Course Offerings

Westminster is proud to offer a full range of both mainstream and specialized courses in Drama and Dance.

Drama Courses

ADA 1/2O1 (Grades 9 and 10, Junior Drama)

Our junior Drama program consists of both grade 9 and 10 courses that run in alternating school years so that interested students may participate in our courses in each of their four high school years.

The junior courses focus, first, on units in movement and physical stage presence such as Mime and Tableaux, before moving into a focus on oral skills and presentations. Tasks include radio commercial and music video creation, script writing and reading, as well as short film development.

Students in Jr. Drama courses have a great opportunity to immerse themselves in school culture, and to meet friends that will be with them for their high school careers.

ADA 3/4M1 (Grades 11 and 12, Sr. Drama)

Senior Drama courses at Westminster focus on expanding upon the skills learned in Jr. years and, together with the focus courses listed below, address important and relevant issues in the school and larger communities, as well as beyond.

Senior Drama courses offer a stronger focus on individual performance and skill development through monologue and script development. Collaboration remains an important and vital aspect through these years as well, as assignments created both for the stage and in digital media require effective group working skills.

Additionally, students interested in taking a Senior Drama course in each semester of their grade 11 and 12 years should consider the SHSM program, as it is an extra point of differentiation among their graduating peers.

ADD/ADC/ADP 3/4M1 (Focus Course on Directing, Drama in the Community & Playwrighting)

Students interested in taking their love for the Dramatic Arts to the next level can continue taking courses that focus on directing, play writing and drama in the community. Individual focuses for these courses vary year to year, as focus course students typically work alongside mainstream 3 and 4M students to fulfill different curricular expectations.

ADV/W3/4M1 (Film Studies / Filmmaking)

Film Studies and Filmmaking courses are for students interested in Drama as it exists in the digital world. Students will focus their studies on directorial styles, eras in film, camera techniques, and reoccurring motifs and visual metaphor. On the filmmaking side of things, students will take their acquired knowledge and apply it to filmmaking process. From pre-production, scripting and casting, to post-production, editing and marketing, students will learn the entire process of creation and be left with the skills to produce complete products in the real world.

Dance Courses

ATC1/2O1 (Grades 9 and 10, Junior Dance)

This course gives students the opportunity to explore their technical and compositional skills by applying the elements of dance and the tools of composition in a variety of performance situations. Students will generate movement through structured and unstructured improvisation, demonstrate an understanding of safe practices with regard to themselves and others in the dance environment, and identify the function and significance of dance within the global community.

ATC3/4M1 (Grades 11 and 12, Senior Dance)

This course emphasizes the development of students’ artistry, improvisational and compositional skills, and technical proficiency in dance genres from around the world. Students will apply dance elements, techniques, and tools in a variety of ways, including performance situations; describe and model responsible practices related to the dance environment; and reflect on how the study of dance affects personal and artistic development.