School of Dance and Theatre

Carl H. Lefko, Director
Inessa Plekhanova, Interim Chair, Department of Dance
Carl H. Lefko, Chair, Department of Theatre and Cinema

The School of Dance and Theatre offers liberal arts and pre-professional studies culminating in one of six degrees and two minors. Students of dance and theatre receive instruction rich in diverse perspectives and cross-disciplinary experiences. Both programs are supported by strong production programs which make significant contributions to the cultural life of the university and community.

Dance Department

The Dance Program provides a comprehensive pre-professional education for undergraduate dance majors in classical and contemporary dance; fosters an educational environment committed to dance as an autonomous and major art form realizing the many significant roles dance can play in world cultures; provides appropriate dance activities for the enrichment of the university, south western Virginia, the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond; and encourages creative and technological innovations in dance. The department prepares students for careers, related careers and advanced professional studies in dance.

The department’s curriculum offers students study in four areas of dance: technique, theory, pedagogy and choreography. In addition, students may develop special interest in related fields such as technical theatre, therapy, and/or somatics. Students may pursue a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science with Teacher Licensure in Dance Education, or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in performance. The department also offers a Dance minor.

Admission Requirements

To be accepted as a dance major an applicant must demonstrate through an audition sufficient ability for placement in dance courses. Auditions are scheduled at locations both on and off campus.

Honors Program

The School of Dance and Theatre offers a honors programs in each department. For a general description of the Honors Academy at Radford University, see here . For specific requirements of this department’s program, contact the department chairperson or the director of the Honors Program.

Theatre Department

The Theatre Program is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre. The program provides students with a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum emphasizing the study and practice of performance, design/technical theatre, history and cinematic arts, preparing a graduate to pursue a professional career in theatre or study on the post-baccalaureate level.

The theatre program provides a challenging variety of performance opportunities in mainstage, studio, musical and children’s theatre productions. Participation in productions is open to all students enrolled in Radford University.

Students in the department may earn either a B.A. or B.S. degree with a major in theatre and a minor in cinematic arts. The department also offers minors in Theatre and Cinematic Arts.

Admission Requirements

To be accepted as a theatre major an applicant must complete an entry interview.  Interviews are scheduled on campus by contacting the chairman, Carl Lefko.

Departmental Requirements

Theatre majors must meet the following program expectations:

• Student must be enrolled EACH semester in ONE of the following production courses: THEA 231 , THEA 232 , THEA 260 , THEA 360  or THEA 476 .
• Students who are on probation at the beginning of a semester will not be cast or hold a major crew position during that semester. Exceptions will be granted only if the position is directly required for a course in which the student is enrolled.
• The department requires all theatre majors to receive written permission from the department chair prior to auditioning, interviewing or accepting a role or position in any production or project outside of the department during the fall and spring semesters.
• Theatre majors must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 in department courses for graduation.
• Theatre majors are required to attend monthly departmental meetings held the first Monday of each month.
• Theatre majors must complete all production assignments (a minimum of one per semester) and attend year-end reviews in order to remain in good standing as a major.

Academic Programs

Cinematic Arts Interdisciplinary Minor  

Dance, B.A.  

Dance, B.F.A.  

Dance, B.S.  (Dance Education concentration)

Dance Minor  

Theatre, B.A.  

Theatre, B.S.  

Theatre Minor