Letter from the Chair

The Department of Performing Arts at Georgetown University lives in the intersection of artistic practice and liberal arts education. Our department comprises four areas of study: Music, Theater and Performance Studies, Dance, and Public Speaking. While each has its disciplinary history, they share a common thread: the exploration of embodiment and performance. The Davis Performing Arts Center and McNeir Hall are at the heart of our department, hubs of creativity, community, and collaboration. These spaces serve as laboratories for our students and faculty, and as venues for the diverse performances by world-class artists we host throughout the academic year.

Our continued vision is to interweave the performing arts with Georgetown’s esteemed liberal arts tradition. We encourage our students to nurture unexpected connections between their artistic practices and other disciplines, from Government to Biology, Economics to Theology. This interdisciplinary approach prepares our students as artists and creative thinkers equipped to address complex global challenges.

We invite you to engage with our new initiatives this year. Attend a workshop or Friday colloquium, participate in a collaborative project, or experience a work-in-progress. Join us in supporting the arts and witnessing their capacity to create a more connected world.

Benjamin J. Harbert, Ph.D.

Chair and Professor of Music, Department of Performing Arts.