Catalog

Academics > Catalog > 2016–2017 > Courses of Instruction > THDN

Theater and Dance

Theater

The major in theater combines the study of dramatic literature from the Greeks to the present with course work in acting, directing, dance, and design. Students acquire skills in production and performance while learning the history and literature of one of the world's major forms of artistic expression. Majors are prepared for graduate work in the humanities, further professional training, or a career in the field. The theater major is also a valuable asset for a wide variety of careers such as business, law, or teaching, which require collaborative effort, public poise, imagination, and a broad background in the liberal arts. Majors in theater who are interested in secondary school teaching should consult the Department of Education about requirements for teacher certification.

In conjunction with academic work, the department annually produces more than a dozen plays, dance concerts, and other performance events in its three theaters. These require the participation of large numbers of students, both majors and nonmajors. The department invites all members of the community to join in the creation of these events.

More information on the theater curriculum is available on the website (bates.edu/theater).

Major Requirements for the classes of 2019 and beyond

The theater major comprises two tracks. Track A, Theater Studies, provides an overview of theater history and production, and requires ten courses, including a written thesis. Track B, Theater Makers, focuses on the study and production of live theater and requires twelve courses, including a production/performance thesis.

Track A: Theater Studies
1) Core Courses.
All of the following:
THEA 101. Theater and Film: An Introductory Survey.
THEA 130. Introduction to Design.
THEA 132. Theater Technology.
THEA 200. The Classical Stage.
THEA 261. Beginning Acting.

One of the following:
THEA 220. The Modern Stage: Ibsen to O'Neill.
THEA 222. The Modern Stage: Beckett to the Present.
THEA 223. Theories of Drama: Theater and Film.

2) Elective courses.
A minimum of three additional elective courses, primarily drawn from among the options listed below. Where applicable, students should complete courses sequentially. Students should consult with their major advisor before registering for electives.

THEA 231. Scene Design.
THEA 232. Lighting Design.
THEA 233. Costume Design.
THEA 263. Voice and Speech.
THEA 240. Playwriting.
THEA 370. Directing.
DANC 151. Introduction to Dance Composition.
AA/DANC 252. Contemporary Issues in Dance.

3) THEA 457 or 458, Senior Thesis. Students in this track undertake a substantial academic written thesis, with the topic subject to departmental approval.

Track B: Theater Makers
1) Core Courses.
All of the following:
THEA 101. Theater and Film: An Introductory Survey.
THEA 130. Introduction to Design.
THEA 132. Theater Technology.
THEA 200. The Classical Stage.
THEA 261. Beginning Acting.

At least one of the following:
THEA 220. The Modern Stage: Ibsen to O'Neill.
THEA 222. The Modern Stage: Beckett to the Present.
THEA 223. Theories of Drama: Theater and Film.

2) Area of Focus.
At least five additional courses based on a specific area of focus and from among the courses listed below. Where applicable, students should complete courses sequentially. They should consult with their major advisor before registering for electives.

Option A: Acting Focus
All of the following:
THEA 263. Voice and Speech.
Two half-credit courses in movement and performance for one total credit (THEA 290 or DANC 270).

One of the following:
THEA 362. Advanced Acting.
THEA 364. Advanced Voice and Speech.

Two additional courses chosen in consultation with the major advisor.

Option B: Directing Focus
All of the following:
THEA 370. Directing.
DN/TH 390. Advanced Production Laboratory.

One of the following:
THEA 362. Advanced Acting.
THEA 364. Advanced Voice and Speech.

One additional course chosen in consultation with the major advisor. With prior approval from the advisor, a professional internship may substitute for one elective.

Option C: Design Focus
One of the following:
DN/TH 390. Advanced Production Laboratory.
THEA 231. Scene Design.
THEA 232. Lighting Design.
THEA 233. Costume Design.

One additional theater course or independent study concentrating on design.
Two courses in art and visual culture, one of which must be a studio course, and both approved by the major advisor

3) THEA 457 or 458. Senior Thesis. A production/performance thesis is by departmental invitation only. To be eligible for a production/performance thesis, students must have completed at least eight of the eleven required courses, including THEA 101 and the requirements above specific to the particular focus of study (e.g., Acting, Directing, Design). Topics for theses should involve a substantial artistic project and are subject to departmental approval.

Major Requirements for the classes of 2017 and 2018

Track A: Drama on Stage:
1) All of the following:
THEA 101. Theater and Film: An Introductory Survey.
THEA 130. Introduction to Design.
THEA 200. The Classical Stage.
THEA 261. Beginning Acting.

