Academic Catalog
Within the context of Manhattanville's liberal arts tradition, the Department of Dance & Theatre offers studies in performance technique, history, literature and critical theory. Areas of concentration include: Dance, Theatre, Theatre Education, Dance Therapy, and Drama Therapy. The curriculum provides basic understanding and practice of the elements of performance and explores the collaborative frontiers where Dance & Theatre meet. Our emphasis is on the creative process.
Majors are required to complete a Core Study, which includes: basic theory and performance techniques, studio exploration, seminar studies, and design, technical and production skills. The four-year program culminates in a year-long capstone Senior Thesis Seminar, which reflects the initiative, interests and skills of the individual student.
The spine of the Dance curriculum is a sequential study of Modern Dance technique. The basic course of study is enriched through a rotating selection of dance forms including Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Afro-Caribbean, Classical Indian Dance and Flamenco. Each semester, professional guest choreographers teach advanced technique and choreograph works for performance. Recent guest choreographers have worked with the Joffrey Ballet, Pilobolus Dance Theatre, Pucci Plus, Bill T. Jones, Dance Theater of Harlem and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center.
Theatre training includes a sequential study of acting, dramatic literature and history, directing, design, technical theatre, theatre for social change, production and stage management. Acting training places primary emphasis on the vocal and physical life of the actor and integrates both traditional and experimental models. Special emphasis is given to Shakespeare studies, enhanced by an annual spring Shakespeare production in Reid Castle.
The program in Theatre Education requires a double major in Dance & Theatre and Education. It examines how the theatrical process can be transformed into an educational philosophy that is engaging, experiential and student centered. The degree combines pedagogy and practice and culminates in a Theatre K-12 New York State Teaching Certification.
Concentrations in Dance and Drama Therapy prepare students for graduate study and include introductory and advanced courses with a minor in Psychology.
Opportunities to perform are available through a full schedule of plays, dance concerts, musical and performance events, and senior thesis projects. Students are encouraged to take an active role in projects generated by the student-run clubs including, Dance Ensemble, Players Guild, and others.
The Department's primary performing spaces include: The Little Theatre, an intimate 125-seat facility with excellent sight lines and acoustics; The Performance Space in the new Student Center, the EXperimental Theatre, a flexible black box theatre in Founders’ Hall, and the Kennedy Dance Studio, a bright, spacious environment for classes and rehearsals. Proximity to the artistic and educational resources of New York City provides a strong support for the Dance & Theatre program.
Faculty and Professional Interests
Ara Fitzgerald — Director, Modern Dance Technique, Composition, Improvisation
Hannah Fox — Performance Studies, Playback Theatre, Acting, Yoga
Michael Posnick —Dramatic Literature, Shakespeare Studies, Directing
Gregory Bain — Technical Director – Technical Theatre, Lighting & Sound Design
Peter Pucci — Artist-in-Residence
Adjunct Faculty (Partial List)
Marika Becsz—Voice and Speech
Doug Chapman — Acting
Mark Cherry — Musical Theatre
Heather Cornell— Tap
Robert Daley — Stage Management
James DeVivo—Theatre Education
Julie Fogh—Voice and Speech, Creative Process
Shawn Garnier— Hip Hop, Jazz
Craig Haen — Drama Therapy
Heather Harpham— Acting, Creative Process
Valerie Hubbs—Dance Therapy
Jon Huberth — Acting for the Camera
Andrei Kisselev — Ballet
Judith Malina — Theatre of Protest
Erwin Maas-—Viewpoints
Claire Porter— Composition, Movement Studies
Carol Fox Prescott— Movement Studies, Guest Director
Liz Prince — Resident Costume Designer, Costume Design
Valerie Pullman — Modern Dance Technique
Ken Rothchild — Resident Set Designer, Scene Design
Beth Soll — Dance History
Bonnie Walker — Dance for Musical Theatre
Jeff Wanshel — Playwriting
Procedures For Acceptance and Entrance Requirements
Students wishing to major in Dance & Theatre must audition for the department in the spring of their senior year of high school. Acceptance and Performing Arts Scholarships are based on the audition rating, high school GPA and SAT and ACT scores or equivalent.
To arrange an audition, contact Manhattanville Admissions: 914.323.5464 or 1.800.32.VILLE or admissions@mville.edu. For more information, visit our website at www.mvilledth.org
Undergraduate Audition Requirements:
Transfer students will be admitted as majors on a case-by-case basis.
NOTE: Musical Theatre Auditions: The major in Musical Theatre is administered by the Music Department. Contact the Music Department through the Manhattanville website: www.mville.edu.
Departmental honors are conferred by the faculty to graduating seniors who have achieved the highest grade point average and who have demonstrated exceptional creativity, leadership and service.
Bachelor of Arts in Dance & Theatre is available with Concentrations in:
Minors
Note: Students pursuing a B.A. in Dance & Theatre must complete a total of 130 credits including a minimum of 90 liberal arts credits. Courses followed by a double asterisk (**) do not receive Liberal Arts credit.
