School of Film, Dance and Theatre (text)

Highlights from 2018–19

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Jeff Chang in conversation

Performance in the Borderlands, an initiative of the ASU School of Film, Dance and Theatre, and Southwest Folklife Alliance brought award-winning author, cultural critic and journalist Jeff Chang back to Arizona to discuss what the role of arts and culture in advancing the work of racial and social justice in Arizona. Over the course of two days, Chang participated in a panel on race and resegregation in Phoenix, spoke to students about his work and joined School Director Tiffany Ana López for a live video chat.  He also participated in a performative panel discussion and movement facilitation on the relationship between art, social impact and public policy using hip-hop as a lens for social transformation. That event was hosted by Performance in the Borderlands along with the ASU Hip Hop Cluster and the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at ASU. 

Dreaming bigger

When J. Bouey started dancing at the age of 15, they never thought they could be a professional dancer. Now the School of Film, Dance and Theatre alum is joining the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company in New York City, one of the most renowned and innovative dance groups in the world. Now that their dreams of joining a company have come true, Bouey said it’s time to dream bigger — to use their voice to change the dance world.

“I am a black person from South Central Los Angeles who went to high school on the south side of Phoenix. My family and I battled poverty throughout my dance training, and it was always apparent to me how money/wealth, race and class, among many other marginalizing identities, gave some access to dance training and left many of my friends and classmates outside of the studios. We had fears of not ‘making it’ after college because we spent our time outside of class working instead of networking, training and traveling. This company position with BTJ/AZ means that the work that systemic oppression required me to do to succeed has placed me in a position where my voice might be heard better.”

Ajax
March 15–24, 2019

https://vimeo.com/322242302

Movies on the field

ASU Film Spark, part of the School of Film, Dance and Theatre, partnered with the ASU 365 Community Union on several of its free film screenings at Sun Devil Stadium. In November, Boots Riley, the director of the critically acclaimed hit “Sorry to Bother You,” welcomed the crowd to a free screening of his film at the stadium. Film Spark brought Riley to campus for the screening and to speak with film students. In March, the directors of Oscar-winning film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” recorded a video interview exclusively for the free screening of that movie. Film Spark partnered with Marvel Studios, Sony Pictures Animation and ASU alumnus Michael Helfant to secure the interview, which was conducted by two students in the school. 

American Theatre recognition

American Theatre named Associate Professor Micha Espinosa one of six of the country’s theatre workers to watch. Espinosa was recognized for her work as a voice/text coach, dialect designer, teacher and performing artist. She was also recognized for her speciality in Latinx theatre and for being an “all-around theatre artist.” “My vision of theatre is one that includes a more hemispheric awareness, a theatre that commits to diversity, that honors global perspectives and the cultural voice,” Espinosa said. 

Theatre for youth

Tim Webb, an internationally renowned theatre artist, visited the School of Film, Dance and Theatre for a residency with the theatre for youth program. During his residency, he spent a week working with graduate students to develop a production for young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). The ASU students performed the piece for a group of young people from Believe I Can Academy.

Jewish dance conference

An international research conference called “Jews and Jewishness in the Dance World” explored the ways Jewish people have impacted dance. More than 100 presenters from eight countries gathered for four days of events in October, including discussions, performances, dance labs, a film series and a book reading. The School of Film, Dance and Theatre and the ASU Center for Jewish Studies hosted the conference, which was organized by Associate Professor Naomi Jackson and Institute Professor Liz Lerman, who curated a performance during the conference. 

Urban Sol
Nov. 18, 2018

School of Film, Dance and Theatre (text)

By the numbers

Numbers reflect 2018-19 and are accurate as of June 30, 2019.

 

Text: Rankings #24 film bachelor's program in the nation Divider line

Text: Faculty 116 Text: Staff 38 Text: Students 1,054Divider line

Text: Graduates 215Divider line

Text: Student demographics 94% undergraduate 23% first generation (undergraduate) 31% non-resident Text: 6% graduate 4% international Text: 43% minority 69% residentDivider line

Degree and certificate options: 27 (text)Divider line

Text: 7,156 Performing arts events ticketed through the Herberger Institute Box OfficeDivider line

 

Jeff Chang photo by Lamp Left Media
J. Bouey photo by  Malcolm-X Betts
Movies in the Field, Theatre for Youth, Jewish Dance Conference photos by Tim Trumble

 

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