Diana Dart Harris has more than 24 years of experience teaching dance to students of all ages. She is a professor and musical theatre choreographer at the University of New Haven. She is trained in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap dance and has performed in musicals. Harris was artistic director of New Haven Ballet’s Nutcracker and assistant director of a musical theatre organization. She is a board member of the Connecticut Dance Alliance. Harris earned a bachelor of arts degree in dance education from Goucher College and a master of science degree in exercise physiology from Southern Connecticut State University.

• Chapter 1. Introduction to Musical Theatre DanceDefining Musical Theatre DanceUnique Features of Musical Theatre Dance Types of Musical Theatre Benefits of Studying Musical Theatre DanceBasics of Musical Theatre Dance ClassExpectations for StudentsStructure of Musical Theatre Dance ClassSummaryChapter 2. Preparing for ClassDressing for ClassShoes for Musical Theatre DanceFoot Care and Personal HygieneCarrying Dance GearPreparing Yourself Physically and MentallySummaryChapter 3. Safety and HealthStudio SafetyPersonal SafetyBasic AnatomyPreventing InjuriesTreating Common Dance InjuriesTraining Versus FitnessNutrition, Hydration, and RestSummaryChapter 4. Learning and Performing Musical Theatre Dance Language of Musical Theatre DanceLearning Steps, Phrases, and DancesUnderstanding MusicalityUnderstanding Artistry and Artistic DevelopmentSummaryChapter 5. Basics of Musical Theatre Dance TechniqueWarm-Up Exercises Foot Positions on the FloorPort de Bras and Arm PositionsStationary Exercises Center WorkPartnering and LiftingCombinationsSummaryChapter 6. From the Audition to the StageThe Audition ProcessTheatre Protocols, Etiquette, and Safety Theatre Staff and Hierarchy Preparing to Take the StageSummaryChapter 7. History of Musical Theatre DanceOrigins of Musical Theatre DanceDance Director EraChoreographer EraIntegration Musical EraConcept Musicals and Director–ChoreographersTap Musicals, Revivals, and Dance MusicalsMusical Theatre in the 21st CenturySummary

Diana Dart Harris has more than 24 years of experience teaching dance to students of all ages. She is a professor and musical theatre choreographer at the University of New Haven. She is trained in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap dance and has performed in musicals. Harris was artistic director of New Haven Ballet’s Nutcracker and assistant director of a musical theatre organization. She is a board member of the Connecticut Dance Alliance. Harris earned a bachelor of arts degree in dance education from Goucher College and a master of science degree in exercise physiology from Southern Connecticut State University.

• Chapter 1. Introduction to Musical Theatre DanceDefining Musical Theatre DanceUnique Features of Musical Theatre Dance Types of Musical Theatre Benefits of Studying Musical Theatre DanceBasics of Musical Theatre Dance ClassExpectations for StudentsStructure of Musical Theatre Dance ClassSummaryChapter 2. Preparing for ClassDressing for ClassShoes for Musical Theatre DanceFoot Care and Personal HygieneCarrying Dance GearPreparing Yourself Physically and MentallySummaryChapter 3. Safety and HealthStudio SafetyPersonal SafetyBasic AnatomyPreventing InjuriesTreating Common Dance InjuriesTraining Versus FitnessNutrition, Hydration, and RestSummaryChapter 4. Learning and Performing Musical Theatre Dance Language of Musical Theatre DanceLearning Steps, Phrases, and DancesUnderstanding MusicalityUnderstanding Artistry and Artistic DevelopmentSummaryChapter 5. Basics of Musical Theatre Dance TechniqueWarm-Up Exercises Foot Positions on the FloorPort de Bras and Arm PositionsStationary Exercises Center WorkPartnering and LiftingCombinationsSummaryChapter 6. From the Audition to the StageThe Audition ProcessTheatre Protocols, Etiquette, and Safety Theatre Staff and Hierarchy Preparing to Take the StageSummaryChapter 7. History of Musical Theatre DanceOrigins of Musical Theatre DanceDance Director EraChoreographer EraIntegration Musical EraConcept Musicals and Director–ChoreographersTap Musicals, Revivals, and Dance MusicalsMusical Theatre in the 21st CenturySummary

Diana Dart Harris has more than 24 years of experience teaching dance to students of all ages. She is a professor and musical theatre choreographer at the University of New Haven. She is trained in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap dance and has performed in musicals. Harris was artistic director of New Haven Ballet’s Nutcracker and assistant director of a musical theatre organization. She is a board member of the Connecticut Dance Alliance. Harris earned a bachelor of arts degree in dance education from Goucher College and a master of science degree in exercise physiology from Southern Connecticut State University.

• Chapter 1. Introduction to Musical Theatre DanceDefining Musical Theatre DanceUnique Features of Musical Theatre Dance Types of Musical Theatre Benefits of Studying Musical Theatre DanceBasics of Musical Theatre Dance ClassExpectations for StudentsStructure of Musical Theatre Dance ClassSummaryChapter 2. Preparing for ClassDressing for ClassShoes for Musical Theatre DanceFoot Care and Personal HygieneCarrying Dance GearPreparing Yourself Physically and MentallySummaryChapter 3. Safety and HealthStudio SafetyPersonal SafetyBasic AnatomyPreventing InjuriesTreating Common Dance InjuriesTraining Versus FitnessNutrition, Hydration, and RestSummaryChapter 4. Learning and Performing Musical Theatre Dance Language of Musical Theatre DanceLearning Steps, Phrases, and DancesUnderstanding MusicalityUnderstanding Artistry and Artistic DevelopmentSummaryChapter 5. Basics of Musical Theatre Dance TechniqueWarm-Up Exercises Foot Positions on the FloorPort de Bras and Arm PositionsStationary Exercises Center WorkPartnering and LiftingCombinationsSummaryChapter 6. From the Audition to the StageThe Audition ProcessTheatre Protocols, Etiquette, and Safety Theatre Staff and Hierarchy Preparing to Take the StageSummaryChapter 7. History of Musical Theatre DanceOrigins of Musical Theatre DanceDance Director EraChoreographer EraIntegration Musical EraConcept Musicals and Director–ChoreographersTap Musicals, Revivals, and Dance MusicalsMusical Theatre in the 21st CenturySummary