Performing Arts

Performing Arts Exploration: World Arts

(7th Grade)

Performing Arts Exploration is designed for the student who has had limited experience in the arts, up until now. The course is a yearlong introduction to music, drama and dance designed to inform and develop each student’s creativity. Each performing arts discipline is approached through a study of cultures from around the world. While each student is studying the world cultures as a history student in Global Studies, they will be studying the same cultures as a performing artist. Through a study of history and the arts, their understanding and experience of each region will be intensified. The student will gain a general knowledge of each art form while gaining confidence through self-expression and ensemble building. This course will focus on the foundations of music theory and concepts, singing technique, improvisational theater, characterization, basics of dance and choreography while making connections to world cultures (for example: tango, samba, European theater, African music, or Kabuki theater). Each student in this course will perform in one Performance Art Night in the spring.

Drama

(8th Grade)

To stand before an audience and express yourself is a thrill unlike any other. To learn how the dramatic form of expression can enlighten, surprise and inform an audience is truly exciting. Through dramatic study, each student can find a sense of personal expression while studying acting techniques and the history of theater. As an ensemble, we will learn to connect with each other and explore the creative process through improvisation, dialogue and collaborative work. The year will begin with an introduction to acting technique and exploration into the concept of ensemble. Through improvisation work and story telling technique, the students will begin to develop their form of personal expression while identifying the personality of the ensemble. In small groups, they will develop creative writing projects to bring to the stage and to the screen. The year will culminate in rehearsals and the performance of a full-length dramatic production. This course is intended to be an advanced level study of theater in the Middle Division, open to students who are committed to participating in a production and being a member of a performance ensemble.

Music Ensembles

A variety of music ensembles are available specifically for our 7th and 8th Grade students.  In addition to the performance groups mentioned above, Middle Division students have the opportunity to sign up for yearlong courses in Concert Band (a beginning and intermediate performing and learning ensemble of wind, brass, electric bass, and percussion players) and Rhythm Section Workshop (a performing and learning ensemble of drum, piano, guitar, and electric bass players).  We also offer a yearlong course in Guitar for beginning electric guitarists.