2) One of the following:
THEA 220. The Modern Stage: Ibsen to O'Neill.
THEA 222. The Modern Stage: Beckett to the Present.
THEA 223. Theories of Drama: Theater and Film.

3) One of the following:
THEA 132. Theater Technology.
THEA 231. Scene Design.
THEA 232. Lighting Design.
THEA 233. Costume Design.

4) One of the following:
DANC 151. Introduction to Dance Composition.
THEA 263. Voice and Speech.
THEA 370. Directing.

5) Two additional courses in theater, which may include one course credit for THEA 290 performance.

6) THEA 457 or 458. Senior Thesis. A production/performance thesis is by departmental invitation only.
Track B: Narrative Film and Video:
1) All of the following:
THEA 101. Theater and Film: An Introductory Survey.
THEA 130. Introduction to Design.
THEA 132. Theater Technology.
THEA 232. Lighting Design.
THEA 261. Beginning Acting.
THEA 370. Directing.

2) Two additional courses in film theory or history chosen from the Bates curriculum in
consultation with the major advisor.

3) THEA 457 or 458. Senior Thesis.

Courses completed in off-campus or study-abroad programs in film may substitute for one or more of these requirements.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

There are no restrictions on the use of the pass/fail option within the major, except for a [W2] course taken in lieu of the [W3] requirement (see above).

Study Abroad

Theater majors who intend to study abroad should consult with their advisor well in advance of their junior year.

Minor in Theater

The minor in theater consists of six courses drawn from the following:
1) THEA 101. Theater and Film: An Introductory Survey.

2) Five courses from the following two lists:

a) Two or three of the following:
DN/TH 104. What is Performance?
DANC 151. Introduction to Dance Composition.
THEA 130. Introduction to Design.
THEA 132. Theater Technology.
THEA 231. Scene Design.
THEA 232. Lighting Design.
THEA 233. Costume Design.
THEA 261. Beginning Acting.
THEA 263. Voice and Speech.
THEA 362. Advanced Acting.
THEA 364. Advanced Voice and Speech.
THEA 370. Directing.
THEA s26. Theater Production Workshop I.
RH/TH s40. Digital Video Production.

b) Two or three of the following:
DN/TH 104 or FYS 437. What is Performance?
THEA 200. The Classical Stage.
THEA 205. Shakespeare on Film.
THEA 220. The Modern Stage: Ibsen to O'Neill.
THEA 222. The Modern Stage: Beckett to the Present.
THEA 223: Theories of Drama: Theater and Film.
THEA 240. Playwriting.
THEA s33. Central European Theater and Film.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

There are no restrictions on the use of the pass/fail option with the minor in theater.

Courses

THEA 101. Theater and Film: An Introductory Survey.

An introduction to drama on stage and in motion pictures. Beginning with a discussion of action, plot, and character, the course moves on to consider the elements of theatrical performance—including acting, directing, and design—as well as important plays from the Greeks to the present. These may include works by Sophocles, Shakespeare, Ibsen, Chekhov, Brecht, and Beckett. The course then shifts focus to film, examining the elements of mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, and sound, and concluding with a study of major films from the silent era to the twenty-first century. These may include works by Chaplin, Wells, Bergman, Hitchcock, Scorsese, and David Lynch. Normally offered every year. M. Andrucki.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DN/TH 104. What is Performance?.

In this course students think critically about theater and dance performance from the point of view of makers, performers, audiences, and society. Students see and discuss live performance throughout the semester and explore historical and current ideas in performance from inside and out. Not open to students who have received credit for FYS 437. Enrollment limited to 40. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

THEA 130. Introduction to Design.

The creation of theater is a synthesis of text, performance, and visual imagery. This course explores how the visual aspect of theatrical design affects the way an audience perceives, feels, and responds to text and action. Students learn to use line, mass, color, and texture to communicate metaphoric and thematic ideas as they relate to the overall theatrical experience. They examine how forms of art, architecture, and music use these tools to influence and transform the audience, and build on this foundation to create a design vocabulary for theater. Students discuss how clothing, adornment, and body language influence the way individuals perceive others and present themselves. They learn the fundamentals of collaborative creation, and design scenery and costumes for a classic work of dramatic literature. Required of all majors. No previous art or theater training is required. Enrollment limited to 14. Normally offered every year. B. McDowell.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

THEA 132. Theater Technology.

