Greetings from the Department of Theater & Dance! Are you passionate about performance and movement? Do you dream of expressing yourself through acting, dance, or stagecraft? Then you’ve come to the right place! Our department is dedicated to helping you discover and develop your artistic voice in the world of theater and dance. Our classes are designed to challenge and inspire you as a performer and creator. As the renowned choreographer Martha Graham once said, “Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.” This philosophy drives our program. Our faculty members are active professionals in the industry, bringing real-world experience to the classroom and helping you build essential skills for your future career. Students in our program develop creativity, adaptability, collaboration, and self-discipline – all crucial for success in the performing arts and beyond. We look forward to witnessing your growth and creativity unfold on our stages and in our studios over the next four years!
DOUG BROWN
Chair, Department of Theater and Dance Associate Professor of Theater
dbrown@highpoint.edu
336.841.4525
B.A. THEATER
Our Bachelor of Arts in Theater offers a comprehensive education with emphases in performance or technical theater. The performance track focuses on acting techniques and stage experience, while the technical emphasis covers scenic design, costume design, lighting, sound, and stage management. This is a versatile degree that prepares students for careers in theater while also equipping them with valuable skills applicable to diverse professional paths. The creativity, communication, teamwork, and problem solving abilities developed through theater studies are highly sought after in fields such as education, business, media, event planning, and public relations. Whether on stage, behind the scenes, or in other industries, our graduates are well-prepared to succeed in multiple career paths.
A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dance is an art that you live and breathe. You can’t imagine a life without it, and neither can I. Our program embraces each student as an individual artist - with a unique voice, passions, and interests. I believe that life is enriched by dance and artistic expression - teaching us how to be empathetic, collaborative, and creative humans, along with a hefty list of valuable lifeskills - soft skills that employers seek - that make our students powerful, dynamic graduates. I want your college experience to be focused on what is important to you, and the courses and experiential opportunities outside of the classroom will give you plenty of flexibility to find your artistic voice and forge a career path ripe with options.
Please email me to set up a time to talk about what you are looking for and whether our program is a good fit for you. I can’t wait to meet you!
LINDSEY HOWIE
Director, Dance Program
Assistant Professor of Dance lhowie@highpoint.edu
336.841.9439
B.A. DANCE
HPU’s dance program offers active, thought-provoking courses and abundant performance and choreography opportunities. Students receive a strong foundation in diverse dance areas guided by supportive faculty. You will enjoy small class sizes, personal mentorship, guest artist master classes and workshops, and a busy production schedule for skill refinement. The curriculum delves into dance as art, cultural expression, and a reflection of the human condition. We emphasize leading from the HEART, with hands-on experience, empathetic service, artistic and personal growth, relationships with supportive mentors, and teamwork and collaborative spirit. Balancing pushing, pulling, and independent growth while upholding these five core values are what truly sets the dance program at HPU apart.
DOUBLE MAJORING AND MINORING
Imagine combining your love for theater or dance with another academic passion – the possibilities are endless! At HPU, we encourage you to think beyond boundaries and create a unique educational journey. Double majoring in theater or dance with fields like Psychology, Entrepreneurship, or Exercise Science isn’t just possible – it’s a game-changer for your future! Our flexible B.A. programs in theater and dance are designed to complement a wide range of disciplines, opening doors to innovative career paths tailored to your interests. Picture yourself as a dance therapist, a theater entrepreneur, or a performance biomechanics specialist. These are just a few examples of the exciting careers our double major graduates pursue. Ready to craft your own interdisciplinary adventure? Dive into our suggested pairings or chat with our faculty to design a personalized academic roadmap that sets you apart in today’s competitive job market!
SUGGESTED DOUBLE MAJORS
• B.A. Media Production & Entrepreneurship
• B.A. Sociology & Anthropology
• B.A. Music
• B.A. Political Science
• B.A. Studio Art
MINORS (CAREER-PATH
• Music
• Photography
• Creative Writing
• Marketing/Events Management
FOCUSED)
• B.A. Pop Culture & Media Production
• B.A. Design Studies
• B.A. English
• B.S. Psychology
• B.S. Exercise Science
• Criminal Justice
• Studio Art
• Computer Science
• Physics
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
High Point University’s Theater and Dance graduates step into the spotlight with a wide array of exciting career paths. Our alumni have found success as actors, directors, choreographers, stage managers, costume designers, lighting technicians, dance instructors, theater educators, arts administrators, movement therapists, event planners, and much more. The versatile skills developed in our programs open doors to opportunities in traditional theater and dance venues, film and television, education, entertainment management, and even fields like corporate training and public relations. At HPU, we prepare you not just for a job, but for a lifetime of creative and professional possibilities in the performing arts and beyond.
