Theatre and New Dance

www.class.cpp.edu/th/theatre.html

Bernardo Solano, Chair

The Cal Poly Pomona Department of Theatre and New Dance awards a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre which emphasizes process and the practical experience of producing theatre. The Department follows the University’s “learn by doing” philosophy by offering practice on mainstage and studio theater productions, various workshops, and courses in all aspects of the theatre both artistic and academic. The program stresses concern for students as artists and individuals. Faculty and staff work closely with students to build a solid foundation of knowledge of both the practical and artistic aspects of theatre and dance.

Five options are offered. The general theatre option enables students to develop a broad theatre curriculum with primary interests in directing, playwriting, management, or theory and criticism in order to create a course of study that best suits their goals. The acting option is for the student whose primary interest is in acting for the stage. The design and technical production option is for students with an interest in the theatrical design areas of scenery, lighting, costumes, makeup or sound; and in the production areas such as scenic or costume construction, production management, or technical direction. The dance theatre option is for students interested in a general background in theatre with a specific performance interest in dance theatre. The option for theatre in education and community engagement is available to students interested in teaching theatre in secondary schools and working with community-based theatre organizations.

Students have the opportunity to participate on the main stage as actors and dancers and fill leadership roles as designers or in areas of production. The Department of Theatre and New Dance also offers an opportunity for experimentation in a program of workshops and student driven projects. In the classroom, students receive intensive training in acting, voice, movement, directing, stage lighting, costume and scenic design, playwriting, stagecraft, makeup, and theater management. Coursework also includes theatre history and criticism, dramatic structure and dramatic literature. The curriculum is structured to nurture intellectual and academic skills which work hand-in-hand with artistic skills. Departmental productions draw audiences from the university and the community, making a contribution to their cultural climates. After completing the theatre and new dance major at Cal Poly Pomona, students are prepared for advanced training in graduate schools, for teaching at the high school level, or to begin their careers or specialized training in professional theatre, television or film.

The Theatre minor is designed to acquaint a person interested in pursuing theatre on a limited scale with the basic tools for mounting a production. It also accommodates those who wish to begin a specialization in the acting-directing or the design emphasis. Special advisement for students who are interested in theatre may be obtained from the department chair. Detailed information is available from the departmental office.

The mission of the Dance minor is to provide quality dance courses and experiences for the general student population, with an emphasis on common humanistic threads of art and expression found across cultures. “New Dance” refers to a student-centered approach to the study of the way art functions in society on a personal, local, national, and global level. “Dance” is defined to include human movement and aesthetic expression, movement based interdisciplinary work, and western and non-western cultural forms. The Dance Minor validates the cultural experience and world view of a broad cross-section of perspectives.

The New Dance program supports a variety of campus/community projects, invites innovative collaborations across groups and disciplines, and promotes the development of engagement projects that reflect a diverse and dynamic cultural climate. Student choreography and performance are presented in the annual student/faculty dance concert. Other opportunities for informal works occur in the studio and campus wide. By addressing the complexity of contemporary multicultural society through the examination of cultural issues, global perspectives, and personal histories, the Dance Minor is committed to developing student-centered study. Internships, independent-study, cross-listed course proposals, community-based projects, and outreach, are some of the ways in which students can explore a variety of learning experiences not traditionally available in dance.

Programs

• Theatre, B.A. - Acting Subplan/Option: 120 units
• Theatre, B.A. - Dance Theatre Subplan/Option: 120 units
• Theatre, B.A. - Design and Technical Production Subplan/Option: 120 units
• Theatre, B.A. - General Theatre Subplan/Option: 120 units
• Theatre, B.A. - Theatre in Education and Community Engagement Subplan/Option: 120 units

• Dance Minor: 23 units
• Theatre Minor: 24 units

Courses

• DAN 2000 - Special Study for Lower Division Students (1-3)
• DAN 2020 - World Dance and Cultures (3)
• DAN 2300 - Live Dance Appreciation (3)
• DAN 2700A - Hip-Hop Dance Activity (2)
• DAN 2710A - Lyrical Jazz Dance Activity (2)
• DAN 2720A - Intermediate Hip-Hop and/or Lyrical Jazz Dance Activity (2)
• DAN 2730A - Modern Contemporary Dance A Activity (2)
• DAN 2740A - Modern Contemporary Dance B Activity (2)
• DAN 2760A - Contemporary Ballet A Activity (2)
• DAN 2770A - Contemporary Ballet B Activity (2)
• DAN 2790A - Intermediate Contemporary Dance Techniques Activity (2)
• DAN 2900A - Cultural Performance Series Activity (1)
• DAN 2940A - Dance Production Activity (1)
• DAN 2950A - Site-Specific Performance Event Activity (1)
• DAN 2960A - New Dance Creative Projects/Community Engagement Activity (1)
• DAN 2990 - Special Topics for Lower Division Students (1-3)
• DAN 2990A - Special Topics for Lower Division Students Activity (1-3)
• DAN 2990L - Special Topics for Lower Division Students Laboratory (1-3)
• DAN 3200 - Dance Improvisation (3)
• DAN 3400 - Dance Theatre (3)
• DAN 3600 - Performance Ensemble (2)
• DAN 3600L - Performance Ensemble Laboratory (1)
• DAN 4000 - Special Study for Upper Division Students (1-3)
• DAN 4300 - Choreography (2)
• DAN 4300A - Choreography Activity (1)
• DAN 4460 - History of Dance and Its Artistic and Cultural Influences (3)
• DAN 4490 - Dance in Contemporary Culture (3)
• DAN 4600 - Dance Somatics and Educational Practices (3)
• DAN 4990 - Special Topics for Upper Division Students (1-3)
• DAN 4990A - Special Topics for Upper Division Students Activity (1-3)
• DAN 4990L - Special Topics for Upper Division Students Laboratory (1-3)