Majors and Minors must receive a grade of C or better in all Dance and Theatre courses. A grade below C in any course for the major places the student in a provisional status within the Department and the student must meet with Department Advisors.
Information in this catalog is subject to change. Current information is in the Dance & Theatre Handbook.
Core Courses (All Students)
COURSE # |
COURSE NAME |
CR. |
Creative Process |
3 |
|
Acting I |
3 |
|
Freshman Project |
2 |
|
Stagecraft (take twice) |
4 |
|
Viewpoints** |
2 |
|
Lighting Design I** |
3 |
|
DTH 2319 |
Junior Seminar (Spring) |
3 |
DTH 3XXX |
Performance Seminars (2) |
6 |
Senior Thesis Seminar |
6 |
|
Stage Management** |
3 |
|
Voice & Speech I |
2 |
|
Modern Dance Technique I** |
2 |
|
DTH 4112 or 4129 |
Yoga** or T’ai Chi** |
1 |
DTH 4XXX |
Performance Project -Dance** (2) or Theatre (2) |
|
DTH 4500 (2 Stage Crew, 1 stage management. Additional credits may be used for theatre performance in lieu of Performance Project Theatre) |
1 credit each |
|
|
Attendance at Department Meetings |
N/C |
|
TOTAL: |
45 |
Dance Concentration
All CORE Courses, plus:
COURSE # |
COURSE NAME |
CR. |
Romantic & Classical Traditions in Dance |
3 |
|
DTH 2216 |
History of American Dance |
3 |
Movement Studies or Equivalent |
3 |
|
Introduction to Dance Therapy I |
3 |
|
Modern Dance Technique II** |
2 |
|
Modern Dance Technique III** |
2 |
|
Composition ** |
2 |
|
Choreographers' Workshop** |
2 |
|
DTH XXXX |
Dance Electives |
3 |
DTH 4XXX |
Performance Project/Dance** |
2 |
Contact Improv ** |
2 |
|
DTH XXXX |
Design Elective (Scene Design is a Liberal Arts Course) |
3 |
Listening to Music |
3 |
|
|
TOTAL: |
31 |
|
Total Credits for DANCE CONCENTRATION |
76 |
Theatre Concentration
Core Courses plus:
COURSE # |
COURSE NAME |
CR. |
Liberal Arts Credits |
Directing |
3 |
3 |
|
Concepts in Scene Design |
3 |
3 |
|
Introduction to Drama Therapy |
3 |
3 |
|
Survey of Dramatic Literature I & II |
6 |
6 |
|
Acting II |
3 |
2 |
|
DTH 3013 |
Acting III |
3 |
2 |
Voice & Speech II |
2 |
2 |
|
ENG 2XXX or 3XXX |
Shakespeare Studies |
3 |
3 |
|
Electives(including a Liberal Arts course, e.g. Playing Shakespeare, Playwriting, Playback Theatre etc.) |
5 |
5 |
|
Total Includes 30 Liberal Arts Credits |
31 |
31 |
|
DEGREE TOTAL: |
76 |
57 |
Double major in Dance & Theatre and Theatre Education: 135 credits.
Professor James DeVivo, Advisor
Distribution requirements
COURSE # |
COURSE NAME |
CR. |
|
Freshman Writing |
4 |
HIS XXXX |
History course |
3 |
MATH XXXX |
Math course |
6-8 |
BIO, CHEM, PHYS |
Science course |
6-8 |
SPN, FRN, ITL |
Foreign Language courses (2) |
8 |
|
Social Science courses |
6-8 |
LIS |
Information Retrieval/Library Skills |
1 |
|
TOTAL: |
27-29 |
Note: English requirement (Shakespeare course) is counted below in the Theatre section
Core Courses plus:
COURSE # |
COURSE NAME |
CR. |
LIBERAL ARTS CR. |
|
Freshman Writing |
3 |
3 |
|
Freshman Seminar |
6 |
6 |
HIS XXXX |
HIstory course |
3 |
3 |
MATH XXXX, XXXX |
Math courses (2) |
6/8 |
6/8 |
BIO, CHM. PHY |
Science courses (2) |
6/8 |
6/8 |
SPN, FRN, ITL |
Foreign Lang courses (2) |
8 |
8 |
PSY, SOC, etc. |
Social Sciences (2) |
6 |
6 |
LIS |
Information Retrieval/Library Skills |
1 |
1 |
|
TOTAL: |
39-41 |
39-41 |
NOTE: English requirement is counted below in the Theatre section—ENG/Shakespeare course
Theatre Education/Theatre Requirements
COURSE # |
COURSE NAME |
CR. |
LIBERAL ARTS CR |
Creative Process |
3 |
3 |
|
Acting I |
3 |
3 |
|
Modern Dance Technique I** |
2 |
- |
|
Stagecraft** |
3 |
- |
|
Acting II |
3 |
2 |
|
Voice and Speech I & II |
2 |
2 |
|
Lighting Design I** |
3 |
- |
|
Survey of Dramatic Lit I & II |
6 |
6 |
|
Junior Seminar |
3 |
3 |
|
ENG XXXX |
Shakespeare (English) |
3 |
3 |
Directing |
3 |
3 |
|
Concepts in Scene Design |
3 |
