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University Bulletin: Undergraduate Programs 2003-2004 The George Washington University  

 
   
 

THEATRE AND DANCE


 

Professors M.R. Withers, A.G. Wade (Chair), L.B. Jacobson

Associate Professors W.A. Pucilowsky, C.F. Gudenius, E.J. O’Brien, J.I. Kanter, D.T.S. Burgess

Assistant Professors M.A. Buckley, V.S. Smith, C.F. Gomez

Professorial Lecturer K.Z. Keller

Bachelor of Arts with a major in theatre—The following requirements must be fulfilled:

1. The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.

2. Required courses in related areas—9 credit hours in dramatic literature and playwriting at the 100 level.

3. Required courses in the major—TrDa 14, 124, 130, 139 (3 credits), 14546, 147; 6 credit hours in design/technical theatre courses; 12 additional credit hours in 100-level theatre and dance courses.

Bachelor of Arts with a major in dance—The following requirements must be fulfilled:

1. The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.

2. Required courses in the major: 13 credit hours of courses in technique; 17 hours of courses in creative process/performance/theory; 3 hours of production design; 6 hours of electives. The department maintains a list of courses that fulfill these requirements.

Bachelor of Arts with a major in dramatic literature—The Department of Theatre and Dance and the Department of English offer an interdisciplinary major in dramatic literature. See Dramatic Literature.

Minor in Theatre—18 credit hours of theatre courses, including TrDa 14546.

Minor in Dance—18 credit hours of dance courses, including no more than 9 hours from TrDa 49 through 59 and 160 through 175, plus 3 hours from TrDa 180, 182, 185, 186, and 191.

Special Honors—In addition to meeting the general requirements stated under University Regulations, candidates for graduation with Special Honors in Theatre or Dance must have a grade-point average of 3.4 in the major and complete TrDa 199 with a grade of A. They must consult with a faculty advisor at the beginning of the second semester of the junior year to determine eligibility, area of study, and the director of the research or creative project.

With permission, a limited number of graduate courses in the department may be taken for credit toward an undergraduate degree. See the Graduate Programs Bulletin for course listings.

Note: Courses below the 100 level are primarily for nonmajors.

