This is a beginning level ballet class with challenges offered to the more experienced dancer as well. We will begin with Pilates floor exercises to help strengthen and condition the body for the rigors of barre work followed by center work. Students will learn basic ballet terminology and steps. Ballet slippers required.

Credits awarded: 2 credits in ballet

“Benchmade” is a term referring to things “made at the bench” and has historically been applied to furniture and other fine quality work. For centuries, artisan woodworkers have considered a sturdy, strong, yet beautifully crafted workbench to be among the most highly valued of their tools. Students will not only learn the history and evolution of fine European and American woodcraft, but will add to their repertoire of craft skills as they construct their own version of this elegant and indispensable tool. This course satisfies the need for studio-based art credit.

Credits awarded: 8 credits in artisan woodworking or craft

This intensive program is designed for students of all skill levels. Through workshops and critiques, students will learn the basics of 35mm (or larger) cameras, methods and materials involved in making black and white photographic prints, aesthetics and a short history of the medium, and production of a photo book. Emphasis will be on learning to see the world through the eyes of a photographer, taking risks with one’s work and being open to new ideas. Attendance and participation at all sessions is essential. This course meets the prerequisites for MIT programs requiring credits in art and design.

Credits awarded: 8 credits in photography and design

How do we experience self and how do we experience earth? This course explores our relationship to our bodies and how it informs our relationship to earth. Through deep exploration of our felt sense and biological understanding of structure and function of our bodies we will draw parallels to our relationship with and understanding of the planet and environment. Andrea Olsen in her book Body and Earth states: “What is out there is in us and what is in us is out there” Working from the concept of embodied research we will be learning through movement and sensation as well as reading text, writing, reflection and community dialogue.

Credits awarded: 1 credit in somatic lecture and 3 credits in environmental lab

Theory meets practice in this nuts-and-bolts class. Students explore each aspect of an arts organization as they systematically plan their own program from vision to mission statement to implementation. Topics examined include business plans, funding sources, human resource concerns and legal issues. This course provides an elective for MPA students interested in non-profit arts organization, especially in the MPA Tribal Governance track.

Credits awarded: 4 credits in arts management

This course is designed to provide students with a basic introduction to business law and ethics. Managers are often unprepared to identify legal problems before they surface and thus must resort to a reactive mode instead of a proactive mode. This class will give students the tools to identify and solve basic legal issues by examining the U.S. legal system and reviewing key areas of business law including but not limited to contracts, anti-trust, intellectual property and ethics. This course will be useful for students currently employed in management and students planning on going to law school or business school.

Credits awarded: 8 credits in business law