The Department of Theatre and Dance is committed to exploring and teaching a wide spectrum of indigenous and global performance genres, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Students and audiences have benefited from decades of Asian Theatre as well as Asian, Hawaiian, and Pacific Dance, the creation of an MFA focus in Hawaiian Theatre in 2014, and a PhD track in Hawaiian and Indigenous Performance in 2024, and American and European forms. Our departmental land acknowledgement recognizes our sense of place and the complex history of Ko Hawai‘i Pae ‘Āina and the systemic issues perpetuated by settler colonialism. We frequently invite local scholars and practitioners to educate our faculty, staff, and students on the political history of Ko Hawai‘i Pae ‘Āina, the history of the University of Hawai‘i, and the ahupua‘a of Waikı̄kı̄. Class and production offerings from the Department of Theatre and Dance are designed to reflect both the student body and the range of cultures and performance practices represented in Hawai‘i.
Our department is dedicated to fostering an environment of fairness and equal access for all students, faculty, and staff. We continue to strengthen connections between our department and local, national, and international artists and scholars. We host graduate Professional Development Workshops, symposia, and more, promoting the culture and history of our university community and the many cultures represented in the Hawaiian Islands.
The department offers, in regular rotation, Theatre and Dance performances including: Hana Keaka, Theatre of Hawai‘i, Southeast Asian Theatre, Japanese Theatre, Theatre for Young Audiences, original plays and devised works, Choreography and Performance, Screen Dance & New Media, Hawaii/Asia/Pacific Dance, and American/European practices. Faculty in the Theatre and Dance Department strive to create a more connected curriculum while broadening artistic opportunities with a variety of new class offerings.