This course provides a look "behind the curtain" to reveal the secrets of theater magic. Students learn the geography of various types of theaters as well as mechanical and electrical systems. They are introduced to the materials and methods for fabricating scenery and rigging, practice the safe use of woodworking tools, experiment with painted scenic finishes, and learn the basics of stage lighting and sound. Many of the skills introduced in this class are transferable to other artistic practices or domestic needs. This is a hands-on course; all students participate in the preparation and presentation of theater department productions. Enrollment limited to 14. M. Reidy.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

THEA 200. The Classical Stage.

We still measure theatrical excellence by the achievements of ancient Greece and Rome, Elizabethan England, and seventeenth-century France. This course studies selected plays and works of critical theory from those remarkable times and places. Authors may include Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Plato, Aristotle, Plautus, Terence, Horace, Marlowe, Shakespeare, Jonson, Webster, Corneille, Racine, Molière, and the neoclassical theorists of France and Italy. Viewing of filmed scenes from several of the plays on the syllabus reveals the continuing vigor of these classical works in performance. Open to first-year students. M. Andrucki.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

THEA 220. The Modern Stage: Ibsen to O'Neill.

The premiere in 1879 of Henrik Ibsen's incendiary masterpiece, A Doll House, sparked an explosion of creativity in Western theater and drama over the next eight decades. This course studies several of the most important plays staged during that turbulent period. In addition to Ibsen, authors may include Strindberg, Chekhov, Shaw, Pirandello, Brecht, Williams, Hansberry, and O'Neill. Students also read critics and theorists who have discussed the nature and purpose of the stage during this revolutionary period. Viewings of filmed scenes from several of the plays on the syllabus help to reveal their power in performance. Open to first-year students. M. Andrucki.
Concentrations Interdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

European Studies

AV/TH 221. Performance Art.

Performance art is live art performed by artists. In this course, students investigate the history and theories of performance art through readings, screenings, discussions and the creation of original works. They experiment with a variety of performance elements including movement, design, media, text, voice, and sound. The class collaborates to create site- or history-specific performance events and individuals make a self-directed original work. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 20. G. Berg.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

THEA 222. The Modern Stage: Beckett to the Present.

An overview of drama and theater from the landmark premiere of Beckett's Waiting for Godot in 1953 until the present. Authors may include Genet, Pinter, Ionesco, Albee, Shepard, Mamet, Churchill, August Wilson, Suzan-Lori Parks, and other contemporary British, American, and continental dramatists. Students also read critics and theorists who have written on the nature and purpose of the stage during this period. Viewing filmed scenes from several of the plays under study helps to reveal their power in performance. M. Andrucki.
Concentrations Interdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

Theater Arts (C028)

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

European Studies

THEA 223. Theories of Drama: Theater and Film.

What is the purpose of drama? To teach morality? To bring about social change? To provide wonder and delight? And how should drama accomplish this purpose? Through the power of language, or the force of visual images? By telling compelling stories or by portraying complex characters? This course explores these questions through readings from classical, neoclassical, romantic, modern, and postmodern authors including Plato, Aristotle, Horace, Castelvetro, Johnson, Coleridge, Nietzsche, Brecht, Artaud, Eisenstein, Bazin, and Mulvey. Prerequisite(s): at least one course in history or the humanities. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. M. Andrucki.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

Theater Arts (C028)

THEA 231. Scene Design.

This course presents in-depth study of the creative and practical tools used by set designers to visually enrich and shape the theatrical experience. Students study a history of theatrical architecture and design, focusing on how they have shaped the uses of stage space and the vocabulary of modern scene design. The course builds on aesthetic fundamentals developed in THEA 130, and examines in greater depth the relationship between set designers and theatrical texts. Practically, students learn fundamentals of theatrical drafting, perspective and scale drawing, and model making. This course is recommended for students with an interest in the visual and emotional impact of effective scene design on drama and performance. Prerequisite(s): THEA 130, or an individual portfolio review. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 14. Instructor permission is required. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

THEA 232. Lighting Design.

This course provides an introduction to the unique aesthetic and technical decisions a lighting designer must make. Students examine the modern lighting aesthetic by studying popular culture and learning to translate these images to the stage. Students also are required to serve on a lighting crew for one of the department's productions and design part of the spring dance concert. Prerequisite(s) or corequisite(s): one of the following: THEA 101, 130, or 132. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 14. Instructor permission is required. M. Reidy.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

THEA 233. Costume Design.

