Manhattanville College

Academic Catalog

Dance & Theatre

Introduction

Students of our Dance & Theatre program (DTH) embrace the full liberal arts experience, while training with faculty and directors and choreographers who bring the professional world of New York to Manhattanville College’s program.

 

Our curriculum provides basic understanding and practice of the elements of performance and explores the collaborative frontiers where Dance and Theatre meet.

 

The aim of the program is to develop student-artists whose practical skills in technique and performance are supported by their growth as literate, articulate, socially aware citizens. In addition to studio practice, theory and performance, all dance and theatre majors develop skills in technical theatre.

 

The spine of our Dance curriculum is a sequential study of Contemporary Dance technique employing a variety of current and traditional styles and methods, with an emphasis on composition and choreography. Theatre training includes a sequential study of acting, voice and speech, and dramatic literature, as well as directing and design.

 

Degree

Bachelor of Arts. Students can also choose to minor in Dance or Theatre.

Majors can concentrate in the following areas: Dance, Theatre, Dance Therapy

 

Optional Minors

Students can minor in Dance & Theatre

Career Ideas

Actor/Actress, Choreographer, Dancer, Director, Stage Manager, Dance Therapist, Producer, Recreational Therapist, Playwright, Set Designer, Costume Designer, Lighting Designer, Technical Director, Dance or Drama teacher, Dramaturge, Stage Crew, Production Assistant, Event Planner, Arts Administration, Somatic Body Therapies,

Public Relations, Radio and TV, Entrepreneur

 

Program Administrators

Ara Fitzgerald, Director of Dance and Theatre, (914) 323-5457

Ara.Fitzgerald@mville.edu    

Hannah Fox, Associate Director of Dance and Theatre, (914) 323-3169

Hannah.Fox@mville.edu

Sue Fleishaker, DTH Administrator, (914) 323-5458

Sue.Fleishaker@mville.edu

 

Overview

Within the context of Manhattanville's strong liberal arts tradition, the Department of Dance & Theatre offers fundamental studies in performance technique, history, literature and critical theory. Areas of concentration include: Dance, Theatre, Dance Therapy. The curriculum provides basic understanding and practice of the elements of performance and explores the collaborative frontiers where Dance & Theatre meet.  Emphasis is on creative process.

Majors are required to complete a Core Study, which includes: basic theory and performance techniques; studio exploration and seminar studies; design, technical and production skills, and performance.  The four-year program culminates in a guided Senior Thesis Project, which reflects the initiative, interests and skills of the individual student. Many internship opportunities exist in nearby NYC and can be taken for credit.

 

Faculty and Staff

FULL-TIME FACULTY

Ara Fitzgerald, Professor - Dance/Theatre Theory and Practice, Composition, Choreography, Improvisation

Hannah Fox, Associate Professor - Performance Studies, Playback Theatre, Acting, Modern Dance, Yoga

Valerie Clayman Pye, Assistant Professor- Acting, Voice and Speech, Shakespeare

VISITING SCHOLAR

Peter Pucci, Artist in Residence

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Gregory Bain, Technical Theatre, Lighting & Sound Design

STAFF  

Sue Fleishaker, DTH Administrator

Lance Rosenthal, Assistant Technical Director

ADJUNCT FACULTY

Mark Beauregard, Drama Therapy

Doug Chapman, Acting

Heather Cornell, Tap

Bob Daley, Stage Management

Jim DiVivo, Theatre Education

Corey E. Esannason, Yoga

Shawn Garnier, Jazz, Hip hop

Larry Goldhuber, Guest Choreographer

Chisa Hidaka,  Anatomy and Kineseology

Valerie Hubbs, Dance Therapy I & II

Jon Huberth, Acting for the Camera I & II

Andrei Kisselev, Ballet Technique

Claire Porter, Movement Studies, Guest Choreographer

Liz Prince, Resident Costume Designer, Stagecraft

Ken Rothchild, Resident Scene Designer, Dramatic Literature

Beth Soll, Dance History

Amy Suratt, Acting

Deborah Tacon, Creative Process, Modern Dance Technique II

Clista Townsend, Guest Director, Acting

Bonnie Walker, Dance for Musical Theatre

Jeff Wanshel, Playwriting

Michael Posnick, Emeritus Professor- Shakespeare, Directing 

 

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.

