The enterprise of theater, encompassing both the arts of the drama and of the dance, past and present, is the concern of the Department of Dance and Drama. The central objects of our study are the play, the film, and the dance, and the ways they are brought to life before an audience. Students learn by doing the jobs of the artists who collaborate to make plays, dances, and films. Some courses concentrate on the arts as they were performed in their historical context; others explore in depth the work of the artists: the playwright, screenwriter, choreographer, actor, dancer, director, and designer. Almost all courses require, in conjunction with reading and critical writing, the performance of problems and exercises. Students are encouraged to pursue independent work in either historical and critical research or in creative activity. All courses in the department are open to every student in the College; certain courses have prerequisites noted in the course descriptions.