About this Department

The mission of the Department of Theatre and Dance is to provide pre-professional training in a liberal arts environment for all students within the disciplines of acting, musical theatre, dance, design and technology, directing, stage management, theatrical studies, and theatre education. The department's production season is ethnically and culturally diverse, stylistically varied, technologically enhanced, and guided by the University's Strategic Plan. The department encourages international, national, regional, community and university partnerships that broaden the educational and professional experiences of both our students and our faculty. Our numbers are growing toward 450 majors strong.

Theatre Mission and Objectives
The mission of the theatre unit of Ball State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance is to provide quality undergraduate education and training in theatre within a traditional humanistic liberal arts environment. 

Dance Mission and Objectives
The dance major in Ball State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance concentrates on a broad coverage of the performance field with advanced course work in ballet, folk dance, jazz, modern dance, tap, and musical theatre dance styles.

Accreditation
National Association of Schools of Theatre 
National Association of Schools of Dance 

Community Partnerships
The Department of Theatre and Dance offers a number of formal partnerships with community organizations that students may pursue for course credit as applicable: Muncie Civic Theatre reserves one directing slot per year in its Studio Series for a Production Option directing student capstone project. Theatre Education Option students can earn independent study credit by working in Muncie Burris Laboratory School's Drama Program, which is run entirely by the Theatre Education Option. Theatre 100 students have the opportunity to earn class credit by doing community service through Ball State's Student Voluntary Services. Finally, a partnership between the School of Music, the Department of Theatre and Dance (headed by the Theatre Education Option), Interlock: The East Central Indiana Autism Society of America, and Sibshops created the nationally recognized Ball State Prism Project. This project is a Saturday afternoon program using the performing arts as a medium to explore and develop social skills for children ages 6-14 who are challenged with special needs.

Related Links
Production Handbook
Ball State Strategic Plan
Giving to Ball State
Ball State Facts
Directions to our Theatres