Academic Catalog
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:
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 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 |
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 |
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)
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
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.
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