Prospective Students
Bates College offers majors and minors in Theater and Dance that are strong in both theory and practice, supported by the close mentorship of a dedicated faculty and a program size that allows us to know our students personally. It is also possible to incorporate theater or dance into an interdisciplinary studies program, or to make performance a vital part of your Bates experience through elective credits. The majority of our courses are open to all students regardless of major or minor status. The Theater and Dance major curricula culminate in thesis projects, which may include choreography, written scholarship, devising, directing, design, performance, and many other forms of creative and scholarly inquiry. Students also benefit from the internationally renowned Bates Dance Festival, which each summer transforms the campus into a hub for artists, collaboration, and performance. For more information, please see the Theater and Dance listings in the course catalog.
Students in Theater and Dance have numerous opportunities to perform and create each year. The department typically presents four mainstage productions: a Dance Thesis Concert, the Marcy Plavin Dance Concert showcasing guest artist repertory, and two faculty- or guest-directed plays. In addition, students may participate in a wide range of student-initiated projects, showcases, and clubs such as Robinson Players and 2Beats. Beyond performing, there are extensive opportunities to contribute behind the scenes in design, dramaturgy, technical crew, and stage management, ensuring students can gain hands-on experience in all aspects of production. Together, these opportunities ensure that students can engage as performers, choreographers, directors, designers, and collaborators throughout their time at Bates.
Auditions are not required for entrance to the Theater and Dance degree programs, or for participation in most courses and activities. With a close faculty-to-student ratio, we get to know you personally and support your growth as an artist and scholar. Some of our dance and theater productions involve auditions, which occur multiple times throughout the academic year. In these instances, we view auditions as opportunities for students to interact with the Bates Community, explore theater, dance, and performance in a safe and welcoming environment. Additionally, there are many opportunities to engage through classes, crew, design, dramaturgy, choreography, and collaborative projects without auditioning.
Facilities
The Department of Theater and Dance is housed across several dedicated facilities designed for both training and performance. Students work in three distinct theater spaces: Schaeffer Theatre, a 300-seat proscenium; Gannett Theater, a 100+ seat flexible black box; and the Martin Andrucki Black Box Studio, an intimate space for rehearsal, experimentation, and new work. In Merrill Gymnasium, the Plavin Studios—two professional dance studios with marley floors—host dance classes, rehearsals, and small-scale performances. Additionally, students also engage with the Immersive Media Studio, a state-of-the-art environment for interdisciplinary projects at the intersections of performance, technology, and digital media.
Guest artists are an integral part of the Bates Theater and Dance program, providing students with a wide range of experiences in performance styles, creative processes, and professional practices. Each year, four to six guest choreographers and directors of national and international reputation work with our students offering mainstage production opportunities, repertory creation, and master classes. Recent Bates Dance Festival artists-in-residence such as Staycee Pearl, Ananya Chatterjea, Kyle Marshall, BRKFST Dance Company, Christina Robson, and Gesel Mason have created work with our dance students, alongside guest directors including Joshua Hsu, Sally Wood, Kevin R. Free, and others who bring new approaches to theater-making. All of our guests are invited to share diverse and engaged perspectives, expanding the artistic horizons of our community.
Additional Opportunities
Bates Theater and Dance students are encouraged to connect their artistry to the wider world. In the summers, students may participate in the internationally renowned Bates Dance Festival’s Professional Training Program, an immersive three-week on-campus opportunity with working artists that blends rigorous training with a spirit of community and collaboration. Our global approach also extends to study abroad options, where Theater and Dance students are encouraged to spend a semester deepening their practice in international contexts, supported by a wide range of theater and dance options through the Bates Center for Global Education. Study abroad options include Academia dell’Arte, London School of Contemporary Dance, Trinity/LaMama, the O’Neill National Theater Institute, and others. Students also regularly attend and present at regional and national academic conferences in dance (ACDA) and theater (ACTF), further connecting their creative practice to wider scholarly and professional communities. Additionally, many Bates Theater and Dance students bring production involvement, teaching, and mentoring into local K–12 schools as well as professional and community spaces(including Portland Stage, Space Gallery, The Public Theatre, and more), deepening their sense of impact and engagement.
Apply
If you are a dance or theater artist interested in applying to Bates, it may be helpful to learn about our program by speaking to a member of the Theater and Dance Department. If you are planning to visit campus or have any questions, please email us at theateranddance@bates.edu. We would be happy to set up a meeting with you.
If you are an experienced theater or dance artist, we encourage you to submit a Supplemental Arts Portfolio as part of your application. Submitting a portfolio is an excellent way to share your talent and demonstrate your commitment to the arts at Bates. Faculty in Theater and Dance will carefully review your materials, and their evaluation will be considered by the admission committee. While not required, a portfolio can strengthen your application by highlighting your creative voice.
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