Vision & Mission Statement

The Department of Theater and Dance aspires to engage in humanizing practices that foster educational and transformative artistic experiences for our students. As a community we are anchored in both embodied knowing and critical thinking. We endeavor to make equity a habit in our work. We believe that individual identity is multifaceted, that diverse histories are essential to understanding our field, and that experimentation is fundamental to the ongoing development of life-long skills integral to students’ liberal arts education. 

Community / Collaboration / Creativity

We facilitate learning opportunities that are intellectually stimulating, promote self-discovery, and nurture artistic inquiry. Students engage in a variety of coursework and practices across the disciplines of dance and theater. We are also dedicated to serving the campus and regional community through our work.

To accomplish this mission:

  1. We engage in scholarly and creative practices that explore multiple aesthetic, historical, cultural, social, and technical aspects of our disciplines. 
  2. We involve students in rigorous interdisciplinary practices to prepare them for life in the performing arts and beyond.
  3. We center collaborative processes in all aspects of making dance and theater.
  4. We cultivate themed seasons that present work to challenge, entertain, and educate audiences.
  5. We commission guest choreographers, designers, directors, and lecturers to bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms, studies, shops, and stages.
  6. To ensure that all community members are welcomed and respected, we commit to challenging racism, sexism, sizeism, ableism, and other injustices.