In theater, as in life, clothes often "make the man." This course focuses on the myriad aspects of personality, position, and state of mind created and enhanced for stage characters by the art of costume design. Emphasis is placed on analyzing play texts and bringing characters to life. The course builds on aesthetic fundamentals developed in THEA 130, and offers further instruction in costume research, figure drawing, and sketching and painting skills used to present costume design information. This course is recommended for students with an interest in visual and emotional impact of effective design on drama and performance. Prerequisite(s): THEA 130 or an individual portfolio review. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 14. B. McDowell.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

THEA 235. Dress and Adornment in Western Culture.

Dress does not mean just fashion. The history of dress and human adornment includes political, sexual, economic, and cultural factors, often entwined in subtle or ephemeral ways with the aesthetics of what we consider fashion. This course, which is conducted in a survey format, begins with early Greek culture and continues into our own era, examining not just physical appearance, but these other factors that have driven the myriad changes in the history of dress throughout Western culture. Enrollment limited to 20. B. McDowell.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

THEA 236. Pattern Drafting and Draping.

This course introduces students to the skills of pattern drafting, draping, and fitting garments, as well as some advanced costume construction skills and increased familiarity with the properties of different textiles. The course is structured as a series of lectures, demonstrations, and the completion of several hands-on projects by students. Recommended background: basic sewing skills. Enrollment limited to 12. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

THEA 240. Playwriting.

After reviewing the fundamentals of dramatic structure and characterization, students write one full-length or two one-act plays. Recommended background: two courses in theater or dramatic literature. Not open to students who have received credit for THEA s41. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 15. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

Theater Arts (C028)

THEA 261. Beginning Acting.

This course introduces students to the physiological processes involved in creative acting. Students learn the Stanislavski approach to the analysis of realistic and naturalistic drama. Exercises leading to relaxation, concentration, and imagination are included in an improvisational context. Studies in motivation, sense perception, and emotion-memory recall lead students to beginning work on scene performance. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 16. Normally offered every semester. S. Wood.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

MU/TH 262. Performing Music Theater.

Learning to perform musical theater means learning to put the arts of singing, acting, and dancing—along with instrument-playing—at the service of dramatic characterization and interaction. In this course scenes and numbers from shows in a variety of styles are studied; some of these are performed in a cabaret evening at the end of the semester. Open to students with some experience singing or dancing or acting or playing an instrument employed in musical theater. Enrollment limited to 32. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

THEA 263. Voice and Speech.

Students examine the nature and working of the human voice. Students explore ways to develop the voice's potential for expressive communication with exercises and the analysis of breathing, vocal relaxation, pitch, resonance, articulation, audibility, dialect, and text performance. Recommended background: one course in acting, performance, or public speaking. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 20. Normally offered every year. K. Vecsey.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DN/TH 270U. Studio Dance: Alexander Technique.

Introduction to the principles and practices of the Alexander Technique, a practice that is critical for actors, dancers, and musicians for freeing the body for maximum efficiency by identifying unwanted movement patterns and constrictions. Alexander Technique helps teach performers relaxed and efficient ways to work that enhance performance and avoid injury. Class work includes simple anatomy, developmental movement, monologue work, analysis of movement, analysis of tension, journaling, breathing, and relaxation techniques. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DN/TH 270W. Studio: Pilates.

An introduction to the exercises and principles of classical pilates. This physical training course uses the Pilates method and complementary conditioning techniques to develop core strength, alignment, and flexibility. This course is designed for physical performers, but useful for bodies of all kinds. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DN/TH 290. Performance.

Working under faculty direction, students perform major roles in departmental productions as performers, designers, or technicians. Two semesters of DN/TH 290 constitute one course credit. No more than one course credit may be earned through DN/TH 290. Department chair permission is required. Staff, C. Dilley.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

THEA 360. Independent Study.

Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair are required. Students may register for no more than one independent study per semester. Normally offered every semester. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

Theater Arts (C028)

THEA 362. Advanced Acting.

Students extend their technique to explore two unique performance challenges—the classical dramas of the world's stages and the peculiar nature of comic performance. Prerequisite(s): THEA 261. Enrollment limited to 16. Instructor permission is required. S. Wood.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

Theater Arts (C028)

THEA 364. Advanced Voice and Speech.

A study of vocal and physical techniques for the exploration of theatrical texts. Specialized topics for the vocal professional include: characterization as it relates to voice and speech; cold readings; assessing and preparing for the vocal demands of a role; working with the vocal coach. Recommended for students intending to focus on acting or performance art in the senior thesis. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission is required. K. Vecsey.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

Theater Arts (C028)

THEA 365. Special Topics.

