Courses

    Students learn to perceive literary form and content and to translate that perception into classroom performances of selected modern plays and stories. Performances, both solo and ensemble, embody literary texts diverse in terms of gender and ethnicity. Prereqs., 15 credit hours and THTR 1003, 2003 or 2043.

    Designed for Dance majors. Enrollment by audition only. May be repeated up to 16 total credit hours.

    Examines the interaction of dramatic literature and performance in European theatre from 1800 to present, with attention to innovators like Ibsen, Strindberg, Stanislavsky, Meyerhold, Pirandello, Brecht, Beckett, and Churchill.

    Explores choreographic foundational tools focusing on the creation of solo and duet work. Students develop a critical eye and language for discussing choreography. Prereqs., DNCE 1013 and DNCE 2021, 3041, or 4061. Prerequisites: Restricted to Dance (DNCE or DBFA, excludes DNCE-MIN) majors only.

    Introduces principles and techniques relevant to the expression of dramatic mood and idea through visual elements of the theatre, giving practice in conceptdevelopment, style selection, and rendering techniques in scenery and costume design.

    Natural resources of the human voice and body are studied as artistic resources for the performing artist. Designed to examine both the process and products of vocal and physical craft work. Prerequisites: Restricted to Theatre (THTR, TBFA) or Dance (DNCE or DBFA) majors only (excluding minors).

    Covers topics not otherwise listed in the curriculum. Topics for each semester are specified in the online schedule planner.

    Continuation of Modern 1. a developmental sequence of modern dance technique designed to refine the technical/expressive skills required of the professional dancer. Offered summers only at Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts Camp. May be repeated up to 2 total credit hours.

    Students learn and perform dances from the repertory of guest artists. Offered summers only. May be repeated up to 3 total credit hours.

    Introduces the basic training for the art of dancing in pointe shoes. Includes enchainements in pointe shoes and additional conditioning exercises for the feet and legs. Students should be at an Intermediate/Advanced ballet level with a strong understanding of rotation and alignment. No previous pointe experience necessary. Audition required. May be repeated up to 4 total credit hours. Recommended prereq., DNCE 3161 or DNCE 4181.

    Introduces the creative/collaborative process of design for theatre and dance, including scenery, costume, lighting, and sound. Students create design projects and evaluate them with regard to artistic and practical concerns. Much of the course work is hands-on, experiential, and team-oriented.

    Builds on an existing understanding of alignment, rotation, and movement quality to introduce more mentally and physically difficult movements and enchainements of the classical ballet vocabulary. Students must be able to demonstrate an embodied familiarity with all traditional barre exercises on the first day of class. Prereq: DNCE 1120 or permission of the instructor.

    Intermediate ballet, covering the complete vocabulary of classical ballet technique. Enchainements are of complex structure. Offered summers only at Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts Camp. May be repeated up to 2 total credit hours.

    Continuation of Jazz 1. Studies coordination, rhythm,style, and advanced body part isolation in depth. Offered summers only at Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts Camp. May be repeated up to 2 total credit hours.

    Explores the technique, styles, and rhythms of regional and national cultures of Africa. Areas of concentration may vary each semester (e.g. Ghana, Mali, Guinea, etc.). Introduces signature attributes common to different countries' dance traditions and features discussions of the musical traditions, histories, cosmologies, philosophies and aesthetics to contextualize and increase familiarity. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Same as ETHN 2502.

    Investigates movement vocabulary and kinesthetic understanding through physical contact and weight-sharing between two or more dancers. Fundamental skills of contact will be introduced and employed in duets and larger group improvisations: rolling, falling, giving and receiving weight, and the use of momentum and gravity.

    Same as DNCE 1849, at the sophomore level.

    May be repeated up to 3 total credit hours.

    Topical course (second level) in dance technique, see subtopic for specific form. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. May require an audition or permission of the instructor.

    Explores topics and research in relation to areas such as technology, environment, teaching methods, performance, world dance, arts in society, and/or criticism that the normal sequence of offerings may not allow. May be repeated up to 7 total credit hours. Same as DNCE 4909 and 5909 at the sophomore level.

    Challenges intermediate and advanced students to refine their understanding and personal approach to the study of international contemporary dance. Demands a deep sense of somatic awareness, efficient athleticism, and creative voice. Floor work, inversions, and improvisation may be included. May be repeated up to 4 total credit hours. Prereq., DNCE 1000 or 1020 or any major technique class ending in "1". No audition required. Formerly DNCE 3040.

    Study and application of the principles of design as applied to stage costume, emphasizing texts in analysis and interpretation. Presented in a studio format and project driven. Explores concept development, style selection, and extensive practice in a variety of media and techniques for costume rendering. Prereq., THTR 1115 or instructor consent.

    Studies the American musical theatre heritage and its relation to the continually changing social milieu. Examines productions, their creators, and performers. Recommended prereq., 3 credits in THTR, DNCE, or MUSC. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: literature and the arts. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) College of Arts and Sciences, Leeds School of Business, College of Music or School Journalism and Mass Communication students only.
    Students learn to deepen and develop their proficiency with specific acting techniques. Explores the craft elements of acting, as well as text analysis. Prereq., THTR 2003. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) Theatre (TBFA) majors only.
    Enhances rhythmic acuity through intensive rhythmic drills, analytical listening, drumming, notating and creating rhythm-based performance work. Course material explores non-Western rhythmic paradigms, irregular meters, mixed meters, polyrhythms, etc., and how to communicate clearly with a live accompanist in technique class. Prerequisites: Restricted to Dance (DNCE or DBFA, excludes DNCE-MIN) majors only.

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