WHAT SETS US APART?
SMALL CLASS SIZES & PERSONALIZED MENTORSHIP
Our intimate class sizes ensure individualized instruction and close faculty-student relationships. You’ll receive one-on-one mentoring that helps you experiment, push outside your comfort zone, and develop your unique artistic voice in a supportive environment.
PROFESSIONAL INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS
Learn directly from working professionals through our extensive guest artist program, featuring Broadway performers, Disney entertainers, and industry experts. Our alumni network includes graduates working at professional theater companies like the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Stagedoor Manor, Disney, Busch Gardens, and The Tanger Center.
EXTENSIVE PERFORMANCE & DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES
With six fully produced shows each year ranging from musicals to contemporary works, you’ll gain real-world experience through numerous opportunities to perform and design at a professional level.
EARN WHILE YOU LEARN
Gain hands-on experience and get paid through work-study positions in our technical theater shops.
VERSATILE CAREER PREPARATION
Our flexible B.A. programs are designed to complement other disciplines, preparing you for diverse career paths. The creativity, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills you develop are highly valued in theater, education, business, media, and beyond.
CREATIVE ARTS FELLOWSHIP
Theater and Dance majors can join the Creative Arts Fellows Program, a four-year collaborative academic journey with peers who share their passion for the arts. Guided by a dedicated director, students receive personalized mentorship, engage in networking trips, and gain insights from arts experts. This program emphasizes value-added learning, fostering a growth mindset, and building strong connections with faculty, peers, and professionals. It comprises three main components: community building, experiential learning, and leadership development, resulting in a well-rounded, empowered graduate.
THEATER ALUMNI OUTCOMES
HPU’s theater program boasts many successful alumni with careers in the theater and entertainment industries, which include stage managers, directors, lighting and video supervisors, performers, set designers, casting managers, producers and stylists. A degree in theater at HPU prepares students for a wide array of professional post-graduate opportunities.
COURTNEY FEIMAN
Performance Theater & Music Double Major, Class of ‘14
Freelance Audiobook
Narrator, Actor, & Singer
“The HPU theatre department encouraged experience and understanding in every area of a production. This knowledge allowed me to broaden my horizons in multiple areas of production and appreciate how each individual area works together to create the whole. The individual mentoring I received has allowed me to be an adaptable performer. I am able to walk into any professional situation with confidence in my abilities.”
LAUREN ENGLER
Performance Theater & Visual Arts Double Major, Class of ‘14
Production Manager at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company Baltimore, MD
“My time in the HPU theater department set me on a trajectory for success in professional theater. Each student gets hands-on experience in every aspect of production. I was able to find work immediately after graduation because my skills were well rounded & marketable.”
Technical Theater Major, Class of ‘18
Production Stage Manager at Jean’s Playhouse Lincoln, NH
“The amount of experience in different areas of theater was so crucial to my continuing work after graduation. Being a stage manager who knew basic carpentry, how to work with lights and sew costumes, as well as having experience working with equity contracts helped me so much.”
VICTORIA MARSHALL
DANCE ALUMNI OUTCOMES
A degree in dance can benefit your future occupation in more ways than one. Our graduates apply the confidence, broad knowledge of the human condition, work ethic, collaboration and artistic practice to any job they seek. HPU dance alumni are excelling as directors, dance teachers, choreographers, photographers, dance administrators, theater managers, and many more.
GRACE ANN LETZINGER
Business Admin and Dance Double Major, Class of ‘21
Regional Director for Little People’s Creative Workshop & Company Manager for RPM Dance Suffolk, VA
“The opportunities to take charge and make my vision a reality were incredible. From student choreography performances to teaching classes for the HPU dance company, I grew a lot during my time at High Point.”
ALEX GRISWOLD
Dance Major, Class of ‘22
Creative Arts Director for Salvation Army of Texas Dallas, TX
“So many leadership opportunities are available to students. I grew into a stronger leader and found where I felt most confident in the dance program at HPU. I gained so many skills that I am now using in my current role.”
ELIZABETH SCHROEDER
Sports Management & Dance Double Major, Class of ‘23
Inside Sales Consultant for the Charlotte Hornets Charlotte, NC
“What I like the most about our department is the close-knit relationships with our professors. I was really able to get to know them on a personal level, which made me more confident in the studio.”