Offered occasionally in selected subjects. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

Theater Arts (C028)

THEA 370. Directing.

An introduction to the art of directing, with an emphasis on creative and aesthetic problems and their solutions. Included is an examination of the director's relationship to the text, the design staff, and the actor. The approach is both theoretical and practical, involving readings, rehearsal observation, and the directing of scenes and short plays. Prerequisite(s) or corequisite(s): THEA 261. Open to first-year students. Instructor permission is required. Normally offered every year. S. Wood.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DN/TH 390. Advanced Production Laboratory.

Using faculty supervised productions as a laboratory for refining and developing executive artistic decision making processes, students conduct dramaturgical research and develop practical skills in directing, design, or stage management. Prerequisite(s): DANC 351, THEA 130, or 370. Recommended background: Appropriate courses in design fro design participants. Directing or Advanced Composition for Directing participants. C. Dilley, K. Vecsey, S. Wood.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

THEA 457. Senior Thesis.

By departmental invitation only. Students undertake a substantial academic or artistic project. Students register for THEA 457 in the fall semester and for THEA 458 in the winter semester. Majors writing an honors thesis register for both THEA 457 and 458. [W3] Normally offered every year. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

Theater Arts (C028)

THEA 458. Senior Thesis.

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

Theater Arts (C028)

Short Term Courses

DN/TH s13. Body/Site/Create: Site-Specific Performance at Morse Mountain.

A site-specific performance course at the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area. This course roots the creative process in the body with physical response to the site as a source point, then expands to include interdisciplinary expression in the development of the final work. Students engage in creative research, design, and performance. Weekly work involves on- campus meetings and travel to Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area in Phippsburg, Maine, for research and creation. The final performance is a free, public event open to the community at the end of the term. Students with any level of experience and interest in alternative performance art events are welcome, and those who work in any medium in art making are encouraged to join the project. New course beginning Short Term 2017. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 15. One-time offering. J. Fox.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

THEA s26. Theater Production Workshop.

Working under faculty supervision or with visiting professional artists, student actors, directors, designers, and technicians undertake the tasks necessary to produce a play. Readings and discussions explore various ways of understanding and producing a text. This course may be repeated for credit. Instructor permission is required. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

Theater Arts (C028)

THEA s27. Scenic Painting.

Scene painting relies on visual illusion to create realism. Scenic painters must master creating paintings on a large scale that are seen at great distances: Michelangelo used many scene-painting skills to give life to the Sistine Chapel. In this course students learn specific techniques to turn paint and canvas visually into wood, marble, ornate stone carving, virtually anything that exists in three dimensions. In this course students master a broad array of tools and techniques that allow scenic painters to accomplish realistic visual effects. Projects including marbling, wood graining, trompe l'oeil, and painting on a large scale are designed to be cumulative, building skills that can be incorporated into individually chosen final projects. Enrollment limited to 10. B. McDowell.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

THEA s33. Central European Theater and Film.

A study of Hungarian, Polish, and Czech theater and film, focusing on the impact on these arts of the social and political changes of the last sixty years, from the Polish and Hungarian uprisings of 1956 to the rebuilding of culture in the region following the collapse of the Soviet Bloc in 1989. While in Budapest, students view films at the Hungarian National Film Archive and attend performances of central European theater at the International Contemporary Drama Festival and the Hungarian National Theater. Visits to theater and film centers in Prague are also included. Prerequisite(s): some background in one of the following: theater, film, or modern European history. Enrollment limited to 18. Instructor permission is required. M. Andrucki, K. Vecsey.
Concentrations Interdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

European Studies

RH/TH s40. Digital Video Production.

A hands-on, immersion course at Maine Media Workshops in Rockport, Maine, in the art of storytelling through digital video production, including both narrative fiction and documentary genres. Students learn cinematic language, storytelling, storyboarding, drafting a shooting script, location scouting, casting talent, rehearsing, blocking, and directing actors and crew. They also consider the roles of filmmakers, from producers and directors to camera and sound specialists and editors. Students are introduced to Final Cut Pro and the postproduction process. During the course students are expected to research, write, shoot, and edit a number of finished works. There is an extra fee for this course. Enrollment limited to 8. Normally offered every year. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

THEA s50. Independent Study.

Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair are required. Students may register for no more than one independent study during a Short Term. Normally offered every year. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

Theater Arts (C028)

Dance

The Department of Theater and Dance offers a major and a minor in dance as a contemporary performing art form. Integrating both theory and practice within the framework of a liberal arts education, the curriculum develops an understanding of art and culture through dance. The dance program encourages original choreographic work and provides a variety of performing opportunities for students at all levels of experience.

