Gifted Dance Education Program

The Gifted Dance Education Program is a pull-out model for identified students in grades three through eight and is housed at Old Donation School. Students attend ODS one day a week instead of their home school. Admission into the program is determined through an application process and auditions. Dance students are presented a comprehensive curriculum which emphasizes the areas of concepts and skill development, dance history and appreciation, and creativity. See the main testing page for due date of the application.

Gifted Visual Arts Program 

The Gifted Visual Arts Program is a pull-out model for identified students in grades three through five and is housed at Old Donation School. The program continues through middle school but is housed at Virginia Beach Middle School. For those students, VBMS becomes their home school and they attend all their classes there. Admission is determined through an application which includes an art portfolio. Instruction in the program challenges students who are gifted in the visual arts. The curriculum integrates art history, criticism, aesthetic perception, creativity, theory and skill development, as well as components from the core curriculum of knowledge. Click on the picture below for a short video about the program. See the testing page for the due date of the application.

Getting ready for NEW art & dance applications due February 7, 2025. Here are some FAQs: 

Online applications must be “submitted or complete” by February 7, 2025.  Student portfolios are due to Gifted Resource Teacher by February 1, 2025.  Any open (incomplete) application will not be processed.

Students currently in grades 2 through 7 may apply to both art and dance.

Art Portfolio: Art applicants must submit 3 drawings on VBCPS templates (8 1/2 x 11 paper with a VBCPS watermark.)  This will be sent home with your child upon opening an application.  If you need an additional art portfolio template, please send in a request with your child or contact the gifted resource teacher.  The portfolio sheets can also be downloaded from the application site.

Questions about transportation to and from ODS gifted dance or gifted visual arts can found on the transportation website.

Students currently in grades 2 through 7 are eligible to apply to both art and dance.

Overview of the art and dance programs: https://www.vbschools.com/academic_programs/gifted/dva

Information Nights: https://olddonationschool.vbschools.com/parents/info_nights

Timelines: https://www.vbschools.com/academic_programs/gifted/screening/timelines

Art Virtual Tour: https://sites.google.com/vbschools.com/odsgiftedartdance/visual-arts?authuser=0

Dance Virtual Tour: https://sites.google.com/vbschools.com/odsgiftedartdance/dance?authuser=0