Performing Arts
The Performing Arts program offers students who have an interest in pursuing a career in the performing arts participation in courses that will prepare them for post secondary studies or entry into performing arts related occupations. The Introduction to Performing Arts course is organized into three strands: Vocal, Dance, Drama. In the freshman year, students will rotate through each strand for the first three marking periods to encourage students to examine a wide range of disciplines within the performing arts subset. Students have the opportunity to to complete the industry standard OSHA 10 certification.
Exploring Performing Arts And Introduction to Drama, Introduction to Dance, Introduction to Vocal Grade: 9
Credit: 10
Prerequisite: None
Exploratory Dance provides students with a positive dance education experience through the process of exploring dance fundamentals, anatomy, analysis, historical content and performance. Students identify dance concepts utilizing imitative, creative and technical approaches to understanding dance as an art form within a variety of dance styles. Rules of etiquette are established and maintained to ensure all students have equal opportunity to learn. Students learn and develop short movement sequences to demonstrate understanding of technique, form and expression; and collaborate on creating phrases (patterns of dance sequences) through explorations in improvisation and choreography. Original dance works representative of various dance styles are created and performed in quarterly “Student Showcases” and the annual “Spring Dance Concert”.
Exploratory Drama is broken down into several major areas of study: Acting Technique, Dramatic Theory, and Theatre Appreciation. These areas are the core foundation of the curriculum. Acting Technique introduces the fundamentals of acting such as the use of the body, mind, and voice. The foundations are the basis on which all advanced skill derives and can prepare students for public speaking and skills to overcome stage fright. Students will focus on improvisation, pantomime, monologs, and scene work. Dramatic Theory explores the development of early theatre with a focus on Greek Drama as well as understanding the physical theatre, stage safety, and the purpose of theatre in society. Theatre Appreciation introduces students to a wide range of theatrical styles, including musical theatre. Students will perform in a Student Showcase to their peers at the end of the quarter.
Exploratory Vocal Music is a performance and participation based course. This class meets quarterly until you are placed in your content. Students will be singing songs from a wide variety of musical styles and learning basic vocal technique. This course is designed to introduce and develop basic singing techniques, sight-singing skills, understanding of music history and music theory concepts.
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Dance I
Grade: 10
Credit: 10
Prerequisite: Exploring Performing Arts And Introduction to Drama,
Introduction to Dance, Introduction to Vocal
Dance I is an introduction to the genres of ballet, modern, tap and jazz dance presented in cultural and historical context. Learning the vocabulary, principles and elements of each style is important. The class focuses on students’ development of kinesiological body awareness, technical facility, spatial expressiveness, and personal creativity. Students will apply fundamental techniques to develop and perform dance works of art. Evaluation of student progress is continual, integrated into the daily teaching process, and made in three primary ways: teacher critique, student self-assessment, and peer response. Students learn to identify the essential elements of each skill or sequence performed by their instructor and to examine their own movements in terms of these elements. Skills learned in Dance I are refined and reinforced in all upper level classes.
Dance II
Grade: 11
Credit: 10
Prerequisite: Dance I
Dance II emphasizes the development of fundamental performance techniques, the historical and cultural influences in dance art, and an understanding of aesthetic responses & critique methodologies designed to engage students in both creating and performing dance works. Students will develop dance concepts utilizing imitative, creative and technical approaches to understanding dance within a variety of dance styles and forms. The course focuses on the physical conditioning of the dancer, emphasizing the importance of agility (which enables precise arm and leg extensions), strength, and endurance. Students will practice maintaining focus, energy, and dynamics over the course of a performance. Students work individually, in pairs, and in small ensembles, developing timing and rhythmic acuity. Stage placements used in the studio allow students to address the issue of audience perspective. Tempo, dance sequence patterns, and transitions are important areas of experimentation. Students create and choreograph simple dances according to teacher guidelines (which may be determined by concepts such as style inversion and retrogression) and study abstraction by improvising phrases.
Dance III
Grade: 12
Credit: 10
Prerequisite: Dance II
Dance III emphasizes development of the total dancer by integrating each student’s physical, analytical, and creative growth. Students will choose specific genres for in-depth, individualized analysis; they will observe and discuss each other’s work in the process of developing their own particular artistic vision. Senior students will apply knowledge of aesthetic dance observation and analysis skills to the critique process by developing assessment criteria for teaching, writing performing arts observations, constructing auditions, and creating dance compositions. Students will refine dance concepts utilizing imitative, creative and technical approaches to understanding dance within a variety of dance styles and forms, and apply them to the development of a production. This final level of class work challenges students to become leaders, independent thinkers, and role models within the field of study.