Major Requirements

1) Creative Process.
Two to four courses from the following list, one of which must be 151, 251, or 253. Students undertaking a written thesis in dance complete at least two courses from this list. Students undertaking a choreographic thesis must complete four courses from the list, one of which must be DANC 351 or the equilavent, which must be completed before the thesis is begun.
DANC 151. Introduction to Dance Composition.
DANC 251. Dance Composition.
DANC 253. Dance Repertory Performance.
DANC 351. Advanced Composition Seminar.
DANC s32. Building a Dance Practice.
DN/ED s29. Tour, Teach, Perform.

2) Cultural Context.
Two courses from the following:
AA/DN 252. Contemporary Issues in Dance.
DANC 250. Early Modern Dance History.
DN/TH 104. What is Performance?
FYS 399. Reading Dancing, Writing Dance.
FYS 437. What is Performance?
INDS 256. Rites of Spring.

3) Technique.
Six half-credit DANC 270 courses in studio dance technique, which must include courses in three different styles (e.g., modern, jazz, ballet, improvisation, hip hop, world dance forms, etc.)

4) Production and Design.
One course in theater production or design from the following (THEA 232 is recommended):
THEA 130. Introduction to Design.
THEA 132. Theater Technology.
THEA 232. Lighting Design.
THEA 233. Costume Design.
THEA 236. Pattern Drafting and Draping.

5) One additional credit in dance, or one course in theater, music, or art and visual culture.

6) DANC 300. Bates Dance Festival. Majors must participate in at least one Bates Dance Festival, a three-week residential dance immersion that takes place from the third week in July through the second week in August. Students may participate more than once.

7) DANC 457 or 458. Senior Thesis. A choreographic thesis involves advance choreographic and written research and is available only to students who have completed the two additional courses in creative process including DANC 351, Advanced Composition Seminar, or an equivalent choreographic study agreed upon by advisor and chair. A written thesis involves advanced written research. It is recommended that students wishing to complete a written thesis take at least three courses from among those listed under Cultural Context.

8) Performance participation in a minimum of four faculty, guest artist, or thesis dance pieces at the college. DANC 253 satisfies this requirement. Students should consult with their advisor to confirm the completion of this requirement.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

The use of the pass/fail option is restricted to one course within the major.

Minor Requirements

1) Two courses in creative process from the following:
DANC 151. Introduction to Dance Composition.
DANC 251. Dance Composition.
DANC 253. Dance Repertory Performance.
DANC 351. Advanced Composition Seminar.
DANC s32. Building a Dance Practice.
DN/ED s29. Tour, Teach, Perform.

2) One course in dance theory and context from the following:
AA/DN 252. Contemporary Issues in Dance.
DANC 250. Early Modern Dance History.
DN/TH 104. What is Performance?
FYS 399. Reading Dancing, Writing Dance.
FYS 437. What is Performance?
INDS 256. Rites of Spring.

3) Four half-credit DANC 270 courses in studio dance technique which must include courses in two different styles (e.g., modern, jazz, ballet, improvisation, hip-hop, world dance forms, etc.):

4) One additional course in dance, theater, music, or art and visual culture.

5) Performance participation in a minimum of four faculty or guest artist dance pieces at the college. This requirement is satisfied for minors by DANC 253 or DANC 300.

Participation in the DANC 300, Bates Dance Festival, is strongly recommended.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

The use of the pass/fail option is restricted to one course within the major or minor.

Courses

DN/TH 104. What is Performance?.

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 151. Introduction to Dance Composition.

This course explores the physical language of dance. Students develop skills in inventing and structuring movement through improvisation and by creating solo and group studies. Significant reading, writing, and viewing assignments inform class discussions. Enrollment limited to 15. C. Dilley.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 240. Technique: A Kinesthetic Approach.

This course develops an understanding of basic human anatomy and kinesiology as applied to bodies in motion. Topics include an introductory study of anatomy; the mechanics of movement; and the use of time, space, and energy for efficient and effective movement. Recommended background: previous dance training. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. [S] R. Boggia.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 250. Early Modern Dance History.

At the turn of the twentieth century, modern dance emerged as an exciting new art form. From Isadora Duncan to the collaborations of Cage and Cunningham, modern dance has been deeply rooted in innovative exploration and a convergence of diverse cultural expressions. This course focuses on the early dance pioneers, the ideas and conditions that informed their work, and their subsequent influences on the art world. Open to first-year students. [W2] C. Dilley, R. Boggia.
Concentrations Interdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

American Cultural Studies

DANC 251. Dance Composition.

