Performing Arts

Performing Arts

Foundation 

In Performing Arts this fortnight we have been using objects, voice, body and instruments to create the sounds to match the events of the story “Possum Magic”.

"We liked playing the instruments."- Josh

"Hush was invisible" - Affan

"Grandma Poss made Hush visible again by eating a vegemite sandwich." - Annabelle

Year 1-2

Students used voice and movement to collaboratively perform a fairytale story using shadow puppets. Stories included 'The Three Little Pigs,' 'Cinderella,' 'Hansel and Gretel,' and 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears.' They practised creating different voices for their puppets and rehearsed how to move their puppets in a way that reflected the characters and events in the story. Additionally, they learned how to position the puppets and light source to create clear and expressive shadows, an essential technique in shadow puppet theatre.

Students began their dance unit by exploring how movement can represent the four seasons. In Winter, they glided and spun to mimic ice skating and snow play, incorporating balances and low shapes to depict the chilly environment. For Summer, they enacted beach activities such as swimming and surfing through movements like leaping and skipping, reflecting the energy of seaside fun. During Spring, students stretched and rose to symbolise blooming flowers and incorporated flying motions to represent bees. In Autumn, they portrayed falling leaves and swirling wind with slow, twisting and controlled descending movements. They focused on using body parts, shapes and levels, utilising fundamental movement skills and the elements of dance to convey the seasons.

Here’s what students had to say: 

Hudson (1C): “We were doing dancing for all of the seasons”

Saanvi (1C): “It was really fun to do dancing for all the seasons and we liked the songs”

Amani (1C): “We were dancing all the different seasons and my favourite was Spring. We were leaves growing and bees buzzing!”

Murtesa (1C): “For winter, I did the snowman”

Harriette (1C): “My favourite season was winter and I did ice skating dancing”

Lucas (1C): “I liked Autumn and I did leaves falling off trees dancing”

Noah (1C): “I liked summer and did surfing”

Angie (1C): “My favourite of the seasons was summer because you can do beach dancing, sandcastles and swimming”

Images: Students rehearsing and performing their shadow puppet fairytale plays 

Images: Students exploring movements to represent the four seasons

 Year 3-4

Students showcased their original rhythm compositions to their peers, demonstrating a solid grasp of rhythm notation. Collaboratively, they explored tempo, tone, and dynamics to make informed decisions on performing their pieces using bucket drums. This included determining the rhythm's speed, selecting appropriate drumming techniques and deciding on dynamic variations, such as gradual changes in volume. Their rehearsals emphasised ensemble coordination and timing, ensuring a cohesive and synchronised performance.

Here’s what the students had to say: 

Yohan (4C): “Feel the beat and try to feel the flow, it helps!”

Josiah (4C): “In my group, we decided to have a medium tempo”

Xavier (4C): “Try your best and never give up”

Aubree (4C): “We decided to do our rhythm slow and soft”

Aysha (4C): “Bucket Drumming is really fun and we learnt how to play it”

Nina (3B): “Me and my partner chose a medium tempo for our rhythm”

Rohan (3B): “It wa super fun and we got to do drumming”

Asenat (3A): “We played the drums and played a rhythm with our partners”

Images: Students rehearsing and performing their original compositions

Year 5-6 

Students presented their instructional fitness-inspired dance videos, guiding the class through movements with clear instructions and expressive skills. Workout styles included yoga, aerobics, contemporary dance and boxing. After each session, they reflected on the effectiveness of their routines in engaging and guiding peers, considering feedback to evaluate and improve clarity and the communication of choreographic ideas. It was great to see full participation by all students, expressing their creativity and confidence!

Students explored reading and writing notes on a treble clef stave, using mnemonics to recognise the notes on the lines and spaces. They reinforced their understanding of notes by practising with Boomwhackers, playing and identifying notes in a C Major scale. Students also worked in pairs, drawing notes on a stave for their partner to identify, helping to reinforce their understanding of musical notation. 

Here’s what students had to say: 

Lucy (6C): “It was really fun to make an exercise dance for the class to watch and copy.I wish we could do it again!”

Taylor (6C): “It was so fun to go and do the dances that everyone made individually”

Divjot (6C): “It was fun to make a dance with our group and film it”

Abigail B (6C): “It was fun and everyone copied it well”

Adrian (6C): “Our group did a very good yoga workout for everyone to get a good stretch”

Bonnie (6D): “It was really fun creating our own dance moves and everyone following them”

Ciana (6D): “I like how everyone had creative dance moves”

Ibrahim (6B): “It was really fun to watch each others workout videos and do it ourselves”

Sila (6B): “Some of the dance videos were challenging”

Images: Students either recording, presenting or following instructional dance videos