In this two quarter program, students will study the history, theory, and practice of 20th century Avant-garde performance, including Surrealist, Dada, Futurist, Cubist, Bauhaus, and other more recent contemporary Performance Art traditions. Emphasis is this program is on experiential learning through workshops stressing technique, theory, and composition and the live performance of original and reconstructed works.

In the first quarter, students will study 20th century Western experimental performance art through the reading of texts, performance manifestos, and film screenings. In weekly workshops, students will investigate and practice newly-learned techniques and reconstruct historical performances. Students will also engage their learning through the use of improvisation and the composition of original performance works. There will be multiple rehearsals scheduled each week to reconstruct and create new work. Works in progress will be shared regularly in performance workshop for peer and faculty critique.

In the second quarter, students will continue studies of Performance Art in order to create a body of short performances to be presented at the end of the quarter. Students will be heavily involved in both workshops and independent rehearsals in order to realize their final public presentation.

This is an advanced program in practice and theory, designed particularly for theater and dance students, however, avant-garde performance works are multidimensional, and students in the performing arts, media arts, and visual arts with musical and kinesthetic sensitivity are welcome.

Workshops are progressive and attendance is essential, requiring high levels of maturity, independent time management, and organization. Students need to be able to work collaboratively and should exhibit a high-level of independence. Most experiential learning cannot be "made up", and students are expected to be active and enthusiastic participants in all aspects of the program, at all meetings, and to demonstrate integrative, independent, and critical thinking.