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Drama I
Grade: 10
Credit: 10
Prerequisite: Exploring Performing Arts And Introduction to Drama,
Introduction to Dance, Introduction to Vocal
The sophomore and junior year of Drama is built upon the freshman year and continues in the rigorous studies of Acting Technique, Dramatic Theory, Theatre production, Theatre Business and Theatre Appreciation. Acting Technique encourages the students to continue using proper physical and vocal warm-ups through activities designed to cultivate openness, spontaneity, and body awareness. Students will develop an acute sense of stage worthy blocking and movement to strengthen their power on stage, as well as begin to experience acting methods in the styles of Stanislavski, Meisner, Strasberg, Adler, Loughlin and Hagen. Dramatic Theory promotes proficiency in analysis and critique of dramatic performances. Students will learn the roles of a director and will analyze a text and present the material from a director’s perspective. Through theory, students will more fully understand and utilize their acting techniques to create believable performances. Theatre History will continue developing student’s awareness of theatre’s timeline and the significance of the relationship of global history to theatrical genres. Theatre Production/Theatre Business continues to expand upon and explore the ideas and career paths associated with working in the performing Arts. Theatre Appreciation will expose students to classical and contemporary plays that will serve as a basis for finding performance materials. Students will perform in a Showcase that will require rehearsal time outside of regular class time.
Drama II
Grade: 11
Credit: 10
Prerequisite: Drama I
Drama I and II are full year expansive courses for Performing Arts students that have drama as their primary focus of study. The curriculum is broken down into two semesters, each expanding on the major areas of study introduced in Exploring Drama. The courses will be taught in tandem, though the outline of the course is the same as sophmore year, Juniors will be exposed to new materials that enhance their prior knowledge and require them to advance their skills. The curriculum includes a chronological approach to Theatre History. Theatre Appreciation, application of Stage and Production. A focus on the Literary element of Theatre and a comprehensive approach to Acting Theory, Technique and Methodologies. It should be understood that these courses are demanding, require independent reading, time management and personal motivation for success. The courses also include a mandatory Showcase performance in the Spring that requires rehearsal and performance time outside of the regular school day.
Drama III
Grade: 12
Credit: 10
Prerequisite: Drama II
Drama III is the final course in the Performing Arts Drama Track. This course takes the skilled actor and provides them the challenge of displaying their knowledge by placing them in the role of the director. Students will work together to choose a script and design a production from start to finish, incorporating research for licensing, tickets, costume design, set, lighting, casting, rehearsal calendars, blocking, publicity, etc. that will culminate in a showcase of their production. The Senior Fall production will require dedicated time outside of the regular school day for rehearsal and performance. Actors will also continue to expand on advanced acting skills, script analysis, and work in the theatre. Additional aspects of the course may include writing and individual assistance on college audition materials such as audition monologs, resumes, headshots and website portfolios in addition to acting for film Students may have the opportunity for internships in the entertainment field in the second semester and will also prepare for their end of course assessment.
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Vocal Music I
Grade: 10
Credit: 10
Prerequisite: Exploring Performing Arts And Introduction to Drama,
Introduction to Dance, Introduction to Vocal
Vocal Music is a performance-based course. The curriculum is broken down into two semesters, each expanding on the major areas of study introduced in intro Vocal. Students will be engaged in singing from a wide variety of musical styles and demonstrate understanding of basic music skills which include sight-reading, rhythmic and melodic composition. This course is designed to build student confidence as solo singers as well as ensemble members and to enhance basic musicianship to an advanced beginner's understanding.
Vocal Music II
Grade: 11
Credit: 10
Prerequisite: Vocal Music I
This course designed for mixed voices, is a continuation of Vocal Music 1. Students will apply increased musical skills in preparation for solo, ensemble and group performance. Students will create and perform an original musical score for a small ensemble. They will also perform all minor scales within their vocal range, as well as complex rhythmic patterns including syncopation, ties and non-western rhythms. Students will also apply their knowledge of the history of vocal music to a research paper. They will evaluate performances using the process of peer critique, using the elements of music as a basis for the criticism including rhythmic accuracy, and intonation.
Vocal Music III
Grade: 12
Credit: 10
Prerequisite: Vocal Music II
This course focuses on vocal fundamentals including diction, intonation, tone quality, and breath control. Students will focus on creating a college level performance to be used as a music school audition. They will apply the history of choral literature to a research project. Students will be creating a senior composition for ensemble using at least four voices. They will apply their knowledge of counterpoint to several original compositions. Students will apply the elements of music and vocal technique to critique peer audition performances.