An exploration of the craft and the art of making dance performance from human gesture. Readings, critical analysis, and informal showings support the complex process of creating a finished movement-based piece for public performance by the end of the semester. Prerequisite(s): DANC 151 or 253. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 9. Normally offered every year. C. Dilley, R. Boggia.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AA/DN 252. Contemporary Issues in Dance.

This course focuses on current dance works and some of the issues that inform contemporary dance practices. Discussions include the ways in which choreographers, performers, and societies confront matters of political climate, cultural diversity, entertainment, globalization, and the politicized human body in dance. Open to first-year students. [W2] C. Dilley.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 253. Dance Repertory Performance.

Students experience a variety of approaches to making and performing dance through intensive choreographic residencies with professional guest choreographers. The course culminates in a concert of the accumulated pieces at the end of the semester. Recommended background: previous dance experience. This course may be repeated for credit. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission is required. C. Dilley, R. Boggia.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

INDC 256. Rites of Spring.

Le Sacre du printemps—The Rite of Spring— began as a ballet, with music by Igor Stravinsky, choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky, and sets and costumes by Nicholas Roerich. Premiered in 1913 to riots in Paris, The Rite of Spring has lived on to become one of the most important pieces of music in the Western canon and the zenith of stature and daring for choreographers. This course examines where it came from and how it has evolved over time through dance works, music, and cultural context. Cross-listed in dance, music, and Russian. [W2] C. Dilley.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DN/ED 265. Teaching through the Arts.

This course considers arts education theory and policy, methods and models of arts education, and theories of creativity. Class sessions include large- and small-group work, participatory experiences, lectures, group discussions, and student-led activities and presentations. Through a thirty-hour field placement, students explore teaching in and through the arts. Recommended background: EDUC 231. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 18. (Community-Engaged Learning.) B. Sale.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 270. Studio.

This series of studio courses provides instruction in a variety of dance styles and performing practices. DANC 270 may be repeated for credit without limit. One-half credit is earned for each course completed. All 270 studio courses fulfill a physical education requirement. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. Staff, C. Dilley.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 270A. Studio: Modern I.

In this entry level modern technique course, students address problems of performance, practice, style, and form in order to build strong technique and enhanced artistry and understanding. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. Normally offered every semester. Staff, C. Dilley, R. Boggia.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 270B. Studio: Ballet I.

In this ballet technique course, students develop strong technique and enhance artistry through work on the traditional practice, style, vocabulary, and form of classical ballet. Recommended background: experience in dance. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. Normally offered every semester. Staff, C. Dilley.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 270C. Studio: Modern Partnering.

Contemporary partnering skills, including contact improvisation skills, weight sharing, spatial and physical relationships, and personal responsibility, are combined with modern dance technique. Recommended background: sufficient experience in dance. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. C. Dilley.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 270D. Studio: Repertory Styles.

This advanced modern technique course explores a variety of approaches to modern dance training and practice as experienced with different guest teachers throughout the semester. Recommended background: sufficient experience in dance. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. Instructor permission is required. C. Dilley, R. Boggia.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 270E. Studio: Jazz I.

In this mixed-level technique course, students address jazz dance performance, practice, style, and form in order to build strong technique as well as to enhance artistry and understanding. Recommended background: experience in dance. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. Normally offered every semester. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 270F. Studio: Advanced Jazz Repertory.

This jazz technique course explores a variety of approaches to creating dance repertory in a jazz style. It is for advanced dancers and leads to performance at the end of the semester. The instructor approves enrollment based on the level of experience of the student. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 270G. Studio: Dance Ensemble, Intermediate.

This intermediate-level course focuses on modern technique, clarity of intention, and general performance skills, in order to maintain a strong technique and develop one's personal contribution to ensemble dancing. Recommended background: intermediate experience in dance and some modern training. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. Normally offered every year. C. Dilley, R. Boggia.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 270H. Studio: Ballet II.

In this ballet technique course, students strengthen their technique and enhance their artistry through the practice of classical ballet. This level is appropriate for intermediate or advanced ballet dancers who are already at ease with the ballet vocabulary. Recommended background: experience in ballet technique. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. Normally offered every semester. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 270I. Studio: Improvisation.

