Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
Overview
The dance major at Drexel University has a unique curriculum design and focus. Rather than focusing on training performers, this program combines rigorous academic coursework with extensive stage and studio dance experiences to prepare students for two possible career paths within dance, dance/movement therapy, and dance in education. Students participating in this major will earn a B.S. degree in dance with an optional minor in psychology.
Students focused on dance / movement therapy will prepare for jobs as dance/movement therapists, who are psychological counselors working in a variety of settings including hospitals, out patient clinics, and residential treatment centers. Students pursuing this option will earn a B.S. degree in dance at the Westphal College, through the Department of Performing Arts, for the first four years of study. They will then have the option to continue on to two years of study to earn an M.A. in Creative Arts in Therapy from the Hahneman Creative Arts in Therapy Program, through the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Drexel to become a registered dance/movement therapist.About the Dance Movement Therapy Program
The second career focus, dance in education, prepares students for jobs as elementary school teachers (grades Kindergarten through 6) who may also serve as school dance specialists. Students choosing this option will earn a B.S. degree in dance through the Department of Performing Arts and may elect to continue for a fifth year of study to earn an M.S. in the Science of Instruction through the School of Education. Students who successfully complete the five year B.S. / M.S. option in education will then be recommended to the State for a Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate in the area of Elementary Education for K-6 certification general education.
The student who enters the dance major at Drexel University is an academically achieving student who has a passion for dance, but does not see him or herself as necessarily pursuing a career exclusively in performance. He or she is looking for extensive experiences to improve as a dancer, choreographer, and performer while being stimulated academically. This student wants to study dance- both physically and cognitively- in college while being offered the possibility of gainful employment after graduation.
Capturing Movement: The Art of Dance Photography
Philadelphia dance photographers JJ Tiziou, Bill Herbert, Bob Emmott, Gabriel Bienczycki and Deborah Boardman will discuss their work in Capturing Movement: The Art of Dance Photography on October 16th at the Mandell Theater (33RD & Chestnut Sts.) JJ Tiziou has been taking photos at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival since 2003; Bill Herbert has taken dance photos for companies including FloMotion, Illadelph Legends of Hip Hop, BalletX, and most recently the Koresh Dance Studio; Bob Emmott, a professional photographer since 1970, has collaborated with Jeanne Ruddy Dance on their work Breathless, where his images were an integral part of the production design; Gabriel Bienczycki recently worked with Seattle Dance Project on their Project Orpheus and Project One; and Deborah Boardman has been photographing performing artists including dancers in The Pennsylvania Ballet and the Metropolitan Dance Academy for 24 years.
A selection of the photographers’ work will be displayed and the panelists will engage in a conversation regarding the art of capturing a moving image in a still photograph. Students are welcome to bring their portfolios to present to the panelists. The discussion begins at 7pm and is free to the public.
Grand Opening: Ellen Forman Memorial Dance Studio
Drexel University's new BS degree in dance with two possible career paths dance/movement therapy and dance in education is welcoming its first class. Many of the new classes will be held in the Ellen Forman Memorial Dance Studio and we're inviting you to come celebrate the grand opening with us, Friday October 3rd, 7-9 PM, adjacent to the Mandell Theater. Entrance to the Dance Studio is at the Mandell Theater at 33rd & Chestnut Sts.
The grand opening of the studio will consist of a reception, a presentation in the Mandell Theater, a live performance of work choreographed by Ms. Forman, performed by the Drexel Dance ensemble, and a video honoring Ms. Forman's contribution to Philadelphia dance. The studio is being named thanks to a genorous gift from the Ellen Forman Memorial Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation
The opening reception and presentation are free and open to the public, please RSVP by visiting http://www.drexel.edu/alumni or calling (215)-895-ALUM.
Performing Arts Brochure
Interested in learning more about the Performing Arts programs at Drexel? Click here (or on the image) to see the Department of Performing Arts 2009-2010 Season Brochure.