| The faculty
of the Performing Arts Division operates on the
premise that we are teaching and nurturing lively
individual human beings who are developing as critical
thinkers and performing artists in a dynamic and
ever-changing world. The complex processes we teach,
and in which we engage as artists, provide for
self and group expression in many realms, including
the intellectual, aesthetic, emotional, social,
and political. These processes also inculcate understanding
in an educational setting predicated on the principles
of integrated learning, directly applying the principles
of a liberal arts education. We recognize and promote
these processes as valuable to students in the
classroom, production spaces and in performance.
Our intention is to provide our students with
ideas, techniques, rehearsal methods and performance
venues. These permit us individually and collectively
— as students, faculty and community members —
to explore the human condition, the range and intensity
of human expression, and to comment on and react
to the world around us. All students, regardless
of major, training or experience, are openly urged
to participate.
The processes of creating theatre, music, and
dance is our primary focus. It is our fundamental
teaching tool and the driving force behind our
research and experimentation. Public performance
is the culmination of the process. We strive to
provide our students with meaningful experiences
which will foster a continuing, long term appreciation
and/or participation in the performing arts.
Through Performing Arts Division classes and performance
venues, we aim to provide:
- the best combination of curricular and co-curricular
learning and performance opportunities for students
at Alfred University;
- the development of art
and craft through inculcation of skills and
self-discipline, leading to full participation
in and advocacy of the arts;
- the means by which
all students with sufficient commitment may participate
in these processes;
- opportunities for collaboration
among all of the fine arts and other liberal arts
disciplines;
- models for our students and colleagues
in the efforts and ethics of making art within
a liberal arts environment;
- a clear, well-thought
out study of diverse and evolving processes in
the development of the performance arts and performing
artists;
- the surrounding University and local community
with high quality work which represents a
wide range of cultures, historical periods, styles,
and techniques;
- a continuous raising of cultural
awareness and esteem of the performing arts.
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