Dance and Drama Faculty

From the Co-ordinator of Dance and Drama

Elective Dance – Sydney Dance Company Incursion: On Wednesday 15 May, students from the Elective Dance classes participated in an exciting and enriching incursion led by the renowned Sydney Dance Company. The workshop was a dynamic blend of practical technique training and creative exploration, closely aligned with the performance and composition components of the Dance syllabus.

The session began with a series of technique exercises, giving students the opportunity to refine their skills while also engaging in important discussions around safe dance practice. These conversations were highly relevant to current class topics, reinforcing the students’ understanding of how to train and perform safely and effectively.

A highlight of the morning was the chance to learn excerpts from the repertoire currently being performed by the Sydney Dance Company. This direct engagement with professional choreography gave students insight into the artistic and technical demands of contemporary dance performance.

In the second part of the workshop, students explored improvisation tasks using "gravity" as a stimulus. This activity was especially beneficial for Stage 6 students, who found it helpful in generating ideas for their own compositions. They gained a deeper understanding of the choreographic processes used by Sydney Dance Company—many of which echoed tasks and strategies already familiar from their own classes.

The incursion left students feeling inspired and motivated, providing a unique opportunity to connect classroom learning with professional practice. A fantastic way to start the day and a memorable experience for all involved!

Reflection written by Tallulah (C9):  Recently, Year 9 and 10 Dance had the exciting opportunity to take part in a workshop run by the Sydney Dance Company. The experience was unlike anything we’d done before, offering a deeper insight into contemporary dance. We began the workshop with a warm-up focusing on mostly contraction and release, which ultimately set the tone for a very physical class. Then, we learnt a short phrase and practised our travelling technique through corner work exercises. One of the highlights for many of us was learning a snippet combination from ‘Momenta’, a Sydney Dance Company work. It gave us a glimpse into how professional dancers work and how choreography is built through improvisation and spontaneity. After a short break, we explored a creative gravity task in pairs. By using body parts and movement prompts, we created our own duet phrases, combining them and performing in front of the class. It was a great way to challenge us, collaborate, and experiment with movement in a new and imaginative way. We ended the workshop with a reflection and thanked our teacher, Natalie. A lot of us walked away with a new appreciation for contemporary dance, enjoying the freedom of improvisation, and the chance to explore a completely new and different style for some. 

K – 6 Dance and Drama Lessons Term 2

It has been a vibrant and productive start to the Term in Junior School Dance and Drama, with many classes finalising and rehearsing their items for the upcoming Junior Performing Arts Evening. While some year groups prepare for live stage performances, others have been using their lessons to create filmed items, bringing a fresh and exciting approach to their performance work.

The Year 4 Dance classes are working on a class dance to be filmed. P4 have already commenced theirs, based on a topic decided by the students – ‘diversity’. J4 are still finalising their choices. 

Year 6 Dance and Drama classes have been particularly busy, delving into the world of performance for film. In a collaborative effort with their teachers, students have been developing and producing a mini musical, brought to life through the medium of film.

Using improvisation, students have created original scenes and rehearsed choreography tailored for the camera. As part of their learning, they have explored the use of camera angles and shot types, gaining insight into how storytelling can be shaped through film. Once filming is complete, students will be involved in the editing process—making creative choices in selecting and refining footage to assemble their short production, much like a music video clip.

This exciting project has not only allowed students to build performance skills but also introduced them to important elements of film production, enhancing their understanding of both stage and screen.

‘Annie’ -  J6

The Year 6 girls have been enthusiastically rehearsing scripted scenes from the beloved musical Annie during their Drama lessons. They have been applying a range of dramatic skills to develop their characters and bring the story to life on stage with confidence and creativity. In Dance, the students have been learning choreography to two iconic songs from the musical—“It’s a Hard Knock Life” and “Tomorrow”. Through these rehearsals, they have been working on performance quality, timing, and expressive movement to support the storytelling in both their acting and dancing.

‘High School Musical’ – P6

In Drama, the Year 6 boys have been exploring themes of identity and self-expression through improvised scenes inspired by the song “Stick to the Status Quo.” Using their own interests as a creative springboard, students developed group scenes that highlighted the tension between stereotypical roles and hidden passions. This process encouraged them to think critically about individuality, peer pressure, and personal identity—all while building their improvisation and performance skills. In Dance, the boys have been working on a high-energy, basketball-inspired routine set to “Getcha Head in the Game.” This choreography complements their drama scenes and will be edited together into a cohesive and dynamic filmed performance.

These projects have given students a chance to combine storytelling, movement, and music in a fun and meaningful way, while promoting teamwork and creativity. It has been an exciting experience, the Dance and Drama staff have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside the students and look forward to the finished products.