High School Performing Arts

The mission of the Performing Arts Department is to foster a lifelong sense of wonder about dance and theater arts. The arts faculty collaborates with students in creating and sustaining a safe, inclusive community where diversity is honored. In developing an open environment, students are encouraged to engage actively in the creative process while developing the necessary skills for each discipline. Risk taking and play are central to our study. We strive to educate each student for artistic excellence in dance and theater arts.

Dance

Dance: (full year - 1/2 credit) All dance students take a combination of modern dance technique, improvisation and composition. The goal of the dance class is for students to develop an individual movement style with which to express their ideas in choreography. The study of technique and improvisation give students the tools necessary to create dances. All students are required to attend a professional dance concert and write a one-page review. Students are also required to choreograph a solo to be performed at the end of the year. Dance a prerequisite for participation in Choreolab. Students who take dance can be exempt from PE.

In dance technique students are exposed to the technical vocabulary of modern dance. The class explores the concepts of alignment, rhythm, musicality and spatial awareness. The students experience a variety of movement styles, which culminate in combination work and performance opportunities. Students are encouraged to integrate the skills they acquire in technique class with those they have experienced in improvisation and composition, thus providing them with a deeper knowledge of dance as an art form.

Dance improvisation uses improvisation to explore the basic elements of dance (time, space, and energy). This is accomplished through a series of structures and problems that challenge students to allow movement to develop from a variety of sources. Students learn to unblock the channel for spontaneous movement to occur. This allows each student to bring his/her own experience to the class and to use this experience for self-expression.

In dance composition students create movement studies that incorporate ideas from technique and improvisation. Students work individually and in small groups on a range of projects including ABA, theme and development, and prop dances. These projects are performed for the class. Students offer feedback to the performer(s) creating a process that develops each student's ability to observe and critique dance. This is further enhanced by the requirement that dance students see a professional dance concert of their choice and write a one-page review.

Advanced Dance: (full year – 1 credit) This class is an in-depth exploration of dance technique, improvisation and composition. The class will meet three times per cycle and is recommended for students interested in choreographing for Choreolab.

Choreolab: (extra-curricular) Students are given the opportunity to choreograph and perform in Choreolab, a student dance concert that is produced in early spring. The preparation for Choreolab occurs primarily after school. Students interested being choreographers must attend a choreography workshop and submit a written proposal. Students must be enrolled in a dance class in order to participate in Choreolab.

 A.I.R.: (extra-curricular) The Artist-in-Residence program invites a professional choreographer as well as an emerging artist to work with students to create a new work and/or learn an existing dance from the artist’s repertoire. The AIR program takes place in late spring culminating with an evening performance in early June.

Drama

Basic Drama: (full year - 1/2 credit) (First year: for students who have not taken drama at Trevor) The focus of the first year in drama is the development of the basic acting instrument, cultivating knowledge of stagecraft, and the exploration of the student's relationship to an audience. Class work includes improvisation, theatre games, an investigation of status transactions, conversion of an author's text into real speech, and the enrichment of on-stage experience. The teaching of Lee Strasberg, Sanford Meisner, Keith Johnstone, Michael Chekhov and George Morrison are combined with newer techniques. This works lays the groundwork for the development of fundamental scene study skills. A sense of play, a willingness to take risks and assertively break norms is central to our study.

Drama II: (full year - 1/2 credit) (Pre-requisite: Basic Drama)  Drama II continues where the first year ends. The focus of this course is on further enhancing the student's on-stage experience, developing the basic acting instrument, and refining status skills. Class work includes improvisation and theater games; the 'not me' aspect of acting is examined in depth. Basic scene study skills are introduced. The teaching of Lee Strasberg, Sanford Meisner, Keith Johnstone, Michael Chekhov and George Morrison are combined with newer techniques. Throughout the year students are invited to write and create monologues, scenes and short plays. A sense of play, a willingness to take risks and assertively break norms is central to our study.

Advanced Drama: (full year - 1/2 credit) Prerequisites - Previous Drama Courses at TDS and approval of the instructor for seniors only. This is a "pre-professional" training class for students interested in an in-depth study of acting, development of an acting technique, and establishment of fundamental scene study skills. The entire journey of working on a script is explored from the first reading to the presentation of work before a live audience. Students are also provided with an introduction to directing and playwriting; and are asked, throughout the year, to write and stage monologues, scenes and short plays.

The teaching and acting techniques of Lee Strasberg, Sanford Meisner, Michael Chekhov and George Morrison form the basis of our work, as well as a series of specially designed exercises to increase the actor's expressiveness and technical range. This work can be considered "acting calisthenics" and is required at every class. Enhanced usage of status, advanced application of referents, and other skills will be applied to the scene work.

Vocal, physical and emotional discipline, a sense of play, and a willingness to take risks are central to our study.

Theater Technology and Design

Theater Technology and Design: (full year - 1/2 credit) Class time in Theater Tech is a combination of learning and doing. Through the design process, students learn how to develop a professional production. Students also create and critique professional performances and movies, as well as student work. In addition to learning about sound and lighting design, students learn how to operate electronic sound and lighting equipment, stage-manage both theater and dance shows, and build and paint sets. The opportunity to participate in Stage Crew outside of class is highly encouraged. Class work also includes analyzing TV, pop music, movies and performance events for content and design elements.

Theater Technology and Design - Independent Study: (full year - 1/2 credit) Prerequisites - Must be approved by teacher.  Class time in Theater Tech is a combination of learning and doing. Through the design process, students learn how to develop a professional production. Students also create and critique professional performances and movies, as well as student work. In addition to learning about sound and lighting design, students learn how to operate electronic sound and lighting equipment, stage-manage both theater and dance shows, and build and paint sets. The opportunity to participate in Stage Crew outside of class is highly encouraged. Independent Study allows the dedicated Tech/Design student to continue to develop his/her creative ideas through the implementation of designs for performances at the Trevor Day School.