Curriculum: First Year

We are no longer admitting new students into this program beyond the fall 2008 semester. If you have an interest in physical theater, please explore Naropa University's MFA in Contemporary Performance.

• The Basis of Improvisation: An observation of everyday life
• The Neutral Mask: Essentialized natural movement, developing both calm and risk-taking
• The Dynamics of Nature: Natural phenomena are explored with the purpose of finding their human and theatrical equivalencies in situation and character
• Poetics: Through movement, a translation of other art forms into the language of theater
• Bestiary: The study of animals with an eye to character creation
• Masks: Expressive and larval masks
• Creating a Character: A cumulative approach to character creation and the development of virtuoistic skills in improvisation
• First Production: Students creations based on theme specific field research

Throughout the first and second years, students receive training in basic acrobatic skills, vocal technique, the spatial dynamics fundamental to scenography, creative process, company development, and in the second year, a continuous writing workshop. No prior experience is required for these courses.