Musical Theatre Minor

This course will give an overview of significant factors which influence and determine the learning of motor skills including basic principles of learning theory and motor control as they apply to motor performance.

This course will introduce the basic ballet positions, movements, and combinations, as well French ballet terms and their meanings, including the discussion of the history and origins of ballet and its various styles.

This course will further explore the technical and expressive elements of ballet, as well as historically significant ballet schools and styles. It is designed to advance the performance level of students who have mastered the basic skills and vocabulary of ballet. Students practice and perform advanced barre exercises, demi-pointe work, and increasingly complex connecting movements.

This course introduces the fundamentals of jazz dance, including its history and styles. It is designed for students with no dance experience and for experienced dancers wishing to perfect basic jazz dance skills. Jazz dance techniques are presented and practiced in class, with an emphasis on combinations using a variety of rhythms and styles. Class participation is intended to develop an appreciation for the physical demands of jazz dancing.

This course introduces the fundamentals of modern dance and its history. It is designed for students with no dance experience as well as returning dance students. Students participate in movement studies and improvisations that deal with shape, space, time and energy, four main dance principles to encourage their creativity and individuality. Emphasis is on developing axial and locomotor skills, performing movement combinations, conditioning the body, and solving creative problems.

This course introduces tap dance technique at the beginning level. Instruction focuses primarily on the rhythm tap style; however, other tap styles may also be included. Students practice fundamental tap dance skills; rhythms, including swing and Latin; syncopation; time steps; short combinations; and stylings. The course includes an introduction to the history and performance of tap dance.

This course will reinforce the material and experiences from Music Theory 1 through keyboard and dictation activities with an emphasis on the cultivation of musical sensitivity and responsiveness. Co-requisite: normally taken concurrently with MUS 201.

4 semesters of voice with at least one semester at 300 level

As an introduction to basic acting techniques, students will examine ways to construct the interior, physical, and vocal life of a character, learn warm-up procedures, and staging principles, including experiences in scene analysis, performance of monologues, and improvisations. Field trips may be included. Prerequisite: THR 251 or consent of instructor.

This course is an advanced approach to acting techniques used in contemporary realism material including an in-depth study of scene and character analysis; performance of monologues, improvisations, and scenes; exercises based on the Meisner technique and other acting approaches. Field trips may be included. Prerequisite: THR 261 or consent of instructor.

Exploration of the voice, movement, and acting skills necessary to perform in modern musical plays will be examined in this course as students participate in workshops, exercises, warm-ups, rehearsal procedures, and in-class solo and group performances. Prerequisite: THR 261 or consent of instructor.

A practical, hands-on learning experience where students will work on one or more theatre department productions. Earned in one-unit increments.