• TH 1250 - Introduction to Acting (2)
• TH 1250A - Introduction to Acting Activity (1)
• TH 1310 - Stagecraft (2)
• TH 1310L - Stagecraft Laboratory (1)
• TH 1320 - Costume Craft (2)
• TH 1320L - Costume Craft Laboratory (1)
• TH 1510 - Acting I (2)
• TH 1510L - Acting I Laboratory (1)
• TH 1700A - Applied Theatre Series Activity (3)
• TH 1770A - Applied Theatre in Education and Community Activity (2)
• TH 2000 - Special Study for Lower Division Students (1-3)
• TH 2030 - Introduction to Theatre (3)
• TH 2080 - Introduction to Film and American Culture (3)
• TH 2280 - Text Analysis (3)
• TH 2310 - Principles and Practices of Theatrical Design (3)
• TH 2330 - Drafting and Rendering (3)
• TH 2440A - Theatre Practicum Activity (1)
• TH 2520 - Vocal Techniques for Theatre I (2)
• TH 2520A - Vocal Techniques for Theatre I Activity (1)
• TH 2530 - Acting II (2)
• TH 2530L - Acting II Laboratory (1)
• TH 2540 - Movement for Theatre (2)
• TH 2540A - Movement for Theatre Activity (1)
• TH 2580 - Business of Acting (3)
• TH 2610 - Stage Management (3)
• TH 2820 - History of Dress (3)
• TH 2990 - Special Topics for Lower Division Students (1-3)
• TH 2990A - Special Topics for Lower Division Students Activity (1-3)
• TH 2990L - Special Topics for Lower Division Students Laboratory (1-3)
• TH 3010 - Through Artists’ Eyes (3)
• TH 3110 - Developments in World Theatre I (3)
• TH 3120 - Developments in World Theatre II (3)
• TH 3210 - Peer Theatre I (3)
• TH 3220 - Peer Theatre II (3)
• TH 3230 - Peer Theatre III (3)
• TH 3320 - Lighting Design (2)
• TH 3320L - Lighting Design Laboratory (1)
• TH 3330 - Computer Aided Theatre Design (3)
• TH 3370 - Scenic Design (2)
• TH 3370L - Scenic Design Laboratory (1)
• TH 3520 - Vocal Techniques for Theatre II (2)
• TH 3520A - Vocal Techniques for Theatre II Activity (1)
• TH 3530 - Acting III (2)
• TH 3530L - Acting III Laboratory (1)
• TH 3540 - Shakespeare in Performance (3)
• TH 3550 - Theatre Improvisation (3)
• TH 3560 - Directing (2)
• TH 3560L - Directing Laboratory (1)
• TH 3700A - Advanced Applied Theatre Activity (3)
• TH 3770A - Advanced Applied Theatre in Education and Community Activity (2)
• TH 3810 - Costume Design (2)
• TH 3810L - Costume Design Laboratory (1)
• TH 4000 - Special Study for Upper Division Students (1-3)
• TH 4010 - Playwriting and Dramatic Structure (3)
• TH 4100 - Theatrical Pursuit of an American Ideology (3)
• TH 4200A - Summer Theatre Activity (1-3)
• TH 4210 - Theatre in Education (3)
• TH 4230 - Integrated Arts (3)
• TH 4250 - Community Based Theatre (2)
• TH 4250A - Community Based Theatre Activity (1)
• TH 4250S - Community Based Theatre - Service Learning (2)
• TH 4310 - Portfolio and Career Development (3)
• TH 4440A - Advanced Theatre Practicum Activity (1)
• TH 4500A - Design and Production Activity (3)
• TH 4540 - Styles of Acting (2)
• TH 4540L - Styles of Acting Laboratory (1)
• TH 4590 - Filmmaking (2)
• TH 4590L - Filmmaking Laboratory (1)
• TH 4610 - Senior Experience and Senior Project Seminar (3)
• TH 4620 - Senior Project (3)