American College Dublin held a reception today to mark the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with both the Gaiety School of Acting – the National Theatre School of Ireland and CoisCéim Dance Theatre on the delivery of a new programme leading to the award of a BFA in Performing Arts.
The degree offers a broad and holistic approach to the performing arts, one that not only concentrates on performance from a participatory perspective (that is to say, on being a performer), but also prepares the student for the wide and exciting range of careers available in the performing arts industry. While performance remains a central aspect of the programme, students are also prepared for the vast array of work that supports and produces performance, such as directing and staging, creating written material for performance, production, management, marketing and funding of the performing arts. The programme is based around live theatrical performance (with elements of recording used for diagnostic and development purposes), but at the same time a graduate is prepared for further study in all cognate specialisms in the performing arts, as well as for direct entry into a professional career. The programme is delivered by American College Dublin, and draws on the professional expertise, communities and performance spaces of the Gaiety School of Acting – the National Theatre School of Ireland and CoisCéim Dance Theatre.
In attendance at Oscar Wilde House for the signing were Dr Donald E. Ross, President of American College Dublin, Mr Patrick Sutton, Director, The Gaiety School of Acting – the National Theatre School of Ireland and Ms Jenny Traynor, General Manager, CoisCéim Dance Theatre. Also present for the signing were Dr Rory McEntegart, Academic Dean, ACD, Mr David Bolger, Artistic Director, Director and Choreographer, CoisCéim Dance Theatre, and Ms Philippa Donnellan, Broadreach Director and Choreographer, CoisCéim Dance Theatre.
Mr Patrick Sutton, Director, Gaiety School of Acting and Dr Donald E. Ross, President, American College Dublin
Dr Donald E. Ross, President, American College Dublin and Ms Jenny Traynor, Director, CoisCéim Dance Theatre