The word drama comes from the Greek meaning “to act, do or perform”. But, there are many more Reasons to take drama as a subject.
Dramatic education is working together to creativity problem-solve.
It can help to challenge students' perceptions about their world and about themselves.
Drama studies can also provide students with an outlet for emotions and thoughts that they might not otherwise have means to express.
Imagine being able to step into someone else's shoes, even if it's just for a short while. You can pretend to be different people, test out new ways of doing things, and explore different options for solving real-life challenges. These challenges could be from your own life, or they could be ones that characters in stories or historical figures have faced. The cool thing is, you get to do all of this in a safe environment. You can think about the choices you make, talk about the outcomes, and really feel what it might be like, all without the actual risks and problems you'd encounter if you tried these things in the 'real' world.
However, Drama has even more to offer. At its core, Drama helps you improve your communication skills. Like other arts, Drama lets you connect with and comprehend others in fresh and unique ways. More than any other art form, Drama teaches you practical communication skills that are crucial in today's world, which is often focused on information yet can feel disconnected. Engaging in Drama helps students become better at:
Public speaking.
Crafting persuasive messages, both in writing and speech.
Developing a more positive and confident self-image.
Cultivating self-control and discipline, traits that are valuable in all areas of life.
Learning to collaborate, finding the best ways for every group member to contribute.
Enhancing the ability to listen to and appreciate different viewpoints and contributions from others.
Moreover, apart from its inherent educational worth, Drama has the power to support other subjects within the school curriculum. Because Drama revolves around communication and empathy, students who have engaged in Drama classes will find themselves more capable of:
Grasping concepts in History and Current Events by stepping into the shoes of historical and literary figures, thereby comprehending human interactions better.
The connection between Dramatic Arts and subjects like English, History, Social Studies, and related fields is evident. The study of literature owes much to Drama, as certain eras in our literary heritage are dominated by dramatic works. Better yet, In Drama you can even live out some to those subjects to find deeper meaning and understanding.
More significantly, Drama can serve as a catalyst for active learning in any subject. It allows students to not only intellectually understand a topic, but also physically and emotionally experience it, fostering a well-rounded understanding. Research consistently demonstrates that this approach leads to a deeper comprehension and noticeable enhancement in retaining knowledge.
In this manner, Drama accomplishes multiple objectives simultaneously. It enriches students' educational journey through the arts while also fortifying traditional academic subjects.
