Internships/Professional Experiences

An Introduction to Drama and Dance Internships

Students seeking to gain practical experience starting their first year on campus are an integral part of the Department of Drama and Dance productions. The departmental production program is designed to allow students at different levels of development to explore and further extend their skills in different theatrical styles – from musicals and contemporary plays to Shakespearian plays and dance concerts.A wide-range of hands-on experiences and activities are available to students, such as working on back stage crews, production construction crews, designing, as well as performing. These experiences prepare students for internships with professional performing arts companies. The performing arts consist of a wide range of companies offering numerous internship opportunities for our students. Given the variety of opportunities available, it is important to recognize how they differ in the professional experiences they provide for students.

Many theater and dance companies provide college students with internships where they gain hands-on experience in performance, as well as different aspects of theatrical and dance production, such as design, and production technology. Other types of internships, which offer opportunities in casting, marketing, producing and publicizing, give students a deeper understanding of the business aspects of theatrical and dance productions.

The department provides updates on the availability of internships through poowabah.info, a departmentally sponsored information Web site. Alumni, faculty and students contribute postings of internship opportunities to a blog highlighting the collaborative and community-minded atmosphere of the Drama and Dance Department.

Students interested in internships may pursue them in a variety of ways. They may respond to postings, contact their departmental adviser for assistance in securing an internship, or research companies with internship programs. The Drama and Dance Department allows students to receive academic credit for internships performed in areas related to the students’ selected major. Faculty advisers are assigned to students receiving credit for their internship who support them throughout that process.

• Internship Support from Faculty
• Examples of Internships