BA in Theater, Dance and Media in Cambridge United States | Harvard University

The Theater, Dance & Media (TDM) concentration seeks to merge historical and theoretical exploration with artistic practice—a key focus highlighted in Harvard's Task Force on the Arts Report. Our curriculum blends analytical reading and writing with creative production, bridging the gap between classroom learning and studio work, while connecting both to live performance. Studio courses provide students with practical training in various artistic disciplines—directing, acting, design, dramaturgy, and dance—enhancing their grasp of these multifaceted art forms. Meanwhile, coursework in theater history and aesthetics informs their studio-based explorations. This approach fosters a synthesis of hands-on learning and scholarly inquiry. The program's design reflects three defining characteristics that make theater, dance, and media studies distinctive within liberal arts: their interdisciplinary, multimedia foundation, the evolution of artistic traditions, and the collective nature of creative work. The sophomore tutorial, Drama, Theater, Theory, highlights theater's multimedia essence, introducing students to the diverse artistic elements that shape theater, dance, and media. This interdisciplinary focus expands in the junior tutorial, elective seminars, lectures, and studio classes, where students examine the theoretical and practical dimensions of these art forms. Theater history requirements ground students in the historical context of performance, while practical coursework develops their collaborative skills in production. Additionally, many courses explore theater's intellectual legacy and its broader cultural and academic impact.