Undergraduate Audition Requirements:

  • Completed application for admission to Manhattanville College.
  • Essay describing why you would like to study dance and/or theatre at Manhattanville College and your career goals.
  • A resume detailing when, where and how long you have studied your craft, performance experience and any other skills you may have (musical instruments, etc.)
  • A letter of recommendation from a teacher in the field.
  • Perform: Two minute piece of choreography (Dance/Dance Therapy) or/and two contrasting monologues (Theatre)

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.

Dance & Theatre Honors and Prizes

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:

  • Dance
  • Theatre
  • Dance Therapy (with a Psychology Minor)

Minors

  • Dance
  • Theatre

Dance & Theatre Major Requirements

Note: Students pursuing a B.A. in Dance & Theatre must complete a total of 69 credits for Dance, 70 for Theatre and 70 for Dance Therapy Concentrations and 105 credits for the double major in Theatre Education.

In addition to requirements for the major course of study General Education Core courses must be completed. For a BA a minimum of 90 liberal arts credits must be included in courses taken over the four years. Courses followed by a double asterisk (**) do not receive Liberal Arts credit.

Dance and Theatre & Theatre Education majors may take up to 21 credits per semester. Dance and Dance Therapy Concentration students routinely take a compliment dance of techniques in Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, beyond the minimum required.

Majors and Minors must receive a grade of C or better in all Dance and Theatre courses. A course for the major that receives below a C will need to be repeated and places the student in a provisional status within the Department. Students who receive below a C for a DTH course must meet with Department Advisors.

 

Core Courses (All Students)

COURSE #

COURSE NAME

CR.

DTH 1000

Creative Process

3

DTH 1001 (Prerequisite: DTH.1000 Creative Process or permission of Dept. Chair)

Acting I

3

DTH 1440

Freshman Project**

2

DTH 1500 (Prerequisite: DTH.1000 Creative Process),

 

DTH 1502 (Prerequisite: DTH.1000 Creative Process)

 

 

Stagecraft** I & II

4

DTH 2002

(Prerequisite: DTH.1000: Creative Process)

 

DTH 4114

(Prerequisite: DTH.1000: Creative Process)

 

Viewpoints** or Contact Improv**

2

DTH 2535

(Prerequisite: DTH.1000 Creative Process)

Lighting Design I**

3

DTH 2319

Junior Seminar (Spring)

3

DTH 3XXX

Performance Seminars (2)

6

DTH 3320,

DTH 3321

Senior Thesis Seminar (Fall & Spring)

6

DTH 3542

(Prerequisite: DTH.1000 or DTH.4500)

Stage Management**

2

DTH 4010

(Prerequisite: DTH.1000 Creative Process)

 

Voice & Speech I

2

DTH 4101

Modern Dance Technique I**

2

DTH 4112

Yoga**

1

DTH 4XXX

Performance Project -Dance** or Theatre (2 productions, 1 credit each)

2

DTH 4500A

DTH 4500B

 

Production Practicum Stage Crew** (2 productions, 1 credit each)

 

Production Practicum Stage Management 1 credit

 

3

 

Attendance at Department Meetings

N/C

 

TOTAL:

44

Total Core Credits: 44  (Liberal Arts: 23-25)

 

 

Dance Concentration

All CORE Courses, plus:

 

COURSE #

COURSE NAME

CR.

DTH 2214 (Prerequisite: DTH 1000: Creative Process)

Romantic & Classical Traditions in Dance

3

DTH 2216 (Prerequisites: DTH 1000: Creative Process)

 

History of American Dance

3

DTH 2245 (Prerequisite: Creative Process)

Movement Studies or Equivalent

3

DTH 2635 (Prerequisite: DTH 1000 Creative Process

or DTH 4101 Mod. Dance Therapy I)

Introduction to Dance Therapy I

3

DTH 4102 or

(Prerequisite: DTH.4101)

Two semesters of upper level Modern Dance Technique **

4

DTH 4103

 

 

DTH 4120 (Prerequisite: DTH.1000 Creative Process)

Composition **

2

DTH 4420

(Prerequisite: DTH 4120 Composition)

Choreographers' Workshop**

2

DTH XXXX

Dance Elective

2

DTH 4XXX

Design Elective (Scene Design is a Liberal Arts Course)

3

 

TOTAL:

25

 

Total Credits for DANCE CONCENTRATION

69

Dance Degree Total: 44 Core & 25 Dance = 69 credits

(Liberal Arts: 35-38)

 

Theatre Concentration

Core Courses plus:

COURSE #

COURSE NAME

CR.

