Theatre & Dance Exploration Day
If you are a high school theatre or dance student or new to the craft and interested in the University of Kentucky Department of Theatre and Dance, we would love for you to attend our Theatre & Dance Exploration Day on April 11, 2025. During the day, you will tour the facilities on the University of Kentucky’s beautiful campus, gain insight into what it is like to be a theatre or dance major at UK, take dance classes from our professional faculty, and attend Q&As with current theatre and dance students. All participants will be provided lunch at the Gatton Student Center Champions Kitchen and one complimentary ticket to our mainstage production of Urinetown at 7:30 pm in the Guignol Theatre.
Registration is required. A letter of participation will be provided.
SCHEDULE
- 10:00-10:30 am – Sign-in (Fine Arts Building Lobby, 465 Rose Street)
- 10:30-11:30 am – Morning class session, chosen during registration
- 11:30am-1:00 pm – Short Campus Tour and Lunch at Champions Kitchen (Gatton Student Center- Lunch compliments of UK Department of Theatre & Dance)
- 1:00-2:00 pm – Afternoon class session, chosen during registration
- 2:10-3pm – Discussion Dept. of Theatre and Dance with faculty and student Q & A
- 7:30-9:30 pm – Attend the performance of Urinetown (Optional)
CLASSES
Whether you're a seasoned performer or new to the stage, these classes offer a chance to explore your potential and take the first step toward a theater and/or dance education. Discover how you can turn your passion for acting and dance into a rewarding college experience and gain valuable insights from theatre and dance at the University of Kentucky.
Morning Sessions
- Urinetown Choreography for Dancers – During this session, students will get a sneak peek and learn one of the numbers of the performance of Urinetown! Please wear clothes you can move in and bring socks, ballet slippers or jazz shoes if you have them! Intermediate to advanced dancers.
- Acting for the Camera – Students will be introduced to on-camera acting skills and how to adjust from “acting” for the stage to “acting” for the camera.
- Acting – This session will provide a insight into the skills and techniques developed in a college-level theater course. Students will engage in hands-on activities, learn about character development, and improvisation.
- Dramatic Writing for Stage & Screen – Guided from the creative impulse to clarifying, exploring, and shaping ideas, this session plays with plot while writing a script!
Afternoon Session
- Urinetown Choreography for Actors – This session is for new or beginner musical theatre dancers. Students will be introduced to basic dance steps that will be seen in the performance of Urinetown! Please wear clothes you can move in and bring socks, ballet slippers or jazz shoes if you have them! Beginner dancers welcome!
- Light Design for Musical Theatre – Participants will read a scene from a musical theatre show and determine the various lighting requirements based on the setting, costumes, set, possible dance numbers, and storyline.
- Shakespeare Page to Stage – Shakespeare’s plays were written to be performed, not read, and this session explores how to act a scene in one of these iconic plays.
- Contemporary Modern – This class is for the experienced dancer. Contemporary Modern embraces the creative side fused with contemporary. The class focuses on using technique, functional anatomy, and performance to allow for efficient and sophisticated communication within the choreography.