Dance
Dance provides students with opportunities to experience and enjoy dance as an artform as they perform, compose and appreciate dance. In an integrated study of the practices of performance, composition and appreciation, students develop both physical skill and aesthetic, artistic and cultural understandings. The course enables students to express ideas creatively and to communicate physically, verbally and in written forms as they make, perform and analyse dances and dance forms.

All students study dance performance, composition and appreciation. They learn about the elements of dance (space, time and dynamics) and how they are used in, and link, the three practices. They learn about performing dances with an awareness of safe dance practice, dance technique and performance quality. They learn about how dance expresses ideas, feelings and experiences as they construct dance compositions to communicate ideas. They learn about people, culture and society as they study and analyse dance performances, compositions and dance works of art.

Students learn to develop an articulate body as they perform a range of dances in a variety of styles with a working knowledge of safe dance practice. They learn to structure movement as they compose dances to express their ideas, feelings and experiences. They learn to use the language of dance and to describe movements using the elements of dance as they view, discuss, read and write about dance. Drawing from their experiences gained in performing, composing and appreciating dances, they learn to make connections between the making and performing of the movement and the appreciation of its meaning.

Course Code: S5DAN_Dance

Prerequisites and Limitations: There are no prerequisites for this subject. Students that have limited mobility or ongoing physical injury may experience limitations in this course.

Suitability: This subject suits students who are enjoy an active and practical-based class, are interested or have experience in dance or body movement, enjoy the Arts and music, or wish to learn about dance and related skills.

**Students that have studied Dance in Year 9 are highly recommended to continue the Dance course in Year 10.

Drama
Drama is a dynamic subject in which students learn by doing. They work in a physical environment, performing in most lessons. It provides students with experiences in which their intellect, emotions, imagination and body are all involved and developed through expression, performance, observation and reflection.

Drama offers inroads into capacities vital to 21st century careers and global contexts-relying on creativity, problem solving, collaboration, innovation, higher order thinking, critical reflection, and empathy, along with dynamic visual, physical and aural communication.

The study of Drama engages and challenges students to maximise their individual abilities through imaginative and dramatic experiences created in cooperation with others. Self-confidence, motivation and self-esteem are developed through the devising, work-shopping,

rehearsing and performing individual and collaborative works.

In addition to performance there are opportunities to pursue playwriting, production management, direction, set, lighting and costume design.

Students will be given every opportunity to attend, participate in, and view live performances of all types in local and metropolitan settings and participate in actor lead workshops. All local excursions are covered by normal school fees. If opportunities arise to attend a performance in a capital city, you would be expected to contribute to the costs of travel and accommodation not exceeding $250. These excursions are non-compulsory.

Course Code: S5DRA_Drama

Prerequisites and Limitations: There are no prerequisites for this subject.

Suitability: This subject suits students who enjoy an active classroom, working individually and in groups, are interested in developing their communication skills, and potentially studying Drama in Stage 6. This subject is also perfect for students who are interested or have experience in drama, acting or performing and would like to learn related skills. 

**Students that have studied Drama in Year 9 are highly recommended to continue the Drama course in Year 10.

Music
The study of Music claims an important place in education because of its pervasive role in our society. It is a performance driven, dynamic, and vibrant study where students come to understand music and sound engineering as a language and thus a means of expression and communication. Music offers an effective platform in the development of 21st century capacities such as creative thinking, imagination, teamwork, confidence, discipline, independence and critical reflection, while building dynamic skills for, and styles of communication. The elective music course provides students with practical opportunities to build on the Year 7 and 8 non-elective course.

Various forms of music technology are introduced throughout the course and students have opportunities to become familiar with software for sound recording, mixing, editing, composition, and notation.

Solo and group performances comprise a significant component of the course and students would be expected to participate in school ensembles and other performance opportunities. Additionally, students are given opportunities to attend live performances of all types in local and metropolitan settings.

Beginners are welcome, but outside instrumental tutoring is recommended to assist with skill development for all students.

All local excursions are covered by normal school fees. If opportunities arise to attend a performance in a capital city, you would be expected to contribute to the costs of travel and accommodation not exceeding $250. These excursions are non-compulsory.

Course Code: S5MUS_Music,

Prerequisites and Limitations: There are no prerequisites for this subject.

Suitability: This subject suits students who enjoy a practical subject, working individually and in groups, are interested in developing their creativity and musical talents, and potentially studying Music in Stage 6. This subject is also perfect for students who are interested or have experience in singing or playing an instrument, performing, writing or listening to music and would like to learn related skills. 

**Students that have studied Music in Year 9 are highly recommended to continue the Music course in Year 10.

Photographic & Digital Media
Much of our knowledge of the world, our cultural and self identity come from the photographic and digital images that saturate the visual arts, television, film, vide  o, internet, mass media and multimedia. Photographic and Digital Media at Stage 5 introduces students to industry standard equipment, software and practices for digital photography, illustration, animation, design industries and film making. Developing a portfolio of photographic and digital works that demonstrate various investigations of the world provides opportunities for conveying ideas in a range of forms. Units are thematically based to allow students to develop their own expressive practice using existing skills as well as new techniques in digital photography, digital imaging and video.

Through critical and historical studies students explore relevant artists who work in the fields of traditional and digital photography, digital design, illustration, film and animation. Students examine the role of contemporary photographers and designers in the art world.

All local excursion costs are covered by normal school fees. Should an opportunity arise for students to attend an excursion in a capital city, students would be required to contribute to the cost of the excursion, up to a maximum of $250. These excursions are non-compulsory.

Course Code: 9PHO_Photo

Prerequisites and Limitations: There are no prerequisites for this subject.

Suitability: Students who enjoy working individually and in groups, with technology and are interested in developing their creativity and visual communication skills, and potentially studying Visual Arts in Stage 6. 

**Students that have studied Photographic and Digital Media in Year 9 are highly recommended to continue the Photographic and Digital Media course in Year 10.

Visual Arts
In contemporary societies many kinds of knowledge are increasingly managed through imagery and visual codes. Visual Arts empowers students to engage in visual forms of communication, serving to facilitate interpretation and organisation of such information. Studying visual arts gives students opportunities to develop skills vital to future employment contexts and creative industries. It’s worth noting that the business world is looking for creative people more now than ever before as they offer a new and fresh dimension to our world. The new jobs of the future will almost certainly be creative roles, dealing with ever-changing visual technologies and creative approaches to all kinds of problem solving.

As well as creating artworks, students gain experience in visual communication, creativity, problem solving, visual literacy, social commentary, cultural, historical, spatial and visual awareness. The Stage 5 Modules encourage students to become informed, interested and active citizens as participants and consumers of the visual arts and contemporary culture.

Covering the basics through to an understanding of specific art movements & artists, students will develop a greater appreciation & knowledge of artmaking & the world of art through critical and historical studies.

Students will have opportunities to exhibit their own work as well as attending local and national art galleries to view the work of others.

Costs of local excursions will be covered by normal school fees, but should a special opportunity arise to view an exhibit in a capital city you may be expected to contribute to the costs of travel up to and not exceeding $250. These excursions are non-compulsory.

Course Code: S5VIS_Visual

Prerequisites and Limitations: There are no prerequisites for this subject.

Suitability: Students who enjoy working creatively and are interested in developing their visual communication skills, and potentially studying Visual Arts in Stage 6. 

**Students that have studied Visual Arts in Year 9 are highly recommended to continue the Visual Arts course in Year 10.