Dance, Film, and Theater, School of

Dance, Film, and Theater, School of
College of Fine Arts
Phone: 740.593.1323
Fax: 740.593.1328
film@ohio.edu
http://www.ohio.edu/finearts

Dance: Putnam Hall, 740.593.1828
Film: 31 S Court St, 740.593.1323
Theater: Kantner Hall, 740.593.4818

Steven Ross, Director

Overview

The School of Dance, Film, and Theater currently offers undergraduate degrees in Dance and Theater and graduate degrees in Film and Theater. The School provides a center for creative expression and scholarly exploration in the dance, film, and theater arts. The School of Dance, Film, and Theater supports collaboration, diversity, and critical thinking in an environment that fosters interdisciplinarity and excellence.

Dance

Travis Gatling, Artistic Director/Division Head

Mission:

We offer a modern dance based program with a comprehensive curriculum that integrates choreography, performance and production with theory, history and cultural and practical studies in dance. The dance curriculum supports creative problem solving guided by strong collaboration, observation and analytical skills that encourage development of a versatile mind. We prepare students for future work in the field of dance and related professions by strengthening individual artistic potential through the integration of creative, physical, and intellectual capacities across artistic, oral, and written forms.

Dance contributes to the cultural environment of the university, community and region through high quality productions and provides the general university student with studies in the practice, history and aesthetics of dance.

Description:

The dance program offers major degree options and minor degree options: the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree, and minors in dance performance and choreography, dance history, and somatic studies. All dance students train within a diverse range of techniques: modern, ballet, jazz and African.

The B.F.A. degree program is a four-year pre-professional degree that prepares the individual for future work in the field of dance and related professions. The degree emphasizes modern dance choreography and performance and includes teaching, history, and practical studies in dance.

The B.A. degree is a program of study that develops dance skills necessary to perform and to apply principles that reflect a grasp of the art. The B.A. offers potential for interdisciplinary study in biological sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, humanities, and world cultures. It is for individuals who seek a broad program of general education in their undergraduate study.

Multiple performances of student and faculty choreography are produced every semester in the Shirley Wimmer Dance Theatre and other theatrical spaces. Workshop performances, internships, and other performance projects offer additional performance opportunities. Visiting artists enrich the curriculum during the academic year, in teaching, choreographic, and performing residencies.

Individual academic and professional advising are a fundamental practice in dance. Faculty advisors assess the development and progress of each dance student. As a student with a dance major or minor, you are expected to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in dance core work (dance technique and choreography) and a 2.7 GPA overall in dance courses; if your work does not meet these criteria, you may be placed on probation or advised to modify your program of study.

Scholarship auditions for incoming freshmen are in November and January. Schedule an appointment in advance by contacting the Dance Division directly (740-593-1828 or dance@ohio.edu). Transfer students who wish to major in dance must audition for admission. An appointment for an audition and information on proficiency requirements can be obtained by contacting the dance program.

An honors tutorial program in dance is available for exceptionally talented and motivated students. This individualized program of study requires a distinctive combination of high school grades, test scores, teacher recommendations, and special achievements. If eligible, you must complete the application, audition, and interview processes by December 15. (see Honors Tutorial College for requirements and deadlines at http://www.honors.ohio.edu/dance.htm).

Ohio University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Dance.

Dance Admissions Requirements

An audition is required for all students who plan to major or minor in dance, except for those who wish to minor in Somatic Studies or Dance History and Theory. The audition is in the form of a dance class and does not require presentation of previously learned materials. If you wish to be considered for talent scholarships, you must audition by February 1; otherwise, an audition appointment can be made during the school year. Contact the Dance Division, 740.593.1828, for information. Though all prospective students are encouraged to attend auditions on the Ohio University campus, videotapes will be accepted under extenuating circumstances.

Film

Steven Ross, Artistic Director/Division Head

The Film Division, in conjunction with the Honors Tutorial College, offers exceptional students the opportunity for practical and scholarly study of film, combined with a broad liberal arts education. The program culminates with an honors thesis and leads to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in film. Enrollment is limited; only ten students (2-3 per year) can be enrolled in this program at any given time.

Film Admissions Information

Please consult the Honors Tutorial College page for additional information.

Theater

Michael Lincoln, Artistic Director/Division Head

Theater Division Mission Statement

Ohio University Theater Division is committed to the development of the highest quality theater artists and scholars, through rigorous professional training, humanistic inquiry, and creative activity. We challenge our students to engage critically and creatively with research, the arts, and the world to prepare them for leadership roles as artists and citizens.

Theater Description

The undergraduate theater experience at Ohio University is a blend of core theater studies and practice; intensive training in a selected concentration; and liberal arts experiences, leading to either a professionally oriented Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A) or a broad-based Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree.

The theater is not an island unto itself; it exists as part of and because of a larger world. All theater students devote a portion of their studies to examination of the literature and history of the theater, the role of theater in society, and relationship to other art disciplines. To this end, faculty advisors in Theater strive to guide theater students through programmatic and University General Education requirements in a manner that broadens and deepens their knowledge and contributes to a critical conversation in a world context.

Production activities are considered crucial to the total curriculum planning of a theater major. Students register each semester for a credit-bearing practicum in production. In the first year, this involves participation in productions through technical and management assignments. Second-, third-, and fourth-year students have the opportunity to participate in production as a performer, technician, designer, dramaturg, or stage manager. Theater students are encouraged to pursue internship and off-campus opportunities, including study abroad programs in Theater, College of Fine Arts, Ohio University, or in conjunction with a professional theater, production company, or studio.

Ongoing and individual advising is an extremely important aspect of Theater. Each Theater student meets each semester with an academic advisor (eventually one of the core faculty members in his/her area of study) for academic and programmatic guidance. To maintain the academic and artistic rigor of the programs, all theater students are required to attain a minimum grade of C in any theater course (THAR) required for graduation. Unsatisfactory academic or programmatic progress may result in academic or program probation, removal from a sequence or degree within the Division, or denial of further enrollment as a degree candidate in Theater. Careful planning and intelligent course selection might allow pursuit of a minor or second major. In addition, high-achieving, highly motivated students can apply to the Theater Tutorial Program (see Honors Tutorial College for requirements and deadlines at http://www.honors.ohio.edu/theater.htm).

Ohio University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Theater.

Theater Admissions Requirements

All students admitted to Ohio University enter the Theater Division as a B.A. major. For talent scholarship consideration, auditions and interviews are conducted during the winter of each year for high school or transfer students considering entrance the following fall. Students are assigned an entry academic advisor and are reassigned to a new advisor upon acceptance into a degree concentration program.

Procedure for Admission to B.F.A. Programs

At the end of the freshman year, you are expected to declare a degree program. Under normal circumstances, you must complete all the 1000-level theater core requirements to be considered for entry into a degree program. All students must audition, interview, or present portfolios for entry into the B.F.A. programs (performance, stage management, playwriting, or production design and technology). You may also choose to develop an individual course of study leading to the B.A. degree.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Other Programs