DEGREE
Bachelor of Arts
CAREER IDEAS
Actor/Actress, Arts Administration, Choreographer, Costume Designer, Dance or Drama Teacher, Dance Therapist, Dancer, Director, Dramaturge, Entrepreneur, Event Planner, Lighting Designer, Playwright, Producer, Production Assistant, Public Relations Practitioner, Recreational Therapist, Set Designer, Somatic Body Therapist, Stage Crew, Stage Manager, Technical Director, TV or Radio Broadcaster
New York City: A train ride away. If you’re a student in our dance and theatre program, you will study with faculty who are professional choreographers, directors, playwrights, dancers, dance therapists, theatre educators and actors with years of experience on and off Broadway. Our dance curriculum focuses on a sequential study of contemporary dance technique employing a variety of current and traditional styles and methods, with an emphasis on composition and choreography. Theatre training includes a sequential study of acting, voice and speech, dramatic literature, as well as directing and design. Our technical theatre training focuses on practical professional experiences in lighting design, stage management, costume design, scene design, and stagecrafts.
Your dance and theatre training goes beyond the studio and the stage. The liberal arts are at the core of every Manhattanville education and our program is no different. At the same time that you develop practical skills in technique and performance, your core classes in the humanities, and math and sciences will help you develop into an articulate, literate, and socially aware citizen. The goal of our department is to enliven the mind, and express the creative spirit that lies within us all. Your studies will combine knowledge with experience, exploration of technique with study of performance history, theory and critical research. This mode of study is comparable to the relationship between lecture and laboratory in liberal arts science courses, such as Biology.
You’ll explore the collaborative frontiers where dance and theatre meet.
Majors in our areas of concentration — dance, theatre and dance therapy are accepted by audition. The course of study culminates in a guided senior thesis project of your devising, which reflects your influences and interests.
Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to pursue internships for credit at any of several studios, theaters and other outlets in New York City.

Fall 2019 - Spring 2020 Season
On the Head of a Pin
October 24th, 25th, 26th at 8pm
October 27th at 2pm
In the Little Theatre
Written and Directed by: Frank Winters
A Grand Night for Singing
November 7, 8, 9 at 8 p.m.
In the Little Theatre
Directed by: Mark Cherry
Stage and Musical Direction by Mark Cherry and Beverly Meyer
*Presented by the Music Department in association with the Dance & Theatre Department
Fall Dance Concert
November 21, 22, 23 at 8 p.m.
November 24 at 2 p.m.
In the Little Theatre
Guest Choreographers: Max Stone, Michaela McGowan, & Alex Olivieri
The Fall Dance Concert is an evening of contemporary and classical dance. Styles such as Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and African are performed.
Two professional choreographers and five student choreographers will present original dances performed by Manhattanville students.
Company
January 30, 31, and February 1
February 2 at 2 p.m.
In the Little Theatre
Directed by: Mark Cherry
Shakespeare in the Castle
March 26, 27, 28, at 8 p.m.
March 29 at 2 p.m.
In the Castle (Reid Hall)
Directed by: Clista Townsend
Written by: William Shakespeare
Spring Dance Concert
April 17, 18 & April 19 at 2 p.m & 8 p.m.
In the Little Theatre
Guest Choreographer(s):
The Spring Dance Concert is an evening of contemporary and classical dance. Styles such as Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and African are performed. Two professional choreographers and five student choreographers will present original dances performed by Manhattanville students.
Senior Thesis Festival
April 25, 26
In the Little Theatre
Free Admission
Senior Thesis Festival is a performance culmination of research associated with the Senior Thesis course. Dance & Theatre students, in their Senior year, collaborate, direct, audition, and fully-produce a live-production. The Senior Thesis Festival highlights the academic rigor associated with the performing arts and the incredible artistic talents of our students upon graduation.
$5 for Manhattanville students and senior citizens
$10 for general admission
For RESERVATIONS call: 914.323.7175
or EMAIL: boxoffice@mville.edu
Your reservation request must include:
1. Your name
2. Date of the performance
3. Number of tickets
4. What type of ticket (Student/Senior Citizen/General Admission)
*If you DO NOT receive an email or phone call back from us, your tickets have been RESERVED.
