Director's Message

Welcome to York University and to the Graduate Program in Theatre, Dance, & Performance Studies! My colleagues and I are thrilled that you have chosen to join us at one of Canada’s largest universities in one of the English-speaking world’s most active cities for theatre, dance, and the performing arts. The Graduate Program in Theatre, Dance, & Performance Studies is now entering its second year as a merged program, though York has been home to MA and PhD students specializing in these disciplines for much longer. We anticipate great things in the years to come thanks to the combined strengths of our award-winning faculty and students and the incredible support of staff. And you!

York’s historical emphasis on interdisciplinary research means that you will likely find students and faculty mentors who share your research interests both within and outside the program. To develop these interests, we encourage you to attend York-sponsored symposia, conferences, guest lectures, and other events, and to participate in its organized research units (e.g. Sensorium: Centre for Digital Arts and Technology, The City Institute, Institute for Social Research, Centre for Research on Work and Society, The Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on the Global Migrations of African Peoples, Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean). See https://www.yorku.ca/research/organized-research-units/.

Students in the Graduate Program in Theatre, Dance, & Performance Studies have made great strides in recent years to develop a strong academic community, thanks in no small part to support from the TDPS Graduate Student Association. Students regularly get together to attend performing arts events, study readings, prepare for exams, and share their writing. The program also hosts social events, including highly popular pub nights, and other scholarly gatherings. Stay tuned for more information on upcoming events. As a graduate student, you can also benefit from York’s exciting partnerships with theatre and dance companies and other arts organizations. More information will be available in the coming months about placement opportunities and other ways for you to meet and interact with artists.

Each year, our undergraduate program in Theatre and Performance produces a vibrant season of plays under the Theatre @ York banner. Our major fall 2024 production will be She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen, directed by Ruth Madoc-Jones and featuring actors in the fourth year of their BFA, with design and production support from students in the Production BFA. The winter 2025 production will be People, Places and Things by Duncan Macmillan, also featuring the fourth-year actors. Other season treats include a studio production of Jordan Tannahill’s Concord Floral, directed by Jamie Robinson, the student-run playGround Festival, the Devised Theatre Festival, and the Scenes by Design showcase of student design and production projects. Our Dance program likewise produces a range of exciting performances, including Dance Innovations, an annual performance featuring original choreographic pieces by fourth year BFA Dance majors; Dance Showcase, a large showcase spotlighting York’s Dance Ensemble and faculty works; and York Dances, featuring new choreography from third year Dance majors. We hope you’ll partake of some, or all, of these performance offerings. 

We look forward to getting to know you in the coming months. If you have questions (big or small), please don’t hesitate to contact me via email at schweit@yorku.ca.

Wishing you a very successful year,

Dr. Marlis Schweitzer
Professor, Dept. of Theatre, Dance, & Performance
Graduate Program Director in Theatre, Dance, & Performance Studies