APPLIED ARTS COURSES FOR DANCE PRIMES
Artists hone their foundation by employing the technical skills of a particular art or field of endeavor. These courses are Prime specific, or recommended for your prime and are designed to strengthen your skillset and/or build your portfolio. Students should focus their Applied Arts choices in their prime arts area, but may explore outside of their prime in some cases.
CHOOSING COURSES
Applied Arts courses are offered one day per week on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays. Be mindful of the length of the courses you are interested in. Most courses are scheduled for the full trimester, however, there are some that meet for only half of the trimester. In those cases, it's recommended you sign up for both half-trimester courses. You are welcome to sign up for classes on Tuesdays or Thursdays, but be mindful of the dates courses are offered so you do not choose classes that are offered at the same time.
TUESDAY OFFERINGS
🔷Winter A : November 30 - January 11 (6 sessions/12 hours)
🟦 Winter B: January 18 - February 22 (6 sessions/12 hours)
🔵 Winter AB : November 30 - February 22 (12 sessions/24 hours)
THURSDAY OFFERINGS
Winter A : N/A
Winter B : N/A
⚪Winter AB: December 2 - February 24 (11 sessions/22 hours)
TUESDAY OFFERINGS
Make 'Em Laugh: Introduction to Physical Comedy
Physical ComedyMentor: Francesca Chilcote
Contact: fchilcote@aacps.orgTuesdays at Studio 39
🔵 Winter AB : November 30 - February 22
(12 sessions/24 hours)
Theater and Dance primes welcome and encouraged.
Get moving and get laughing! In this class, students will explore the wonderful, wild world of physical comedy! In this class, students will work to increase openness and specificity in their movement technique, and then train in styles such as commedia dell'arte, mime, clown, slapstick, and sketch comedy. Then, students will break into "comedy troupes" and develop their own physical comedy routines.
Building Confidence
Mentor: Emily Karol
Contact: ekgerbasi@aacps.orgTuesdays at Studio 39
🟦 Winter B: January 18 - February 22
(6 sessions/12 hours)
All non-acting primes welcome and encouraged.
Does standing in front of your class for a presentation send your stress level through the roof? Does talking about your work and how people may perceive you, make your breath catch. Do you have to attend interviews for internships and colleges but you’re nervous about standing up in front of others or speaking one on one? Do you wonder how actors can stand in front of an audience and look completely calm?
You’ll face your public speaking or interview fears in a non-judgemental and supportive environment. This class is about discovering and using techniques and tactics to help build your confidence!
Winter Writing Collection
Creative Writing CollectionMentors: Maggie Benshaw Heemstra & Lynn Schwartz
Contact: mbenshaw@aacps.org , laschwartz@aacps.orgTuesdays at Studio 39
🔵 Winter AB : November 30 - February 22
(12 sessions/24 hours)
All primes welcome and encouraged. For dancers, this course supports choreographic endeavors.
Beginnings and Endings (3 Sessions) November 30, December 7, and 14
Where should your story open? In the middle? With a bit of dialogue? A character in action? Do your beginning pages introduce conflict? We will explore the components of a strong start, one that is not gimmicky, but an integral part of the narrative — capturing the reader from the first page. Similarly, how will you find an organic end to your story — one that grows out of the beginning and middle? Will you choose a traditional plotted ending or an ambiguous, resonant finish? Learn to combine the inevitable with the surprising, resolve interior and exterior conflicts, understand rounding, climax, dénouement, and more.
The Essence of Creating a Character on the Page and the Stage. (5 Sessions)
December 21, January 4, 11, 18, and 25
We will explore how a character’s yearning drives key elements of story, including narrative, dialogue, conflict, plot, and reader empathy. Understanding a character’s passion is essential to creating a compelling person — someone with whom a reader or audience want to spend time.
Demystifying Dialogue (4 Sessions) February 1, 8, 15, and 22
Good dialogue is a great tool for both fiction and nonfiction writers, yet many writers avoid it. Participants will explore “real talk” versus written conversation, analyze what characters should say and how they should say it, and understand how speech creates action and propels a story forward.
THURSDAY OFFERINGS
Winter Ensemble Dance Repertory
Choreography and PerformanceMentor: Julianna Raimondo
Contact: jkraimondo@aacps.orgThursdays at Studio 39
⚪Winter AB: December 2 - February 24
(11 sessions/22 hours)
Dance Primes only.
The study and performance of choreography using three approaches: learning excerpts from the repertoire of selected choreographers, analyzing through reconstruction of classic repertory works, and understanding the choreographic process by working in a creation from initial concept to finished dance.
A key aspect of the course involves the creation and performance of dance works in order to practice technique, understand compositional structure, and engage in creative activity with culminating performance opportunities for participants.
DANCE COMPANY
Dance Company members continue their participation from the Fall Trimester through the Spring Trimester.
If you were selected for Dance Company, your rehearsal and performance hours are credited toward your Extended Day requirement. You will meet twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) during Extended Day (approx. 2:30-4:15) for rehearsals. This is required for the fall, winter, and spring trimesters. Company dancers represent the PVA Dance Magnet at AACPS Dance Festivals, Maryland Public High School Dance Showcase, and Regional/National High School Dance Festivals, as well as other performance opportunities throughout the school year. Additional rehearsals may be scheduled outside of the Extended Day structure.
While it is recommended all students engage in Extended Day Projects, your full participation in Dance Company will cover your Extended Day requirement as outlined below.
By end of Trimester 1 – September 14-November 18 (Fall) : 32 hours of rehearsal available*
By end of Trimester 2 - November 29-February 24 (Winter) : 78 cumulative hours of rehearsal available*
By end of Trimester 3 - March 1-May 19 (Spring): 108 cumulative hours of rehearsal available*
As is the PVA policy with all Extended Day classes, final crediting of hours is only done at the conclusion of the class on May 24, 2022 (approximately, pending AACPS final calendar) and students are required to be in regular attendance throughout the class until that date.