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.
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 113
Action and Character
Description
Examine the creation of action and character from the perspectives of both playwright and actor. Analyze and bring dramatic texts to life using the body, voice and imagination.
THDA 250
Video Production: Bodies in Motion
Description
Experiment with multiple ways of tracking, viewing and capturing bodies in motion (human, animal and object), using the camera as an extension of the body to explore radically different perspectives and foci.
THDA 370
Playwriting Studio
Description
Get your play(s) ready for the stage! Hone your playwriting skills, study a wide range of dramatic vocabularies, and critique classmates’ plays as they progress from first draft to finished.
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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