Specializations in Performing Arts
Theatre Studies
An examination of theatrical performance, history, and theory, encompassing various genres and styles of theater from various cultures.
Musical Theatre
The study of the genre that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance to tell a story, exploring its history, techniques, and cultural impact.
Dance Studies
An exploration of dance as an art form, including its history, cultural significance, choreography, and performance practices across various styles and genres.
Ethnomusicology
The study of music within its cultural context, focusing on the traditions, practices, and meanings of music around the world.
Performance Studies
An interdisciplinary field that examines performance in various contexts, including theater, dance, music, and everyday life, considering theory and practice.
Theatre Direction
Research and practice related to the role of a director in theater, focusing on interpretation, creative vision, and the overall production process.
Choreography
The art and practice of designing dance sequences, studying movement, composition, and the translation of music and narrative into dance.
Acting
The study and practice of performance techniques, character development, and the interpretation of scripts in various dramatic forms.
Music Composition
The creation of original music through various forms and styles, focusing on both practical composition and theoretical foundations.
Theatre History
An analysis of the historical evolution of theater practices, significant works, and figures across different cultures and time periods.
Arts Management
Study of the business and administrative aspects of the arts, including the management of performance venues, marketing, and funding.
Cultural Criticism
The analysis and interpretation of cultural practices and performances, examining their social, political, and historical contexts.
Sound Studies
Interdisciplinary research focused on the perception, cultural significance, and technological aspects of sound in performance and media.
Musical Performance
The practice and analysis of performing music, addressing various genres, techniques, and the interpretation of musical works.
Puppetry Arts
The study of puppetry as a unique form of theater, exploring its history, techniques, and significance in cultural storytelling.
Opera Studies
An exploration of the art of opera as a dramatic and musical form, its historical development, and its cultural significance.
Interdisciplinary Performance
Research that integrates various forms of art, such as combining theater, dance, and visual arts for innovative performance experiences.
Physical Theatre
A form of performance that emphasizes bodily movement and visual expression over traditional verbal storytelling, drawing from varied histories.
Theatre for Young Audiences
Focus on creating and analyzing theater specifically designed for children, exploring pedagogical methods and suitability of content.
Community Performance
Research and practice surrounding performance activities within communities, often emphasizing participation, representation, and social issues.
Devised Theatre
A collaborative form of theater-making that emphasizes original, experimental performances created collectively by a group of artists.
Stage Design
The study of creating the visual and spatial elements of a production, including set design, lighting, and costume design for performance.
Vocal Performance
Focus on the techniques and practices involved in singing across various genres, emphasizing vocal health, style, and interpretation.
Contemporary Dance
Exploration of modern dance styles, techniques, and abstract concepts, often emphasizing improvisation and individual expression.
Historical Performance Practice
The study of performing arts within the context of their original time periods, focusing on techniques, instruments, and styles of performance.
Digital Performance
An examination of performance that integrates digital technologies, addressing forms such as virtual theater, multimedia art, and immersive experiences.
Cognitive Neuroscience of Performance
The study of the neurological processes involved in experiencing and producing performance art, exploring how these processes affect perception and creation.
Fashion and Performance
Analysis of costume and fashion's role in performance art, exploring how clothing contributes to character, narrative, and cultural representation.
Civic Engagement through the Arts
Research and practice involving the arts as tools for social change, exploring community involvement, activism, and advocacy through performance.