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The Dance Program at MSU is unique in numerous ways. Students have the opportunity to study dance while engaged in their primary course of studies. Indeed, learning how rich the art form of dance is will broaden possibilities in educational and career choices. The Dance Program challenges students - artistically, physically, and intellectually – in all courses, ranging from the studio technique class to dance history. The diversity of students involved in these classes as well as performances creates a vibrant learning environment. Whether pursuing the dance specialization or not, classes and performance opportunities are open to all students ready to engage in the rigors of the art form.

For more information, contact…

Sherrie Barr MFA, CMA
Director of Dance
Asst. Professor of Theatre
149D Auditorium
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517)355-0329 or barrsh@msu.edu

The Repertory Concert is produced as part of the Department of Theatre's main stage season. For this biannual event, guest choreographers are commissioned to set and create works on selected students. Participating in the Repertory Concert, whether as dancer, rehearsal assistant, or production crew, provides opportunities to learn about dance as a concert art form in extraordinary ways.

PERFORMANCE DATES

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 7:30p.m.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 - 7:30p.m.
Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 7:30p.m.
Friday, February 26, 2010 - 8:00p.m.
Saturday, February 27, 2010 - 2:00p.m.
Saturday, February 27, 2010 - 8:00p.m.
Sunday, February 28, 2010 - 2:00p.m.

AUDITIONS

Friday, September 18th at 4:00 p.m. with casting decisions made that evening. Audition forms must be completed prior to the audition; be sure to attend the Orchesis Open House (Friday, September 11 at 4:00 pm) for forms and more information.

"A time to laugh … a time to embrace … a time to dance.” - José Limón

• Visiting Performance Artist sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Jin-Wen Yu is Dance Professor and Chair of the Dance Department at University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also artistic director of Jin-Wen Yu Dance, a company that performs internationally. He is an active performer, choreographer and scholar. He recently received an Arts Institute Creative Arts Award in support of a 2-year “Poetics and Transformation” project. Yu’s residency is being sponsored through the Office of Provost Visiting Faculty Program.

• Visiting Choreographer, Carolyn Pavlick is a professor of dance in the Dance Department at Western Michigan University. She has received national recognition as performer and choreographer, including winner of 2008 Michigan Maggie Allessee Choreography Award. She is also co-editor of a recent publication concerning site-specific choreography.

• Visiting Choreographer, Heather Vaughan Southard, visiting dance professor at Albion College, performed on both coasts until returning to Michigan to perform, choreograph and teach. Her abilities as a solo performer have consistently been called exemplary. She performed in DanceFest, the 2008 MSU Repertory dance Concert, and also choreographed …like a bull in a candy store.

• Resident Choreographer, Sherrie Barr is the Director and Professor of MSU’s Dance Program in the Department of Theatre. Her creative work for this concert is supported through MSU’s Institutional Research Grant Program. Dancing Our Stories plans to highlight elders of the Burcham Hills Retirement Community Center who have been working with Repertory Dancers since September 2008.

• Resident Choreographer, Joni Starr is the Arts Education and Outreach Professor in MSU’s Department of Theatre. She has taught at numerous places, including the Shanghai International Studies University where she worked with Chinese schoolteachers to include the arts in their daily lessons and overall curriculum. She has directed and choreographed numerous productions including Guys and Dolls and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.

Students enrolling in the dance specialization program pursue a course of studies that introduces them to dance as a performing concert art form. Students will experience the disciplined technique and creative processes involved in dance while developing an awareness of its historical, cultural and analytical aspects. 20 credits are required.

Students must regularly meet with their dance advisor. These meetings serve to inform students of needed prerequisites, course availability, placement in the dance technique offerings and general progress toward the successful fulfillment of the specialization. Upon graduation, the dance specialization is notated on the student’s transcript.

Required Courses

• THR 257 - Movement for the Performer (2-4 credits)

Offered every year

• DAN 353 - Laban Studies (3 credits)

Offered alternate years in Fall odd year semesters
Prerequisite: THR 257. Restrictions: not open to freshmen

• DAN 354 - Choreography and Production (3 credits)

Offered alternate years in Spring even year semesters
Prerequisite: THR 257 and 2 credits of Dance Technique offering. Restrictions: not open to freshmen

• DAN 455 - History of Dance to 1900 (3 credits)

Offered alternate years in Fall even year semesters
Prerequisite: University Tier I writing course. Restrictions: not open to freshmen or sophomores

• DAN 456 - History of Dance since 1900s (3 credits)

Offered alternate years in Spring odd year semesters
Restrictions: not open to freshmen or sophomores

6 Credits of DANCE TECHNIQUE taken from the following:

• DAN 351 - Dance Technique I (2-6 credits)

Dance technique for low intermediate-to-intermediate level dancer

• DAN 352 - Dance Technique II (2-6 credits)

Dance technique for the intermediate level dancer
Prerequisite: DAN 351 or instructor permission

• DAN 451 - Dance Technique III (2-6 credits)

Dance technique for high intermediate to advanced level dancer
Prerequisite: DAN 352 or instructor permission

• DAN 452 - Dance Technique IV (2-6 credits)

Dance technique for high intermediate to advanced level dancer
Prerequisite: DAN 451 or instructor permission

TOTAL NUMBER OF CREDITS IN SPECIALIZATION - 20 Cr

For an appointment to set up the Specialization, please contact:

Sherrie Barr MFA, CMA
Director of Dance
Asst. Professor of Theatre
149D Auditorium
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517)355-0329 or barrsh@msu.edu

Dance Specialization Information Sheet (PDF)

Orchesis, a student organization working closely with dance and theatre faculty, welcomes all MSU students interested in dance to be members. The group’s mission is to enhance and enrich the presence of dance as an art form on campus. To fulfill this mission, Orchesis promotes numerous activities. Some examples include co-sponsoring guest artists, organizing student participation in American College Dance Festival, and offering non-credit technique classes.

The Dance Program offers a variety of performance opportunities in which students dance in works by faculty, guest choreographers and students. Participants are chosen by audition.

MSU Repertory Dance Company is produced in concert as part of the Department of Theatre’s production season. Company members can also be involved in outreach activities. For the biannual main stage concert, guest choreographers are commissioned to set and create works on selected students. Participating in the Repertory Company, whether as dancer, rehearsal assistant, or production crew, provides opportunities to learn about dance as a concert art form in extraordinary ways.

The annual Department of Theatre main stage musical provides additional performance options for students. Collaborations with other theatre and music productions also hold possibilities for performance opportunities.

Orchesis regularly produces organized studio productions and concerts. Students are encouraged to participate as performers, choreographers and to experience the production aspects of concerts.

Dance residencies with distinguished national and international companies sponsored by the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts provide exciting and additional possibilities for student participation.

Orchesis provides options for students interested in teaching. Through a supervised mentoring program, students gain hands-on experience teaching an array of styles.

113 Auditorium
East Lansing, MI 48824
517.355.6690 / Fax: 517.355.1698
theatre@msu.edu

© 2006 - 2008
Michigan State University
College of Arts and Letters
Department of Theatre