Rhodes University Drama Department offers an integrative approach to drama studies. We emphasise the body as expressive medium in locating and training unique, indigenous performance languages. Most of our teaching staff are practitioners themselves affording students an intensive interface between choreography, performance, theoretical and administrative studies. Our strong undergraduate programme prepares students for a comprehensive selection of eleven Honours papers. In 2008 this department saw six MA candidates graduate in contemporary choreography and dance performance. Last year, 2009, our post graduates produced a variety of high quality works drawing from all disciplines and genres of performance.
Each year the Rhodes Drama Department and resident companies Ubom! and First Physical Theatre Company produce at least ten productions at the National Arts Festival with alumni featuring in over thirty. To date, we have produced four Young Artists Award winners, taught four of the six physical actors who auditioned for Cirque du Soleil (2008) and our staff have presented productions and conference papers in more than ten countries. Our alumni stretch from the Hollywood sublime (the Borg Queen) to the Boksburg ridiculous (Twakkie), to five of the ten South African university dance and drama departments. In recent years, graduates have won Arts and Culture Trust awards, Naledi awards, FNB Dance Umbrella awards, Gauteng MEC Dance and Choreography nominations, a SPAT award, a Daimler-Chrysler South African Choreography nomination and a KZN DanceLink nomination.
