There have probably been tons of threads on this, but what are the arts like at Duke? Specifically theatre and singing? I love the school and they really emphasized arts on my tour but I keep hearing that Duke doesn’t have a big arts scene and I was wondering if that’s true. I’m fine with something more low-key that’s easy to get involved in, but I’m definitely looking to do some extracurricular arts wherever I go.
Our arts community is small, but it’s recently been growing. Duke has made efforts to accommodate our flourishing community with the Arts Annex (run by DUU) and the Ruby Arts Center. The Arts Annex is our campus’ best, worst-kept secret, that primarily supports the visual arts (paintings, pottery, etc). The Ruby, which opened this semester (Spring 2018) is a beautiful building that hosts our radio station, recording studios, dance classes, and other dance studio spaces.
Our theater community is very small and intimate. Most theater people know each other, providing a great network for those involved. Hoof and Horn is the predominant student-run theater troop, which is well embraced by non-theater students. Many theater students I know are very accomplished. For example, earlier this spring, a student team adapted the short story “Good Country People” into a script, which they then directed and performed. Another group of students are directing a film called “Train Catcher,” that should come out soon. Another student took off last spring to perform in “Jo, the Medicine Runner.”
We’ve a small, but growing theater community. They’re very welcoming and would love for anyone to join! I recommend doing the summer pre-orientation program, P-Arts. It’s a great introduction to the people involved.