DTH 2030 (DTH 1000: Creative Process)

Directing

3

DTH 2530 (DTH 1000: Creative Process)

Concepts in Scene Design

3

DTH 2640 (Prerequisite: DTH.1000 or DTH.1001)

Introduction to Drama Therapy or Equivalent

3

DTH 3202 (Prerequisite: Take DTH.1000 or Permission of Dept) &

DTH 3203 (Prerequisite: DTH 1000 or faculty consent)

Survey of Dramatic Literature I & II

6

DTH 4002 (Prerequisite: DTH.1001)

Acting II

3

DTH 3013 (Prerequisite: DTH.1000 Creative Process)

Acting III

3

DTH 4012

(Prerequisite: DTH.4010 Voice & Speech I)

Voice & Speech II

2

DTH 4003

Playing Shakespeare

3

 

Total Includes 26 Liberal Arts Credits

26

 

DEGREE TOTAL:

70

Theatre Education Concentration

Double major in Dance & Theatre and Theatre Education: 69 credits in Dance and Theatre and 36 credits in Education plus courses as required for General Education. Professors James DeVivo and Joanne Ferrara, Advisors

APPLICABLE ONLY TO STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED AND PLANNING TO GRADUATE IN 2016.

 

Theatre Education/Theatre Requirements

DTH Core Courses & Theatre Concentration Courses

Minus:

DTH 4012 Voice and Speech II 2 cr

DTH 3013 Acting III 3 cr (DTH 4016 - new course number/effective Spring 2016)

DTH 3321 Senior Seminar (Spring) 3 cr

DTH 2202 Viewpoints 2 cr

DTH 4112 Yoga 1 cr

1 Performance Seminar

Plus:

DTH 2650 Theatre for Young Audiences

OR   DTH 2665 Shakespeare for Young People 3 cr

DTH 1555 Stage Makeup** 1 cr

DTH 2540 Costume Design** 3 cr

Theatre Education/Theatre Requirements Total: 41 Core Courses plus 25 Theatre

Degree Total: 69

 

Theatre Education /Education Requirements

COURSE #

COURSE NAME

CR.

EDU 2000

Fundamentals of Schools and Teaching

3

EDU 5344

Child Development & Learning

3

EDU 2010

Children with Diverse Needs

3

EDU 5026

Literacy in the Content Areas

3

EDU 3370

Aesthetic Literacy

3

EDU 3040

Theatre Education: Early Childhood/Childhood

3

EDU 3041

Theatre Education: Grades 7 – 12

3

EDU 3020

Student Teaching & Seminar: Theatre Education

12

EDU 5260

Seminar on Child Abuse

0

EDU 5373

School Violence Prevention/Intervention

0

 

TOTAL: 33

33

 

DEGREE TOTAL: 33

Dance Therapy Concentration with Required Minor in Psychology

All CORE Courses plus:

COURSE #

COURSE NAME

CR.

DTH 2214 (Prerequisite: DTH 1000: Creative Process)

Romantic & Classical Traditions in Dance

3

DTH 2216 (Prerequisite: DTH 1000: Creative Process)

History of American Dance

3

DTH 2245 (Prerequisite: DTH 1000: Creative Process)

Movement Studies

3

DTH 3646 (Prerequisite: DTH 1000: Creative Process)

Anatomy & Kinesiology

3

DTH 2635 (Prerequisite: DTH 1000 Creative Process or DTH 4101 Mod. Dance Therapy I)

 

& DTH 3635

 

 

Introduction to Dance Therapy I & II

6

DTH 4102

(Prerequisite: DTH.4101)

or

Two upper level Modern Dance Technique **

4

DTH 4103 (Prerequisite:

Permission from Chairperson)

Modern Dance Technique III**

 

DTH 4120 (Prerequisite: DTH.1000 Creative Process)

Composition**

2

DTH 4420 (Prerequisite: DTH.4120 Composition)

Choreographers' Workshop**

2

 

TOTAL:

26

 

Total Credits For Dance Therapy Concentration

70

 

Dance Therapy Degree Total: 44 Core & 26 Dance = 70 credits

(Includes a Minor in Psychology)

 

Dance Minor

Students choosing to minor in Dance & Theatre with an emphasis on dance are required to take the following courses:

COURSE #

COURSE NAME

CR.