Students explore improvisational dance skills essential to any style of dance through the use of body weight, momentum, and physical contact. Some familiarity with any form of dance is helpful. Open to first-year students. R. Boggia.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 270J. Studio: World Dance Forms.

All cultures dance but the approach to dance varies greatly from place to place. Students explore a culturally specific dance form, learning the basic techniques, movement, and a dance or dance practices from that form. The form taught in any given semester varies according to the expertise of the instructor. Open to first-year students. Staff, C. Dilley.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 270K. Studio: Hip Hop.

In this mixed-level technique course, students address hip-hop dance performance, practice, style, and form in order to build strong technique as well as to enhance artistry and understanding. Recommended background: some experience in dance. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. Staff, C. Dilley.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 270L. Studio: Hip Hop II.

In this upper level technique course, students address hip-hop dance performance, practice, style, and form in order to build strong technique as well as to enhance artistry and understanding. The course will include technique and repertory for performance. Recommended: two semesters in DANC 270K or previous experience in hip hop. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. C. Dilley, Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 270M. Studio: Dance Ensemble, Advanced.

This advanced-level course focuses on modern technique, clarity of intention, and general performance skills, in order to maintain a strong technique and develop one's personal contribution to ensemble dancing. Recommended background: advanced experience in dance and some modern training. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. Instructor permission is required. Normally offered every year. C. Dilley, R. Boggia.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DN/TH 270U. Studio Dance: Alexander Technique.

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DN/TH 270W. Studio: Pilates.

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DN/TH 290. Performance.

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DN/MU 290G. West African Music and Dance Ensemble.

This ensemble course offers students a chance to study and perform dance and music from several West African cultures. Students gain hands-on experience with various instruments, including drums, rattles, and bells, and learn about multiple traditions of West African dance and song. The group performs at least once per semester. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. H. Miura.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 300. Bates Dance Festival.

This course provides Bates dance students with the opportunity to participate in the Bates Dance Festival Professional Training Program. Full participation in the festival requires four daily courses including a technique course, a composition/creative process course or repertory course, an improvisation course, and an elective from among the festival's offerings in complementary studies. Festival courses are taught by leading scholars, artists, and practitioners in their fields. Students attend concerts, informal showings, discussions, and video presentations in addition to their courses. This course may be repeated for credit. Enrollment limited to 10. Instructor permission is required. C. Dilley, R. Boggia.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 340. Technique: The Body in Motion.

Continued study and practice of modern dance technique, focusing on the physicality of movement and the structure of the human body. Prerequisite(s): DANC 240. R. Boggia.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 351. Advanced Composition Seminar.

A further investigation of the compositional tools used in creating dance and the continued development of a better understanding of the intention behind the movement. The course emphasizes the personal exploration of creative process, craft, artistic intention, and integrity in dance making. This course may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): DANC 251. Staff, C. Dilley.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 360. Independent Study.

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DN/TH 390. Advanced Production Laboratory.

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 457. Senior Thesis.

A substantial dance-related project, usually in the form of choreography. Students register for DANC 457 in the fall. A choreographic thesis is available only to students who have completed the two additional courses in creative process, including DANC 351. [W3] Normally offered every year. C. Dilley, R. Boggia.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC 458. Senior Thesis.

A substantial dance-related project, usually in the form of choreography. Students register for DANC 458 in the winter semester. A choreographic thesis is available only to students who have completed the two additional courses in creative process, including DANC 351. [W3] Normally offered every year. C. Dilley, R. Boggia.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

Short Term Courses

DN/TH s13. Body/Site/Create: Site-Specific Performance at Morse Mountain.

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DN/ED s29. Tour, Teach, Perform.

This course uses the diverse collective skills of the students in the class as base material for the creation of a theater/dance piece that tours to elementary schools. The first two weeks are spent working intensively with a guest artist to create the performance piece. The remaining weeks are spent touring that piece, along with age-appropriate movement workshops, to elementary schools throughout the region. This course open to performers and would-be performers of all kinds. This course may be repeated for credit. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 20. (Community-Engaged Learning.) Normally offered every year. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC s32. Building a Dance Practice.

Students take a daily intermediate modern dance technique class and develop an individual project in an area of dance research such as choreography, improvisation, pedagogy, criticism, theory, or art therapy. Recommended background: at least one college-level dance course or intermediate level of proficiency in any dance form. Enrollment limited to 30. Normally offered every year. R. Boggia.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

DANC s50. Independent Study.

Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair are required. Students may register for no more than one independent study during a Short Term. Normally offered every year. C. Dilley.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations