Cornell University

About the Program

Cornell University's Department of Performing and Media Arts (PMA), in the College of Arts & Sciences, offers a BA that combines the study and practice of theatre and live performance, cinema/media, and/or dance. Dance is one of the department's core areas, addressed through the Embodied Performance rubric and courses such as Dance Composition, Global Dance and Decolonizing Movement, and Screendance. The department also offers a standalone Dance minor. There is no audition or portfolio requirement for admission. The department is housed in the Schwartz Center, which includes a dance theatre and studios.

Degrees Offered

Concentrations

Coursework

Dance is integrated within the interdisciplinary PMA major under the Embodied Performance rubric rather than as a standalone dance major. Dance minor requires PMA 2300 Dance Composition; PMA 3226 Global Dance and Decolonizing Movement (or PMA 3750 Global Theatre and Performance); three additional dance-focused courses; and one Production Laboratory (PMA 1410 or 1610). Other dance courses include "Dance in America: Cultures, Identities, and Fabrication" and "Screendance: History and Practice." Global/decolonizing movement and choreography/composition are emphasized. Cornell's PMA PhD is a performance-studies doctorate (theatre, media, and dance scholarship), not a dance-specific doctorate, and is not currently accepting applications.

Facilities

Housed in the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, which includes theatre performance spaces, a dance theatre and studios, film editing and production suites, a film forum, classrooms, and scenery/costume shops.