11 Theatre Production (3) Smith
  Understanding of the basic elements of production (performance, technical and management) and the collaborative artist/artisan process through discussion, observation, and practical application. (Fall and spring)
14 Introduction to Acting (3) Jacobson, Kanter, Wade
  Basic techniques of concentration, imagination, improvisation, and character development. (Fall and spring)
45 Understanding the Theatre (3) Smith
  The art of the theatre; its literature, architecture, aesthetics, and mechanics. Contributions of the playwright, actor, director, and designer. Attendance at theatrical performances, presentations, and videos. (Fall and spring)
46 Understanding the Dance (3) Staff
  The art of dance—a lecture and experiential approach to its cultural importance, history, and creative processes. The contributions of the choreographer and dancer to society. Attendance at performances and presentations, and viewing video. (Fall and spring)
49 Movement Awareness (2 or 3) Staff
  An experiential dance movement class that examines human movement and its connection to dance. Somatic concepts of Alexander, Feldenkrais, Bartenieff, and Body/Mind/Centering. (Fall and spring)
50 Beginning Ballet (1) Staff
  Introduction to classical ballet technique, including basic concepts of dynamic alignment, stretch, strength, and musicality.
51 Beginning/Intermediate Ballet (1) Staff
52 Beginning Modern/Postmodern Dance (1) Staff
  Introduction to modern dance technique inclusive of basic concepts of dynamic alignment, stretch, strength, improvisation and musicality.
53 Beginning/Intermediate Modern/Postmodern Dance (1) Staff
58 Beginning Spanish Dance (1) Staff
  Introduction to the art form of classical Spanish dance, including basic movement rhythms and polyrhythmic uses of the feet, hands, arms, and castanets.
59 Beginning/Intermediate Spanish Dance (1) Staff
105 Fundamentals of Playwriting (3) Griffith
  Same as Engl 105.
108 Intermediate Playwriting (3) Griffith
  Same as Engl 108.
115 Introduction to Scene Study: Realism (3) Jacobson, Kanter, Wade
  Principles of role development, concentrating on 20th-century material. Prerequisite: TrDa 14. (Fall and spring)
116 Scene Study: Voice and Character (3) Jacobson
  The practice and application of voice production with reference to skeletal alignment, breathing, resonance, and articulation. Emphasis on the process of voice production and its application to performance through work on scenes and monologues. Prerequisite: TrDa 115. (Fall and spring)
121 Scene Study: Contemporary Text (3) Jacobson
  Principles of role development in the works of post-war playwrights to include both the genres of comedy and drama and the stylistic directions of realism and post-realism. Playwrights chosen may include Beckett, Pinter, Albee, Stoppard, Marnet, Labute, Norman, Simon, and Henley. Prerequisite: TrDa 116. (Fall, odd years)
123 Scene Study: Classical Text (3) Jacobson
  Principles of role development in the works of pre-modern dramatists including Shakespeare and his contemporaries, the playwrights of the English Restoration, Molière, and other 17th- and 18th-century playwrights. Prerequisite: TrDa 116. (Spring, even years)
124 Play Analysis (3) Staff
  Same as Engl 124.
125 Stage Dialects (2) Jacobson
  Vocal production related to interpretation of specific texts. Focus on stage dialects and the interpretation of Shakespeare. Prerequisite: TrDa 116. (Spring, odd years)
127 Scene Study: Acting for the Media (2) Wade
  Techniques of acting for the camera; analysis of film and television scripts from actor’s point of view. Prerequisite: TrDa 116. Laboratory required. Laboratory fee. (Spring)
128 Audition Techniques (2) Staff
  All aspects of the audition process: selection and rehearsal of audition monologues, handling of cold reading, etc. Prerequisite: TrDa 116. (Fall)
130 Basics of Production Design (3) Pucilowsky, Gudenius, Gomez, Smith
  Understanding of the basic elements of production design and execution through discussion, observation, and practical application. Laboratory required. Laboratory fee. (Fall and spring)
131 Introduction to Lighting (3) Gudenius
  Lecture (2 hours), laboratory (1 hour). Theories and practicum in lighting for theatre and dance. Laboratory fee. Prerequisite: TrDa 130. (Fall)
132 Makeup Design (3) Pucilowsky
  Theory and practicum in the art of makeup design, including latex and crepe hair. Prerequisite: TrDa 130. (Fall)
135 Introduction to Scene Design (3) Gudenius
  Fundamental study of scenic design, including historic overview, basic drawing, and rendering techniques, through the use of various mediums and script analysis. Prerequisite: TrDa 130. (Fall)
136 Beginning Costuming (3) Pucilowsky, Smith
  History of fashion in Western civilization from ancient Greece to the 20th century. Fundamental study of costume construction through specific projects. Costume construction. Prerequisite: TrDa 130. (Spring)
139 Theatre Practicum (1) Gomez
  Participation in department mainstage productions in a production or management capacity under the supervision of a member of the faculty. Prerequisite: TrDa 11 or 130. May be repeated for credit. After completing for 3 credits, students may participate in a performance capacity for an additional 3 credits. Prerequisite: TrDa 11 or 130. (Fall and spring)
140 Anthropology in Performance (3) Allen
  Exploration of the relationships among social interaction, ritual, and dramatic performance. Classes consist of improvisation workshops and discussion, based on readings about non-Western cultures. Same as Anth 191. (Spring)
145—46 History of the Theatre (3—3) Staff
  A dramaturg’s approach to case studies of theatre in historical context. TrDa 145: ancient Greece through the 17th century. TrDa 146: the 18th century through the present. (Academic year)
147 Directing for the Theatre (3) Kanter
  Fundamentals of script analysis, staging, casting, and rehearsal techniques. Prerequisite: TrDa 14, 124, 130. Laboratory fee. (Fall and spring)
156 Dance in Community Settings (3) Burgess
  Examination of dance in Washington area communities. Students are required to site visit and engage with individuals and organizations that focus on dance as it pertains to performance, therapy, management, and education. Participation in activities with a dance artist/practitioner or with a producing/service organization is required. (Spring)
160—61 Intermediate Ballet (2—2) Staff
  May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: TrDa 51 to 160, TrDa 160 to 161, or permission of instructor.
162—63 Intermediate/Advanced Ballet (2—2) Staff
  May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: TrDa 161 to 162, TrDa 162 to 163, or permission of instructor.
164—65 Advanced Ballet (2—2) Staff
  May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: TrDa 163 to 164, TrDa 164 to 165, or permission of instructor.
170—71 Intermediate Modern/Postmodern Dance (2 or 3 each) Burgess
  Recommended for students with previous dance experience in jazz, ballet, hip hop, modern, or other styles. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: TrDa 170 to 171, or permission of instructor.
172—73 Intermediate/Advanced Modern/Postmodern Dance (2 or 3 each) Staff
  May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: TrDa 171 to 172, TrDa 172 to 173, or permission of instructor.
174—75 Advanced Modern/Postmodern Dance (2 or 3 each) Staff
  May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: TrDa 173 to 174, TrDa 174 to 175, or permission of instructor.
179 Contact Improvisation (2) Staff
  A movement form that arises from the point of contact between partners who explore gravity, space, and timing in the spontaneous moment-to-moment exchange of the dance. Exploring the improvisational state of body/mind through the use of imagery, tuning the senses, mindfulness practices, and play.
180 Movement Improvisation and Performance (3) Withers
  Exploring the body and its surroundings in movement, use of language, narrative, environments and contexts for creative expression, developing event and performance structures from improvisation. May be repeated for credit. (Spring)
182—83 Dance Composition (3—3) Withers
 