DTH 1000

Creative Process

3

DTH 2216 (Prerequisite: DTH 1000: Creative Process) or

DTH 2214 (Prerequisite: DTH 1000: Creative Process)

History of American Dance OR Romantic & Classical Traditions in Dance

3

DTH 4101

& DTH 4102 (Prerequisite: DTH 4101 Modern Dance Tech I)

Modern Dance Technique I** & II** or equivalent

4

DTH 2245 ((Prerequisite: DTH 1000: Creative Process)

or

DTH 2635 (Prerequisite: DTH 1000 Creative Process or DTH 4101 Mod. Dance Therapy I)

Movement Studies OR Introduction to Dance Therapy

3

DTH 4410

Performance Project

1

DTH XXXX

2 additional technique courses

4

DTH 4500A

Production Practicum** (1 Stage Crew)

1

 

Dance Minor: 19 credits

 

Theatre Minor

Students choosing to minor in Dance & Theatre with an emphasis on theatre are required to take the following courses:

 

COURSE #

COURSE NAME

CR.

DTH 1000

Creative Process

3

DTH 1001 (Prerequisite: DTH.1000 Creative Process or permission of Dept. Chair)

Acting I

3

DTH 4002 (Prerequisite: DTH1001 Acting I)

Acting II

3

DTHXXX or DTHXXX

Survey of Dramatic Literature I or II

3

DTH 3XXX

Performance Seminar

3

DTH 4010 (Prerequisite: DTH.1000 Creative Process)

Voice & Speech I

2

DTH 4XXX

Performance Project**

1

DTH 4500A

Production Practicum** (1 Stage Crew)

1

 

Theatre  Minor: 19 credits

 

 

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.

 

Catalog Contents

Click arrowheads to expand or collapse contents

Expand allCollapse all

2015-2016 Undergraduate College Catalog

Manhattanville College Mission

Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy

Brief History of Manhattanville: History and Educational Commitment

Letter to Parents

Inventory of Undergraduate Programs

Inventory of Graduate Programs

Graduate Programs List

Undergraduate Programs of Study(Majors, Minors & Requirements)

Full-Time Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Undergraduate Programs

Graduation Participation Requirements

Registration Requirements & Online Student Resources

Official & Unofficial Transcripts

Types of Courses

Transfer Credit Policy

Withdrawal and Leave of Absence Policies

Grading and Grading Policies

Honors Options

Bachelor Degrees in Accelerated Format

Pre-Professional Studies

Off-Campus Study

English Language Institute (ELI)

Educational Support

Library Information Services

Facilities and Resources

Dual Degree Programs

School of Business, Master of Fine Arts in Writing & Master of Liberal Arts Programs

School of Education Graduate Programs

Course Offerings

African Studies Courses

American Studies Courses

Anthropology Courses

Art History Courses

Art (studio) Courses

Asian Studies Courses (WLL Lang Courses)

Biology Courses

Chemistry Courses

Communication & Media Courses

Castle Scholars Courses

Classic Civilizations Courses (WLL)

Dance & Theatre Courses

Accounting/Economics/Finance/Management Courses

Education Courses

English Composition Courses

English Education Courses

Health & Wellness Education Courses

English Literature Courses

English Film Studies Courses

English Creative & Professional Writing Courses

French Courses (WLL)

First Year Program Courses

German Courses (WLL)

History Courses

Holocaust Studies Courses

Organizational Management & Human Resource Development (Graduate Program) Courses

Interdisciplinary Studies Courses

International Studies Courses

Irish Studies Courses

Italian Courses (WLL)

Library Skills Courses

Business Leadership (Graduate Program) Courses

Computer Science Courses

Mathematics Education Courses

Mathematics Courses

Finance (Graduate Program) Courses

MGPS Master of Science Courses (Graduate Program)

Physical Education & Sport Pedagogy (Graduate Program Courses)

Physical Education Courses (Undergraduate)

Sport Business Management (Graduate Program) Courses

International Management (Graduate Program) Courses

Marketing Communication Management (Graduate Program) Courses

Museum Studies

Applied Music Courses

Music Technology Courses

Music Education Courses

Music History & Literature Courses

Music Management Courses

Music Theory Courses

Philosophy Courses

Physics Courses

Political Science & Legal Studies Courses

Psychology Courses

Science Education Courses

Sociology Courses

Spanish Courses

Social Studies Education Courses

World Religion Courses

Women's and Gender Studies Courses

Admissions

Athletics

Student Affairs

Tuition and Fees

Financial Assistance

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Faculty and Staff

Index