Performing Arts

Students learn music elements: beat, rhythm, melody, dynamics, meter, and tempo. They learn these terms by experiencing each element through singing, moving, playing, reading, arranging, composing, improvising, and writing. The yearlong music class develops their music making experience by incorporating movement in creating music and improving their literacy skills.

Dance 5 focuses on individual strengths of each student utilizing introductory concepts of modern and creative dance as well as exploring dances from around the world. With an emphasis on composition and choreography, students explore choreographic structure and phrase development through vehicles including space,time, energy and shape. Students are encouraged to improvise, create and perform movement phrases based on their own or assigned ideas. They learn to assess the aesthetic and thematic qualities of a dance and how to communicate them in a constructive, objective manner.

Dance 6 is a dance technique class with an emphasis on technique and choreography. Along with learning about famous dance artists, students learn to connect movement concepts of the modern, ballet, and jazz vocabulary. The class focuses on the development of a common movement vocabulary in which students can demonstrate technical skill with stylistic nuance. The class reinforces a fundamental dance vocabulary focusing on the individual strengths of each student. More advanced concepts of movement and technique are introduced, allowing students to explore the varying degrees of dynamic movement.

This group is open to all Grade 6 students interested in dance. The dance company meets once a week after school to explore new movement vocabulary and composition. Attention is focused on the development of a choreographic work and the elements of the rehearsal process are established. Students in this group perform the finished choreographic work in the annual Dance Concert.

This group is open to all Grade 7 and Grade 8 students interested in dance. Students are offered the experience of rehearsing and performing the works of resident and guest choreographers in the annual Dance Concert. Ballet-based modern vocabulary comprises the repertoire of work for the students in these groups. These works explore broad social and cultural themes while continuing to build individual dance and performance skills. Cooperation among students is encouraged and a sense of ensemble is formed.

In this course, students are introduced to the fundamental concepts of creative theatrical play. Classwork aims to strengthen each student’s ability to make the imaginative choices that lead to creating character and setting. Basic pantomime and techniques for physical and vocal expression are addressed in improvisational games and exercises. Group cohesion, trust, and respect for one’s peers are emphasized as each student develops their skills in creating characters and scenes that will form the basis for more sophisticated work in theater.

In this course, students are exposed to ensemble building and collaboration through various drama projects focused on playmaking. Trust and respect for one anothers’ peers are paramount in creating plays together and is essential in all of the work in this course. No one student can create a play, it takes several students to work together for it to be executed. Students will be given a variety of exercises and assignments throughout the semester that will enhance this idea and allow for imaginative choices to be made as original pieces are developed.

In this course, students will be building upon what they have learned from Drama 5 and 6 by delving deeper into the theatrical disciplines that are intrinsic in the construction of a play. First, the Actor: students will be developing strong vocal technique. Second the Storyteller: students will be developing an understanding of Status and how to apply status in scene work. Third and Fourth: The Director and the Designer: students will learn basic skills needed to direct each other and design the costumes and sets for a play.

In this course, each student will be building upon what they have learned in Drama 5-7 and putting their technique together by diving deep into character work. Monologues will be analyzed and memorized as well as physical exercises. During the Historical Project, students are immersed in capturing a character’s look, mannerisms, emotional life and understanding their backstory. The semester culminates with a collaboration with the music class on the writing and filming of a short film. Grade 8 drama students also have the opportunity to participate in the Grade 8 Play either as a performer or behind the scenes.

The annual Grade 8 Play is presented during early February and is open to all interested eighth-graders. Being a member of an ensemble and the value of all performers is stressed throughout the production. Interested students are also encouraged to also work as members of the technical crew and to assist with costumes, lighting, sound, and stage management. Examples of recent productions include Still Life with Iris, A Wrinkle in Time, Little Women, and Puffs.