Theatre and Dance

Student Works Policies and Procedures - Johnson Dance Studios

The Department of Theatre and Dance encourages and promotes student-initiated and produced dance projects in addition to the Senior Thesis Showcase and the Choreography Showcase. The following policies and procedures have been developed to clarify the degree of department support available for student choreographed projects. These policies are reviewed annually and are subject to change.  Proposals should be submitted to the dance faculty.  Proposals are approved based on faculty review. 

Student Works may be produced in the Studio Theatre and/or the Johnson Dance Studios or alternative sites. There are separate policies for each space.  For use of Johnson Dance Studios see below.  Also, please refer to Johnson Studio Theatre.

Johnson Dance Studios

1. Scheduling. Dance faculty will post deadlines for student works applications every semester.  Due to the extensive use of the dance studios, space for student works is limited.  All studio rehearsal and performance times will be arranged on an individual basis for each faculty-approved project. 

2. Funding. The department will provide printing for programs and 100 posters/flyers (see details below).  Admission will not be charged.

3. Production Crew. The production crew for each student work will be identified by the student choreographer in the proposal.  Production crews may include positions such as lighting coordinator, sound coordinator, house and stage management.  The student choreographer must be enrolled in at least one credit of Independent Study in Dance (DANT 471-473).  The student choreographer must have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average at the time the proposal is submitted.  Student Choreographers must have successfully completed Choreography II or have permission of the Department Chair and Theatre and Dance faculty before they can be approved to direct a Student Work in Dance Production.

The department will announce a call for student works proposals in dance well in advance of the deadline to submit proposals.  Once students express their interest, they will be assigned a faculty advisor to help them develop their proposals for the deadline. 

When the student choreographer submits the production proposal, the proposal will NOT include a list of the students who will serve on the production team.  After the proposal is approved for the season, the department faculty will solicit student applications for the positions of stage manager, assistant stage manager, scenic designer, lighting designer, etc. and then appoint students to the production team after consulting with the student choreographer.  

The student choreographer and production crew will be responsible for all aspects of the production:

• Conducting regular design concept meetings before rehearsals begin;
• Conducting the auditions and rehearsing the pieces;
• Conducting regular production meetings;
• Preparation of any prop and costume elements; 
• Preparation of any music or sound effects;
• Cue-setting and run of any lights and sound;
• House management; 
• Strike (including cleaning of the studio and dressing rooms) immediately following final performance; 
• Ensuring that no food, gum or drink is brought into the dance studio and that the dance floor is properly protected during rehearsals and performances.
• Security of the space throughout the rehearsal and performance period
• Preparation of publicity materials including: press release, posters and program copy.  "Preparation" includes:
• The writing/designing/drafting of materials;  
• Getting department and university approval; 
• Adhering to department deadlines for all publicity materials; failure to make deadlines may result in no publicity;  
• Programs are limited to one-page (8 x 11" paper) printed in black and white; 
• Posters are printed in one color on 11 x 17" paper or smaller;
• Security of the space throughout the rehearsal and performance period (Note: the director will be issued keys at the beginning of the three-week period and will return the keys on the first business day after the production closes)
• Scheduling a post-show discussion in collaboration with the faculty advisors.

4. Supervision. Each student work will have two faculty advisors. The faculty advisors' job is to serve as consultants to the choreographer and production crew.  The advisors shall:

• Assist in refining the rehearsal schedule;
• Inform the choreographer/production crew of guidelines and good practice for producing a student work;
• Observe auditions, rehearsals and performances as needed and provide constructive feedback;
• Attend production meetings;
• Serve as advocates for the choreographer/production crew;
• Serve as official instructors of the Independent Study course (DANT 471).
• Serve as liaisons between the department and the project. 

5. Staging parameters.

• No street shoes may be worn in the dance studio at any time.  This policy also applies to audience members. 
• No furniture should be used in the dance studios including any for audience seating.  The audience should be seated on floor mats provided.  (Exceptions will be made to accommodate audience members with physical handicaps.)
• Limited use of the prop collection — under supervision of the Technical Director and subject to approval by the department's resident Scenic Designer and the Student Choreographer's Faculty Advisors.
• Limited use of the costume collection — under supervision of and subject to approval by the department's resident Costume Designer and the Student Choreographer's Faculty Advisors.
• A complete strike is required: all items borrowed from the department collections must be returned in proper condition; the dance studio must be swept clean and returned to the standard classroom arrangement.
• No open flames may be used in any performance space.

General Policies on Student Works

The dance production crew is responsible for adhering to standard production procedures in the department, including:

• Food, drink, gum chewing and smoking policies
• Security policies
• Procedures in case of accident or injury

The student choreographer and dance production crew will all read and sign a statement that they have read and understand the Safety and Security Manual of Winthrop's Department of Theatre and Dance.

The members of the cast and crew are also expected to behave in a professional and collegial way.  This includes, but is not limited, to:

• Respecting and caring for the space and equipment
• Respecting the students, staff, and faculty in the department
• Being flexible, willing to negotiate and work with others when problems arise
• Adhering to the policies as stated in the Student Conduct Code.

All students who participate in the theatre and dance program should recognize that it is a significant privilege to be granted an opportunity to produce in the Student Works Program.  That privilege demands responsible, ethical action.  Failure to follow the policies outlined here may result in individuals and/or groups being denied privileges to produce or participate in student works in the future and may result in disciplinary action.

Dance Productions student contract (127 KB)

View, download and print-out the student works proposal form (pdf - 40 KB).

View, download and print-out the calendar template for a student works production (pdf - 7 KB).