Performing Arts

Howdy all!

Thanks to the Art Show, imagination, creativity and inspiration are heavy in the air and learners across grades carried their creative spirits into the Performing Arts room this term! 

In Prep, students were inspired by Mem Fox’s “The Magic Hat”. Students created their own magichats from paper, decorating them and then sharing their creations with the class. Using their hats as props, they have also begun to learn a dance, translating the words from the story into full body movements. As we continue rehearsals, students are working towards integrating their previous work on facial expressions and emoting on stage with their dance movements to create a singularwell-rounded performance. Keep your eyes peeled for the performance of this piece next term!In Year 1/2 students have been brainstorming and discussing different emotions and when we feelthem, inspired by Libby Walden’s “Feelings”. They have harnessed their creativity in a variety of ways: using their visual arts skills, they created masks and posters which not only depicted what someone could look like while feeling an emotion, but also showed a situation during which someone might feel that way. After doing several group activities in which students showcased what different emotions look like using their faces and bodies, learners began working in small groups to create skits that bring the different emotions discussed in the book to life. In the final weeks of term and at the start of next term, our young performers will continue rehearsing their work, after whichall of the 1/2 classes will come together to showcase one big performance of “Feelings”! In the upper grades, Year 3/4 and 5/6 performers have been focusing on scene work, guided and inspired by different elements of drama (i.e. place, movement, and relationships). Students haveworked with the same scene during this term, but each time they have approached it by focusing ona different element of drama, encouraging students to find more independence in creating thecharacters and dramatic action. As we finish up the term, the young performers in these classes havebeen adding their own spin on the scenes, adding lines and changing the ending in ways that areunique and still connect with the script and the characters they created. Revisiting scene work like this allows students a number of opportunities to perform in front of their peers, to watch and give feedback to others, and to test out new ideas and inspirations. The skills they’ve garnered will be putto further use next term, when they embark on their final performances.

In Drama Club, Year 5/6 students have been working on a skit for the Art Show answering thequestion: what would paintings say if they could come to life? Here are a few shots from their Art Show performance:

Students in Prep rehearsing their Magic Hat dance using their newly created magic hats.

Students in 1/2MB work together to create illustrated scripts to use for their original skits.

A student in 1/2AO showing off her poster showcasing what it looks like to be angry.

Students in 3/4TR perform in front of their class, using their space and positioning to show that theircharacters are enemies.

Students in 5/6 BOC perform in front of their peers, using their movement to show place and usingthis to inform their characterization.