Undergraduate Advising
Students are encouraged to meet with the Undergraduate Academic Advisor at least once a semester to create an academic program plan and track educational progress. The goal of advising is to create the optimum educational and artistic experience, and prepare you for whatever path you choose to take.
Undergraduate Academic Advisor
Laxmi Kumaran
Current or prospective students may contact Laxmi about course requirements, declaring a major or minor, capstone experiences, or any questions related to TDPS undergraduate programs.
Peer Advisors
Peer Advisors are TDPS majors who are familiar with the department, actively use student advising, take advantage of the opportunities and courses offered here, and are willing to talk about their TDPS experience. They are available to email, video chat, or talk on the phone with current or prospective students.
Keila Cooke
Majors: Dance & Performance Studies / Mathematics (teaching concentration)
Focus Area: Choreography and Performance
Pronouns: She/Her
Email: Keilacooke@berkeley.edu
“I came to UC Berkeley as solely a Math Major. I love math, but after taking beginning modern dance, I found the dance major too enticing to stay away. Hence, a double major! I have been dancing since I was little, but through TDPS, I have fallen in love with dance all over again. I also discovered a personal dream to choreograph for musical theater productions! I am involved in this department as well as student organizations as a dancer, actor, choreographer, and intimacy choreographer. If you have any questions regarding a double major, balancing extracurriculars or a job (I am a Campus Ambassador as well), in addition to dance and theater at Cal, feel free to reach out. I love to chat!”
Yuki Cun
Minor: Data Science
Focus Area: Performance
Pronouns: she/her
Email: yukicun@berkeley.edu
"Coming into Cal, I had a hard time adjusting to college out of high school and had no idea what I wanted to major in. I also didn’t have any TDPS or dance-related classes my first semester, which after fourteen years of ballet training, made me feel out of place without any dancing in my schedule. After my first semester, I began taking classes with the TDPS department, which made me realize how essential dance classes were to my college routine for maintaining my academic and mental state. I am currently pursuing a double major in Dance & Performance Studies and Cognitive Science with a Data Science minor. I mainly focus on improvisation and dancing, and in the future, I would like to research the neuroscience of kinesthetic movement. All of my peers, professors, and mentors in TDPS have been incredibly supportive, and as a creative, they have inspired me to believe that I can achieve anything I set my mind to. Feel free to ask me questions about double majoring, program planning, classes, clubs/decals (I’ve done and tried out for Art for Animation, Cal Create, WiCDS, BC@B, and Sigma Psi Zeta), or life! Welcome to Cal, and Go Bears! Remember, you got this!"
Leo Kearney
Majors: Theater & Performance Studies / Film & Media
Focus Area: Acting
Email: leotzkearney@berkeley.edu
"I've been involved with all forms of theater throughout my life, starting with dance lessons at the age of four, and including everything from acting in plays and musicals to directing different theatrical productions, as well as participating in the technical aspects of theater. However, I have found the most rewarding work I have done in my life to have occurred here at Cal! I will admit, I was a little intimidated to dive into this world as a freshman, but I quickly found a wide variety of opportunities with a wonderful and accepting community. Since arriving at Cal, I have completed the majority of the acting sequence, performed in five student-directed plays, participated in directing showcases, joined the board of a new theater company, and acted in a TDPS department production. As my focus is in acting, I will be able to answer questions regarding the acting major and various performing opportunities throughout campus, but I also have an interest in directing and would love to discuss opportunities for student directors to develop their skills here at Berkeley! I can also answer questions about double majoring, particularly with overlapping classes in other arts majors, like film."
Sama Keshavarzrad
Major: Theater & Performance Studies
Focus Area: Acting and Costume Design
Email: s2004@berkeley.edu
“I am an undergraduate student focusing on acting in the Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies at UC Berkeley. I believe that we are all actors in our daily lives, performing differently depending on our surroundings, and that through acting, we can better understand people, personalities, and the world around us. In addition to acting, I have a strong interest in costume design and fashion. I enjoy exploring how clothing and style shape the way characters and stories come to life on stage. Also, how fashion can be a tool for expression and identity in everyday life. Outside of TDPS, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, eating out, traveling, performing, and playing piano. As a Peer Advisor, I’m excited to support fellow students in finding their place in the department and growing as both artists as well as individuals.”
Kelly H. Mou
Major: Theater and Performance Studies
Focus Area: Acting
Email: Kellyhmou@berkeley.edu
“I believe that acting is a process of discovery and questioning. If you are stressed about what class to take, if you don’t know whether or not you should double major, if you feel like acting is an impossible task, if you are not sure about pursuing your dreams, if you have no idea what you want to do with your life, if you know for certain what you want to do with your life, if you are new to Berkeley, if you are intimidated by the theater community, if you don’t know where to start, come talk to me.”
Nia Robinson
Major: Theater & Performance Studies
Focus Area: Acting and Dancing
Pronouns: She/Her
Email: nini.b-612@berkeley.edu
“My TDPS major is Theater & Performance Studies, with focuses in dancing and acting, and I am also pursuing a simultaneous Computer Science degree in the CDSS college. On campus, I typically participate in several events hosted by other black students and clubs/organizations, such as the BSU, BRRC, The Natural Hair Decal, and several of the black sororities and fraternities. I am personally a member of Cal's majorette dance team, The Bearettes, as well as the cybersecurity club, Berk1337 ("Berkleet"). I am also planning on kickstarting a UC Berkeley chapter of the Women in Cybersecurity organization, as of Fall 2025! For some brief background info about myself, I have been a performer since before I can remember, and I've also been involved in STEM for almost just as long, hence my decision to pursue simultaneous degrees. I fully plan on pursuing both careers post-college and am happy to offer any advice that I can about determining what you want to do in the future, making the right decisions to put you on the path meant for you, and general advice about navigating all that comes with being a hard-working student here at Cal! Lastly, the TDPS department is an extremely diverse and open-minded community of amazing people that I am also more than happy to provide assistance in navigating. Here's to an amazing school year of peer advising -- Go Bears!”
Daynna Rosales
Majors: Theater & Performance Studies / Computer Science
Pronouns: they/them
Email: dsrosales@berkeley.edu
"I'm currently a double major in TDPS and in Computer Science! I'm not exactly sure what my focus is going to be within the TDPS department yet, so if you want to talk to somebody who's still trying out everything they can to get a feel for the program, I'm your person! I've been performing since I was five, taking dance classes as much as possible, and I switched to theater around twelve years old with a program in Long Beach called Act Out Theater Company. I've worked with them for so long, and I was even on a junior board for them when I was in high school! (If you're ever in the area, check it out! I love raving about them!) Since coming to Cal, I've tried to have my hands dipped in many different areas, so I've performed in some shows and did some producing work for theater clubs. I also work 4–5 days a week. If you want to know what it's like to be a working college student, or about double majoring in two different fields, I'm happy to share some of the knowledge I'm gaining! We're all in this together, and there's so many people you can reach out to if you ever have questions or need help with anything. Welcome to Cal!"
Nori Quist
Major: Theater & Performance Studies
Focus Area: Technical Theater, Stage Management, Lighting
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Email: elleanor.quist@berkeley.edu
“I have been doing technical theater since high school, and I really love helping a show come together from behind the scenes. Coming into Cal, I knew I wanted to be an assistant stage manager, but theater 168 helped me branch out into lighting as well. As an over hire electrician, I have been able to gain some experience professionally while continuing to learn from TDPS. Feel free to contact me if you have questions about stage management, working at professional theaters, or just the technical theater side of TDPS in general. Welcome to Cal!”