3 |
|
Stage Management** |
3 |
- |
|
DTH 2650 or DTH 2665 |
Theatre for Young Audiences or Shakespeare with Young People |
3 |
3 |
Playing Shakespeare |
3 |
3 |
|
Costume Design** |
3 |
- |
|
DTH 1555 |
Make Up** |
1 |
- |
Performance Project - Shakespeare |
2 |
2 |
|
Senior Thesis Seminar Fall |
3 |
3 |
|
Performance Project - Dance** |
2 |
2 |
|
DTH XXXX |
Performance Seminar |
3 |
3 |
Production Practicum |
2 |
- |
|
|
TOTAL: |
59 |
45 |
Theatre Education /Education Requirements
COURSE # |
COURSE NAME |
CR. |
LIBERAL ARTS CR |
Fundamentals of Schools and Teaching |
3 |
- |
|
PSY 2001 |
Child Development |
3 |
3 |
PSY 2002 |
Adolescent Psychology |
3 |
3 |
Educating Learners with Diverse Needs |
3 |
- |
|
Methods of Teaching Literacy I |
3 |
- |
|
Aesthetic Literacy |
3 |
- |
|
EDU 3040 |
Theatre Education: Early Childhood/Childhood |
3 |
- |
EDU 3041 |
Theatre Education: Grades 7 – 12 |
3 |
- |
Student Teaching & Seminar: Theatre Education |
12 |
|
|
Seminar on Child Abuse |
0 |
0 |
|
School Violence Prevention/Intervention |
0 |
0 |
|
|
TOTAL: |
36 |
6 |
|
DEGREE TOTAL: |
134-136 |
90 |
All CORE Courses plus:
COURSE # |
COURSE NAME |
CR. |
Romantic & Classical Traditions in Dance |
3 |
|
DTH 2216 |
History of American Dance |
3 |
Movement Studies |
3 |
|
DTH 3645 |
Anatomy & Kinesiology |
3 |
DTH 2635 & DTH 3635 |
Introduction to Dance Therapy I & II |
6 |
Modern Dance Technique II** |
2 |
|
Modern Dance Technique III** |
2 |
|
Composition** |
2 |
|
Choreographers' Workshop** |
2 |
|
DTH XXXX |
Dance Electives |
3 |
Contact Improvisation |
2 |
|
|
TOTAL: |
31 |
|
Total Credits For Dance Therapy Concentration |
76 |
All CORE courses minus one Performance Seminar plus:
COURSE # |
COURSE NAME |
CR. |
Directing |
3 |
|
DTH 3316 |
Playback Theatre Seminar |
3 |
Concepts in Scene Design |
3 |
|
Introduction to Drama Therapy I |
3 |
|
DTH 3652 |
Drama Therapy with Children & Adolescents |
3 |
Survey of Dramatic Literature I &II |
6 |
|
DTH 2642 |
Drama Therapy with Special Populations |
3 |
DTH 3642 |
Advanced Studies in Drama Therapy |
3 |
Acting II: Scene Study |
3 |
|
Voice & Speech II |
2 |
|
DTH XXXX |
Dance Electives (one Liberal Arts course) |
3 |
Contact Improvisation |
2 |
|
|
Total |
32 |
|
TOTAL Credits for Dance Therapy Concentration |
77 |
NOTE: Before graduation, all Majors are strongly encouraged to participate in an internship, intensive or equivalent program under the guidance of Department advisors.
Students choosing to minor in Dance & Theatre with an emphasis on dance are required to take the following courses:
COURSE # |
COURSE NAME |
CR. |
Creative Process |
3 |
|
DTH 2216 |
History of American Dance |
3 |
History of American Dance OR Romantic & Classical Traditions in Dance |
3 |
|
Modern Dance Technique I** & II** or equivalent |
4 |
|
Movement Studies |
3 |
|
Movement Studies OR Introduction to Dance Therapy |
3 |
|
Performance Project |
2 |
|
DTH XXXX |
Departmental electives: 1 Liberal Arts course and 3 Technique courses |
9 |
Production Practicum** (1 Stage Crew) |
1 |
Students choosing to minor in Dance & Theatre with an emphasis on theatre are required to take the following courses:
COURSE # |
COURSE NAME |
CR. |
Creative Process |
3 |
|
Acting I |
3 |
|
Acting II |
3 |
|
DTH 2200 or DTH 2201 |
Survey of Dramatic Literature I or II |
3 |
DTH 3XXX |
Performance Seminar |
3 |
Voice & Speech I |
2 |
|
DTH 4XXX |
Performance Project** |
2 |
ENG XXXX |
Shakespeare |
3 |
DTH XXXX |
Two Departmental electives (including one Liberal Arts course) |
5 |
Production Practicum** (1 Stage Crew) |
2 |
SELF-DESIGNED MAJOR: Students wishing to create a self-designed major in performance related area should consult with the Directors of the Department. See the current catalog for requirements.
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