Performance Studies: Dance, Media, Theater, Music

Quarters
Fall Open
Location
Olympia
Class Standing
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Andrew Buchman
Katelyn Stiles

This program explores the generative relationship between the body, place, and technology. It offers practical and creative tools to support students in creating original creative works, from start to finish. Students will develop their own performance skills (whether basic or more advanced) by studying and creating through different mediums, including: movement, image-making, video, words (text, storytelling, or voice work), and music. We'll explore working with video as a tool for documenting our process and performances, but also explore generating work specifically out of the relationship between the camera and subject.

We'll examine theories that explore the potential performances have to shape politics, culture, and society through embodiment, presence, and worlding. Performances exist within specific contexts, cultures, and ways of knowing. We'll pay special attention to Indigenous contexts of performance such as: community-based ceremony and protection of land, waters, and more-than-human relatives. We'll study innovative and 鈥渢raditional鈥 performances by dancers, visual artists, musicians, and actors, looking beyond the texts to the performative aspects.

In weekly theatre/music workshops with Andrew, we'll create our own versions of classic and new stories, working on basic skills like diction, phrasing, pace, tone of voice, facial and body gestures. Workshops will include warmups, voice and movement work, technical skills, and guidance on topics like practicing, rehearsing, auditioning, memorizing, and self-care. We'll pay close attention to voice, posture, facial expressions, movement, and makeup, and we'll consider how dimensions of identity including race and gender intersect and affect access to resources in many artistic domains. We'll also learn more about potential careers in the arts.

In weekly dance/video workshops with Katelyn, we鈥檒l approach the body, movement, and technology through the Indigenous concept of relationality. Workshops will include warm ups, dance explorations both through choreography and the use of improvisational 鈥渟cores鈥 inspired by feminist and Indigenous theories as well as different models of the body such as fascia (the connective tissue permeating our bodies). Drawing is also used in movement explorations and exercises of witnessing each other. We will have an embodied approach to working with video and audio recording, sound design, and editing. Students will have the opportunity in the 2nd quarter to develop a digital storytelling project or 鈥渧ideo dance.鈥澨

Each student will come with their own experience and interests and may concentrate in theatre, music, dance, and/or media, collaborating in small groups in and out of class on relevant projects addressing real-world questions and themes.听

Students will be expected to pursue their own creative practice outside of class as well, receiving college credit by creating a digital portfolio documenting this work including regular reflective writing. Students may also explore collaborations with community arts organizations, research and write about influential artists, or work with student activities groups like the 麻豆区 Theater Club and 麻豆区 Live Music Club.

This program is coordinated with听Greener Foundations for first-year students in fall quarter. Greener Foundations听is 麻豆区鈥檚 in-person introductory student success course, which provides first-year students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive at 麻豆区. Students expected to take Greener Foundations in fall should use CRN 10023听to register for a 2-credit Greener Foundations course in addition to this program for 14-credits. When using this CRN students will take additional steps to complete their registration, more information can be found at the .

First-year students who are not expected to take Greener Foundations or have been granted an exemption should use CRN 10022听to register for this program for 16-credits. Find more details about who isn't expected to take Greener Foundations on the Greener Foundations 飞别产蝉颈迟别.听

Students enrolled for 14 credits will participate in all types of program activities, but their group project work will be correspondingly less extensive to allow room for their Greener Foundations work.

Anticipated Credit Equivalencies (split over the two quarters):

12 - Dance, Media, Theater, or Music: Interdisciplinary Performance Studies

10 - Dance, Media, Theater, or Music: Performance Workshops

8-10 - Dance, Media, Theater, or Music: Portfolio Projects

Registration

Some previous experience in music, dance, theater, or film is helpful but not required.

Course Reference Numbers

(16): 10022
Fr (14): 10023

Academic Details

Media, Communication, Journalism, Music, Theater, and Dance.

16
50
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior

Fall: $50 required fee covers performance and event ticket costs.

Winter: $100 required fee covers performance and event ticket costs ($50) and required media services fee ($50).

Schedule

Fall
2025
Open
Winter
2026
Open
In Person (F)
In Person (W)

See definition of Hybrid, Remote, and In-Person instruction

Day
Com 110 - Perf and Prod Studio
Olympia

Revisions

Date Revision
2025-05-07 Program title updated, faculty Katelyn Stiles added, seat count increased, program description revised, anticipated credit equivalencies and prerequisites updated, and required fees added for both quarters.