TrDa 182: Problems in structural and conceptual aspects of constructing dances and shaping and forming movement materials. TrDa 183: Emphasis on intention and content in making dances. Prerequisite: TrDa 180; recommended: TrDa 185. (Academic year)

184 Choreographic Projects (3) Withers, Burgess
  Create a dance or a performance work of individual design, including casting, rehearsal procedures, staging aspects, and public presentation. Prerequisite: TrDa 182; recommended: TrDa 130, 185. May be repeated for credit.
185 Trends in Performance Art (3) Withers
  Study of the theory and practice of contemporary performance art movements and artists; political and artistic activism; scripting and scoring to create performance works based on a single art discipline or interdisciplinary arts. (Fall)
186 Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology (3) Burgess
  An experiential and theoretical approach to dynamic anatomy and kinesiology as they pertain to the dancer. The student is encouraged to reach full movement potential in relation to contemporary dance techniques, performance, and injury prevention. (Fall)
191 Dance History (3) Buckley
  The history of Western theatrical dance from the late 18th century to the present. The major choreographers and their dance works through readings, lectures, video, and discussion. (Spring)
192 Repertory/Performance (1 or 2) Burgess
  Participation in the processes of learning and performing dance repertory or new dance works. Audition required. Laboratory required. May be repeated for credit. (Fall and spring)
193—94 Dance Styles (arr.) Staff
  Forms of theatrical dance other than ballet or modern, including African dance, Angola Capoeira, classical Indian dance, music theatre, Spanish dance, and others. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs.
195 Selected Topics (1 to 3) Staff
  Topics of current interest in theatre or dance. Topics (and course fee, when charged) announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs.
196 Independent Study (1 to 6) Staff
  Independent research and special projects. Open to qualified juniors or seniors majoring or minoring in theatre or dance. Before students are permitted to register for TrDa 196, they must submit a written proposal of the plan of study and obtain approval of the faculty member who is directing the study and the department chair.
198 Internship (3 or 6) Staff
  Open to qualified seniors majoring or minoring in theatre or dance. Work placements with not-for-profit and commercial theatre and dance organizations for an approved number of hours per week. Admission requires departmental approval. May be taken for a maximum of 6 credits. (Fall and spring)
199 Honors Thesis (3) Staff
  Directed research and/or creative project. Open to qualified seniors by permission. Arrangements must be made with a sponsoring faculty member in the department and applications must be completed early in the second semester of the junior year. (Fall and spring)
 

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© 2009 University Bulletin
The George Washington University All rights reserved.

Information in this bulletin is generally accurate as of fall 2008. The University reserves the right to change courses, programs, fees, and the academic calendar, or to make other changes deemed necessary or desirable, giving advance notice of change when possible.