The Major
The Theater and Dance major provides an interdisciplinary foundation in the arts of theater and dance, and in their history, theory and literature.
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Tools
Whether you’re interested in dancing or acting, plays and playwriting, choreography, directing or design, we invite you to learn and create with us.
The Amherst College Dance Ensemble performing in Spring 2019.
AWAKE, an installation piece created by Lauren Thompson '19 and Benjamin Kissinger '20E explored the themes of life and death through a 20-minute immersive experience inside a paneled cube.
Wesley Guimarães '19 as the lead in the production of "Doctor Faustus." The modern-dress production featured an 11-person student cast who played over fifty roles in a colorful world of totalitarian corruption and punk/drag irreverence.
Five College Dance presented Camille A. Brown's "New Second Line" as part of the spring 2019 Five College Faculty Dance Concert, hosted at Amherst.
Brandon Medina '19 wrote and performed his original play "I'm Fine," which centered around a young man facing his anxiety, and overcoming the pressure of conforming to social "norms."
Students participated in five dance master classes of throughout the year as part of THDA's Guest Artist Series.
Department Highlights
Five College Dance
This program pools dance offerings from Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith Colleges, and the UMass Amherst, creating one of the largest dance programs in the nation.
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Our Productions
Our students produce a full seasons of shows alongside accomplished faculty, learning by doing while showcasing our students' talents and achievements.
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Theaters & Studios
We have two theaters, equipped with modern lighting and sound technology, a scene shop, a costume shop, an audio lab and four studio workspaces for performance, rehearsal and design.
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After Amherst
Our alumni—a collection of vibrant actors, writers, scholars, educators and designers—work all over the world in film, television, theatre, education and arts administration.
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Arts at Amherst
Together, Amherst’s dynamic arts programs foster a lively environment for the multidisciplinary study, creation and presentation of the arts.
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Current Courses
THDA 111
The Language of Movement
Description
In studio sessions students will explore and expand their individual movement vocabularies by working improvisationally with weight, posture, gesture, and relationship of body parts.
THDA 222
Contemporary Drama
Description
Examine plays from a theater practitioner’s perspective, and incorporate instruction in dramaturgical analysis and research related to theatrical interpretation.
THDA 360
Design Studio
Description
Undertake specific projects in scenic, costume and/or lighting design and execute them in the context of the Department’s production program or in other approved circumstances.
Featured Article
Theater & Dance Conference Highlights Universal Nature of Greek Theater
The Department of Theater and Dance hosted an international conference celebrating the intersections of Greek theater across centuries, continents and cultures.
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