Project or Thesis. In the second year of the degree program, a written proposal for a creative project or thesis must be presented and approved. Upon its completion, an oral defense of the project or thesis is required.
Graduate Comprehensive Essay Portfolio. Four well defined essays are submitted during the final semester that demonstrate knowledge of scholarly sources and articulation of personal philosophy.
The Leeds School of Business, in conjunction with the Department of Theatre and Dance, offers students the ability to earn an MBA and an MA in theatre through a three-year dual-degree program. Students in the MBA/MA dual-degree program pursue careers in a wide variety of fields and jobs in the world of the performing arts. Types of organizations include theatre companies, dance companies, opera companies, symphonies, arts councils, performing arts complexes, civic auditoriums, and arts presenters.
Admission. An individual must apply separately and be admitted to both programs under each school’s or college’s admission procedures and standards. Applicants are encouraged to apply to the two programs concurrently.
Course of Study. Students in the MBA/MA in theatre spend the first year of their dual-degree program exclusively in either the business school or the theatre/dance program. In the second year, courses are taken exclusively in the other department. The third year offers students the opportunity to take both MBA and theatre/dance elective courses.
Credit for Courses. Dual-degree students are required to complete 43 hours of MBA course work and 24 hours of theatre/dance course work. A minimum of 67 approved credits must be completed to earn both degrees.