Ball States introduces new theatre and dance living learning community

Starting next fall, theatre and dance majors will have the opportunity to call a new place home -- a living-learning community in LaFollette Complex. 

The new theatre and dance LLC will be in Brayton-Clevenger Hall, replacing the communication LLC, which will be moved to Johnson A residence hall. 

Nathaniel Thomas, a junior theatre production major, first introduced this idea when he was a Resident Assistant in the spring of his freshman year.

“One of the things I learned was [there are] these living learning communities that we have around the campus and in all of our residence halls, except there wasn't one for the fine arts,” Thomas said. “As a member of the department it was always baffling to me that we didn't have a space where we could live together, because we have so many classes that require projects in which we spend countless hours in the library, lobbies or in buildings, when we could just be in our own living space and work.”

Thomas approached Joel Bynum, Assistant Director for Coordination of Living Learning Programs Housing and Residence Life, in seek of guidance to create the theatre and dance LLC. Dee Dee Batteast, Assistant Professor of Acting immediately got on board with Thomas' efforts.

“Brayton-Clevenger halls will offer a convenient spaces for students in the community to practice as well as offer a vibrant community of neighbors with whom to share their interest and a love of the performing arts,”  Bynum said.

Other theatre majors, like freshman musical theatre major Aaron Stangarone, will not take advantage of the new community.

"I am around all of my theatre friends nearly all day long and I need my space at night," Stangarone said. "Also, most theatre classes are really far away from LaFollette, so I would prefer to live closer to the Arts and Communications building.”

Freshman musical theatre major Courtney Martin said that while she can see the space impeding "me" time, it could be beneficial.

"I think it will be a good thing because it will help create a sense of community within the department early on, especially if it includes all of the majors in the department," Martin said. "A lot of the time similar majors have a lot classes together but don't get to branch out and meet other people in the department."Thomas hopes to invite local professionals to speak to the theatre students through the LLC. 

“The more theatre you see the better off you are. You can’t make theatre without seeing theatre, it’s just impossible,” Thomas said.

They have also requested mobile floors, bars and mirrors specifically for the dance majors. Residence Life has a regular budget that will supply funding for the necessary equipment the theatre majors will require. 

Funding will in part be determined by the 15 page document Thomas and Batteast had to complete, tracking how many students come into the department as freshmen.

The theatre and dance department can not receive all of their requests until renovations are completed on LaFollette in 2017. Brayton-Clevenger may also not be the LLC's permanent home.

Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts, Michael O’Hara, said because there are a large number of freshmen theater and dance majors in the Honors College, balancing between the two residence halls could be a struggle.

Still, she thinks the new addition will be beneficial.

“One of the most important factors is that because a sizable amount of the freshman class will all be living in one place, they will have a web of relationships that will last the rest of their lives," O'Hara said. "The most long lasting relationships start because you shared your life, your living space."

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