The latvian academy of culture

THE LATVIAN ACADEMY OF CULTURE

BA Study Programme

SELF-ASSESSMENT

Subprogramme: DRAMA ACTOR

The Authors of the Subprogramme: Prof. E.Freibergs, Ass. Prof. P.Krilovs, Ass. Prof. A.Eižvertiņa, Prof. J.Siliņš.

I. OBJECTIVES AND TASKS

1. 
   To provide the students with theoretical and practical knowledge, enable them to think independently and creatively and be professional actors of drama who can work in various theatres and other specialities connected with drama.
   
2. 
   To introduce the students to the ways of expression in drama both theoretically and practically.
   
3. 
   Upon the acquisition of the programme the students shall receive a Bachelor’s Degree in the speciality of Drama Actor which gives them the right to continue their MA studies.
   
4. 
   The Study Programme in the speciality of Drama Actor is closely connected with the development of national culture and the development of drama in Latvia. It provides a possibility to get acquainted with the world’s experience and learn the latest trends in the theory and methodology of drama.
   

II. Preconditions for the Acquisition of the Course

The student’s suitability for the profession: stage attraction, physical abilities, voice material, an ear for music and a sense of rhythm and a lively imagination and others. Knowledge in the history of culture and other forms of art.
III. The contents of the programme and the organisation of studies
The Bachelor’s Study Programme in the speciality of Drama Actor has been worked out and implemented by the Screen and Drama Department of the Latvian Academy of Culture.

The Study Programme has been drafted in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Latvia “On Universities” and decisions of the Senate of the Latvian Academy of Culture.

The Study Programme includes most disciplines related to the given speciality to enable the students to develop the basic elements of drama methodologically at a professional level.

The key areas of study: the art of acting, stage rhetoric, movement, dance and vocal skills are taught through out the whole study period in accordance with the Programme and the results are presented at the final and the Bachelor’s Examinations.

Four performances are staged at the Bachelor’s Examination in the Art of Acting:

• 
  Latvian original drama;
  
• 
  a classical literary work from Western Europe or Russia;
  
• 
  a musical dramatic performance;
  
• 
  a staging of modern literature.
  

The Study Programme envisages the cooperation of the students and teachers with the Nordic universities (Swedish Drama Institute, Helsinki Academy of the Theatre and others) by organising master classes “Baltic Seaside Drama” in any of the states.

Under the artistic guidance of Ass. Prof. P.Krilovs the festival of the Riga New Theatre "Homo Novus" is organised which has already acquired an international significance.

Guest lecturers are regularly invited in separate courses of the Programme: stage movements, the art of acting and others: 1997 - R.Kozak (Moscow), 1999 - S.Kumpulainen (Finland), J.Shrank (Malta), M.Gruzdov (Russia) and others.

IV. THE STRUCTURE OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME
The following subjects have been included in the BA Study Programme in the speciality of Drama Actor:

4. 
   Group A subjects (80 credit points);
   
5. 
   Group B subjects in accordance with the speciality (81 credit points);
   
6. 
   Group C subjects: optional subjects chosen by the student (4 credit points).
   

In order to acquire the Bachelor’s Degree the students have to accomplish the following:

1. 
   pass examinations and tests in Group A, B and C subjects gaining 160 credit points;
   
2. 
   pass the Bachelor’s Examination in the Theory and History of Culture;
   
3. 
   pass the final examinations in the foreign language, stage movements, stage dance and vocal skills and the art of stage rhetoric;
   
4. 
   present the Bachelor’s Paper in the art of acting which is the assessment of each student’s individual work on staging.
   

V. PROVISION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAMME

To implement the Programme “Drama Actor” premises at No 46 Dzirnavu Street have been provided and a hall at No 24 Ludzas Street, thus ensuring simultaneous work of three different courses.

Training is organised in close cooperation with the professional theatres in Latvia:

1999-2000 the National Theatre, the Daile Theatre and the Valmiera Theatre;

2000-2001 the Liepaja Theatre;

2001-2002 the Puppet Theatre.

The programme provides suitable premises for the implementation of annual performances and the performances of the Bachelor’s Work. The premises of the theatre studio “Skatuve” are also used. The small hall of the Latvian Music Academy is used for acrobatic classes. The swimming pool of the Riga Technical University is used for swimming.

THE ACTOR OF THE DRAMA THEATRE

A

Compulsory	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Total	Credit points	Lecturer
General Theory of Culture	48:3 T	48:3 E							96	6	Prof.R.Vilciņš
The History of Philosophy					32: 3 T	32:3 E			64	6	Prof.P.Laķis
Foreign Language	64: 2 E	64: 2 T	32: 1 T	32: 1 E					192	6	Lecturer E.Meija, Lecturer D.Volkenšteine, Lecturer I.Baiže, Lecturer A.Vaišļe
The History of World Art	32: 2 T	32: 2 E	32: 2 E						96	6	Ass. Prof. M.Lapiņa
The History of World Literature		32: 2 E	32: 2 T	32: 2 E	32:2 E				128	8	Lect. Z.Šiliņa Ass. Prof. I.Karbanova
The History of the World Theatre					48:3T	48:3 E			96	6	Prof. J.Siliņš Prof.L.Akurātere
The Trends of Western European Art in the 20^th Century							32: 2 E		32	2	Ass. Prof. M.Lapiņa
The Theory and Practice of Acting	192:6 E	192:6 E	192:6 E	192:6 E	192:6 E	192:6 E	128:4 E		1280	40	Prof. E.Freibergs
Total	13	15	14	12	11	9	6			80