Welcoming the uninitiated and dance enthusiast alike, this course looks at three major theories of art and applies them to dance. How do we view and perceive dance? The theories that provide us the most insight are the mimetic/representation, formal, and expression theories. While these theories have been in existence for centuries, we will use them to consider visual art, theater, and music, and then focus on dance. How is movement and gesture organized to tell a story, convey an idea and/or create an aesthetic experience? How do we make sense of this nonverbal form of communication and increase our appreciation for dance's power to engage an audience? In a seminar format, we will read and discuss articles by theorists and critics. Videos and workshops will provide historical context for four excursions to dance performances. With the premise of learning from doing, some class time will be spent in the studio, using it as our laboratory for experimentation and exploration of principles and ideas from the lectures and discussions. Coursework includes: attendance and participation in class; experiential time in the studio; readings and written responses; a final group project; and four written dance reviews.