*The house opens 30 minutes prior to the performance
*Reserved Tickets not claimed by 10 minutes prior to the performance will be released and sold to the public
*Seating is limited and late comers will be seated at the discretion of the house manager.
All events are subject to change
Visit the Auditions page for more information.
CLICK HERE TO AUDITION
Procedures For Acceptance and Entrance Requirements
Students wishing to major in Dance & Theatre MUST audition for the department in the spring of their senior year of high school.
* There is no audition required to Major in Technical Theatre.
You must fill out the application form through ACCEPT'D prior to your audition and select a date and time.
Acceptance and Performing Arts Scholarships are based on the audition rating, high school GPA, (SATs and ACTs optional).
Note: Students need to audition to be a Dance and Theatre major in the department. You do not need to be a DTH major in order to take some of the DTH courses or to be in some of our productions.
On-Campus Audition Dates for the Next Academic Year
- Saturday, November 23, 2019 (*This date is reserved for CURRENT Manhattanville students seeking a Dance or Theatre Major)
- Wednesday, February 5, 2020
- Saturday, February 22, 2020
- Wednesday, March 18, 2020
- **If you would like to audition after the last date, just send an email to: bibles@mville.edu to set up a time**
* If you are a current Manhattanville student and would like to audition to be a DTH major, please contact: 914.323.5458
Please Upload the Following to Your Audition File in ACCEPT'D
- 1. Essay describing why you would like to study dance and/or theatre at Manhattanville.
- 2. A dance or theatre resume detailing when, where, and how long you have trained, your performance experience and any other skills you may have (musical instruments, etc.).
- 3. Please include a headshot and/or photo.
- 4. A letter of recommendation from a teacher in the field.
- Clothing that is comfortable for your audition (a changing room will be available).
Your 10-minute audition will be a combination of audition and interview.
Theatre Audition: Prepare two contrasting monologues (one contemporary and one classical).
The two monologues should be no more than three minutes combined. One or both of them should involve strong physicalization.
Dance Audition: Prepare a three-minute dance piece that you will perform for a jury. Modern, ballet, or jazz. It may be performed with or without music. Please bring your own recording.
Combined Dance and Theatre Audition: Prepare a two-minute dance piece AND one monologue. The time for both the dance and the monologue should not exceed four minutes.
NOTE: You will be auditioning to be a major in the Department of Dance and Theatre. Admissions to the Dance and Theatre Department is based on your audition and your academic acceptance to Manhattanville College. Based on these criteria, the College also awards Performing Arts Scholarships. Address any financial questions to your admissions counselor.
NOTE: Students who are interested in Musical Theatre must audition for the Music Department, 914.323.5260. (Kathryn.DiBernardo@mville.edu)
Requirements
Current information about degree program requirements can be found in the official College Catalogs.
Full-Time Faculty
Shawn Bible, Chair, Professor - Advanced Modern Dance, Choreography, Dance on Camera, Dance Concert
Jeff Kaplan, Assistant Professor - Survey of Dramatic Literature, Junior Seminar, Creative Process, Acting, Composition
Clista Townsend, Visiting Assistant Professor - Shakespeare, Voice & Speech, Acting
Staff
Jane Ryan, Administrative Assistant
Jeremy Ping, Technical Director-Technical Theatre, Lighting & Sound Design
Adjunct Faculty
Liz Prince, Costume Design, Stagecraft
Ken Rothchild, Scene Designer, Dramatic Literature, Senior Seminar
Andrei Kisselev, Ballet Technique
Allison Pagano, Yoga, Modern Technique
Shawn Garnier, Jazz, Hip-Hop
Christien Methot, Lighting Design
Vincent Mraz, Acting, Intro to Acting, Creative Process
Bradley Ellis, Contact Improvisation
Colleen Sullivan, Acting, Viewpoints
Carol Fox Prescott, Acting, Guest Director
Corey E. Esannason, Yoga
Timothy Miller, Yoga
Valerie Hubbs, Dance Therapy I & II
Jon Huberth, Acting for the Camera I & II
Jeff Wanshel, Playwriting









