Professional Affiliations

The Department of Theatre and Dance is committed to promoting the success and well-being of theatre and dance organizations within the region and the state with special emphasis on local organizations that have the potential to provide educational and artistic opportunities for students, faculty and staff.

The department affiliation policy can be found at Cooperative Associations and Cooperative Affiliations.

Cre8tive DramaCre8tive Drama

The mission of Cre8tive Drama is to transform young people through drama and theatre arts. Their curriculum utilizes eight drama structures alongside the North Carolina Standard Course of Study to promote 21st Century skills that will last a lifetime. They use process style drama activities lead by trained teachers of theatre to strengthen eight areas: developing and strengthening language and communication, problem solving, positive self-concept, social awareness, empathy, values and attitudes, and developing an understanding of the art of theatre.

Ensemble StageEnsemble Stage

Ensemble Stage is a professional theater located in Banner Elk, NC, dedicated to culturally enrich the lives of the residents of The High Country and its visitors by providing a broad range of live theatrical presentations of the highest possible quality at an affordable price.

Their mission is to inspire, challenge and nurture the imagination and social skills of youth and adults through performances and theatre based educational programs.

Project DanceProject Dance

Project Dance® is a movement of dancers seeking to positively impact culture through artistic integrity. Their desire is to see every dancer nurtured to their fullest human potential for their own well being and their contribution to community. They offer training, education, and performance opportunities for dancers worldwide who desire to dance with integrity to inspire.

In/Visible TheatreIn/Visible Theatre

In/Visible Theatre makes meaningful, beautiful, and socially relevant theatre for the permanent and temporary residents of the Boone area and to tour outside the region. They operate under the philosophy that great art is in service to others, and they recognize that to engage audiences in whole and moving theatre, all aspects of production--from the scripts they choose to the acting they present--must be of equally high quality. Through constantly striving for both inclusion and excellence, they will pursue their theatre—a "seeing place" as a home for collective secular revelation.         

Southern Appalachian Historical Association (Horn in the West)

Southern Appalachian Historical Association celebrates and preserves the diverse cultural heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountain region. Centered around Daniel Boone and the fight for American Independence, SAHA engages individuals through historical education and cultural entertainment.