Dance students perform during spring rehearsal

Department of Theatre and Dance

The Theatre & Dance Department is a training program that focuses on the professional skills expected on any stage, set, studio, audition or in any dance company. We offer a BFA in Acting/Directing, Dance, Design, Musical Theatre as well as a BA in Acting/Directing, Dance and Design.

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Mission Statement

As a nationally and internationally renowned department, APSU's Theatre & Dance fosters artists, scholars and professionals who positively impact our world. We provide a creative environment in which we educate and prepare students for the professional worlds of Theatre and Dance. Through our innovative methods:

Students progress through a rigorous training program that incorporates both practice and scholarship.
We cultivate student’s creative, performance, and scholarly aptitudes through exposure to diverse practical and philosophical approaches to dance and theatre studies.
We advance critical thought processes by stressing the theoretical, pedagogical, and historical aspects of theatre and dance studies.
We nurture and inspire excellence in student achievement.

BFA Degree in Theatre / Dance

Musical Theatre Concentration

Dance Concentration

Acting/Directing Concentration

Design Concentration

BA Degree in Theatre / Dance

Dance Concentration

Acting/Directing Concentration

Design Concentration

Minors

Theatre

Dance

What Do Theatre and Dance Majors Do After Graduation?

Professional Actor
Adjunct Faculty
Artistic Director
Arts Administrator
Arts Educator
Arts Manager
Ballet Instructor
Community Dance Instructor
Choreographer
Dance Company Manager
Dance Therapist

Professional Dancer
Marketing Manager
Performance Artist
Professional Performer
Performing Arts Teacher
Photographer
Rehearsal Director
Teacher
Theatre Programmer
Yoga Instructor
Professional Theatrical Designer

News Feed

Austin Peay to present world premiere of John Patrick Shanley’s ‘Five Savory Dishes’

Austin Peay to present world premiere of John Patrick Shanley's 'Five Savory Dishes'

From Thursday, Nov. 21-Sunday, Nov. 24, APSU Department of Theatre and Dance and the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts (CECA) will present "Five Savory Dishes" - a world premiere evening of one-act plays written Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright John Patrick Shanley.

Marcus Hayes

Phone: (931) 221-6767
Email: hayesma@apsu.edu

Erica Harris

Theatre and Dance major Harris uses classes to come out of her shell

“My goal is to be a Marvel superhero one day. I want to be in a movie, and I want my own stand-alone movie, just like Spider-Man gets his, Iron Man, Captain America and my favorite, Black Panther.”

Where have APSU alumni gone?

Meet Paige Briana Lewandowski

After completing a 1 year stage management internship at Lexington Children's Theatre, Paige has moved to New York where she is beginning work as a Stage Manager in the Julliard School Professional Internship Program.

Meet William Stewart Ladd

William Ladd currently works for StageOne National Dance Competition and for Applause Talent Competition. William is also signed to the JLM Talent Management Firm.

Meet Lauren Lynch

Lauren has started graduate work towards an MFA at Texas Tech University. She currently teaches Intro to Cinema and is in rehearsals for a role in Tom Stoppard's Arcadia for TTU Theatre and Dance's Maedgen Mainstage.

Meet Ben McCormack

Ben just finished a season as the Assistant Technical Director at Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre. He now is in Pittsburgh beginning work on his MFA. Ben was accepted into the graduate program in Production and Technology Management at Carnegie Melon University.

Meet Michael Mason

Michael is currently a Resident Production Intern at Lexington Children's Theatre specializing in scenic painting.

Meet Jennifer Whitcolm-Olivia

Since graduating from APSU, Jennifer has been acting professionally in and around Nashville. She has performed with Nashville Rep, Studio Tennessee, Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theater, Nashville Opera, and others. She also teaches dance/musical theatre in the Nashville/Franklin area.

Meet Dale Krupla

Dale is a videographer and film maker in New York City. In 2013 he founded Fez Empire Productions specializing in video production with a focus on interviews, branding from concept to completion, and editing for fashion. His work has been seen on GQ.com, WABC Eyewitness News 7 New York, Madison Square Garden and in the back of New York City taxis. His work can be seen at Fezempire.com.

Meet Rafael Tillery

Since graduating from APSU, Rafael performed as a guest artist with Garth Fagan Dance Company, Shen Wei Dance Arts, and the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company II. Currently, he is in his second season as a dancer with the MADCO Dance Company in St. Louis, MO.

Meet Kevin Loveland

Kevin completed his MFA degree in Dance at Mills College in Oakland, CA. He is an adjunct dance faculty member at Middle Tennessee State University and recently completed a summer Theatre and Dance program at the French Woods Performing Arts Festival.

Meet Laquimah Van Dunk

Laquimah completed her MFA in Dance at the University of Utah in 2014. She is a touring company member of David Dorfman Dane and has been a guest faculty member for Bates College as well as a staff member for the Bates Dance Festival.

Meet Holly Brown

Since graduating from APSU, Holly has been a dance director for a music and dance studio, overseeing the dance program and performing with the Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville. Holly is now the Creative Director for ASET Academy of Performing Arts; a nonprofit in Nashville.

How Do I Get Started?

Admission is via audition and/or portfolio review and interview. Begin the application process now by setting up an audition date.

Set up an audition date