YEARS 9 AND 10 ACADEMIC INFORMATION HANDBOOK

THE ARTS - CURRICULUM OPTIONS

DANCE CONCERT PERFORMANCE (SEMESTER 1)

Students will learn dance techniques in multiple genres and perform two new dance works in the College Dance Concert. As dancers you will develop body awareness, alignment, physical fitness and musicality through learning two different styles of dance as well as learning methods for your own creative expression through movement. You will be immersed in the creative process learning from staff and professional dancers. Dancers will learn how to work both collaboratively and independently through the choreographic process developing critical thinking and expressing ideas in physical form. Students will view professional works to inspire their own practice and learn about the human body and anatomy to understand how the physical body works.  

 

Students should consider this unit if they are contemplating ATAR or General Dance.  Students can select Dance Concert Performance in both Years 9 and 10 if they wish as technique and choreography will be different. 

 

Please note that if you are currently on a Dance Scholarship you must take Dance each semester.  

DANCE SHOWCASE (SEMESTER 2)

Dance students will by guided through the choreographic process to create two works for the Dance Showcase. One work will be guided by staff and industry professionals and the small group projects will allow students to choreograph and design their own dance work. Students will be guided through progressions and technique exercises, improvisational practices and tasking, and creative processes to build the skills to develop their own work. Self-expression is encouraged where dancers portray their own ideas through movement. As an art form, Dance encourages artistic creativity and the active use of the imagination. Dancers will play, explore and improvise to create new moves and choreography in the genre(s) of their choice guided by staff and professional dancers.  

 

Students will have the opportunity to learn about lighting, sound and multimedia and design their own works for performance.  Students will develop transferable skills including communication skills, collaborative teamwork skills, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to organise.  

 

Students can select Dance Showcase in both Years 9 and 10 if they wish as the contexts and choreography will be different. Students should consider this unit if they are contemplating ATAR or General Dance. 

 

Please note that if you are currently on a Dance Scholarship you must take Dance each semester. 

DRAMA PRODUCTION 1 (SEMESTER 1)

Students will work as actors and or designers in their own company to create a fully realised performance for a live audience. The performance will offer an opportunity for students to engage in all elements of production, including lighting, set, sound, and costume design as well as directing and acting. Through the creative process students will develop their empathy, teamwork and leadership skills as they take the responsibility for the production and the company.   

This course is designed for students of all different abilities and experiences. It will be flexible and adapt to the interests and skills of the group, providing a variety of different roles to suit each student’s passions. The class will invite guest directors and actors to work on, coach and direct in class as we create the production.  

 

Please note that if you are currently on a Drama Scholarship you must take at least one option per semester.

DRAMA PRODUCTION 2 (SEMESTER 2)

Students will form part of a theatre company as they are directed in a performance for a live audience. Students will be exposed to a range of theatrical styles and have the opportunity to work as an ensemble to realise a production in a theatrical space. The performance will offer an opportunity for students to engage in all elements of production, including lighting, set, sound, and costume design as well as directing and acting. 

 

This course is designed for students of all different abilities and experiences. It will be flexible and adapt around the interests and skills of the group, providing a variety of different roles to suit each student’s passions. The class will invite guest directors and actors to work on, coach and direct in class as the production is created.

 

Students may take either Drama Production 1 or 2, or both units for the year. 

 

Please note that if you are currently on a Drama Scholarship you must take at least one option per semester.

MEDIA PRODUCTION - FICTION (SEMESTER 1)

This course focuses on the genres, styles and movements of fictional film, television, and online industries. Students will develop their existing knowledge of using cameras, lenses, tripods, rigs, microphones and editing software in production, to allow them to tell screen stories in live action, animated or hybrid mediums. They will take inspiration from the classics of cinema to create their own stories and experiment with ways of communicating ideas.

 

Students can select Media Production (Fiction) in both Years 9 and 10 if they wish as production contexts will be different.

MEDIA PRODUCTION - NON-FICTION (SEMESTER 2)

This course immerses students in the world of non-fiction media productions. Students will learn about more traditional forms of non-fiction storytelling in documentary production, where documentary is studied as truth and commentary, and new and emerging forms of communication, in podcasting and vlogging. They will also continue to develop practical production skills, such as, sound recording techniques, cinematography and editing. Students may choose this course as a follow on from the semester one ‘Fiction’ course or as a stand-alone option.   

 

Students can select Media Production (Non-fiction) in both Years 9 and 10 if they wish as production contexts will be different.  

 

VISUAL ART - SCULPTURE CASTING AND CONSTRUCTION (SEMESTER 1)

More of a hands-on creative? This unit will let you get physical with your art. The creation of three-dimensional artwork requires specialised techniques and processes, and these will be explored throughout the semester for you to create a variety of sculptural objects. 

 

This unit will expose students to processes in sculpture using a variety of mediums such as clay, silicone, resins and metals. Students will learn: 

  • Modelling in 3D 
  • Working in the round 
  • Additive/reductive techniques 
  • Art history – traditional sculpture 
  • Cuttlefish casting 
  • Mould-making 
  • Resin jewellery 

Students experience a growing awareness of how and why artists, craftspeople and/or designers are influenced by other artists, their environment and the contexts of culture, time and place.  

 

They continue to apply knowledge of techniques used by other artists in the production of their own work. 

Students use visual art language and artistic conventions, in both written and practical work. They further develop and refine their ideas and techniques to resolve artwork by documenting the design, production and evaluation processes of their artwork. Students extend their knowledge and practise of safe and sustainable visual arts practice. 

 

TRADITIONAL LANDSCAPE PAINTING (SEMESTER 2)

Interested in brushing up on your painting skills? This unit introduces students to the fundamental processes and essential skills in the production of landscape painting. Students will explore a range of techniques and a variety of media to create harmonious and dynamic artworks, whilst discovering their own distinct painting style. 

Students will learn:  

  • The elements and principles of art 
  • Colour theory and colour mixing 
  • Brush control and paint application techniques 
  • Creating dynamic compositions 
  • Atmospheric perspective 
  • The preparation of painting supports and grounds 

Students develop greater understanding of how contexts of culture, time and place impact on the development of ideas and production of art forms in the artistic process. They continue to explore artistic influences, while being encouraged to express greater individualism in their application of ideas and materials. 

 

Students are provided with opportunities to reflect on traditional and contemporary artwork using a breadth of critical analysis frameworks, incorporating visual art language,  art terminology and conventions. 

CONTEMPORARY PAINTING (SEMESTER 2)

Do you like to paint with mixed media and layer it up? In contemporary art practices, artists combine paint with a variety of materials to create expressive and layered works of art. This unit allows you to learn traditional painting techniques whilst combining and incorporating contemporary mixed media techniques using spray paint stencils, acrylics and oil paints. We will look at the hypercolour paintings of Alai Ganuza and experiment with changing the hues of colours to create a bright palette. Students will create one, or a series of unique paintings using these experimental techniques. 

 

This unit will expose students to a variety of painting techniques, both traditional  

and contemporary. Students will learn: 

 

Painting Techniques 

  • Colour mixing  
  • Altering colours to create a bright palette 
  • Layering and blending 
  • Paint application 
  • Spray-painting 

History 

  • Art history – Basquiat and Alai Ganuza 

Materials Information 

  • Brushes and supports 
  • Mediums 
  • Health and safety issues 

This unit is designed to extend students’ knowledge and practise in the creation of two-dimensional artworks. Students will develop greater understanding of contexts of culture, time and place and how these impact  

on the development of ideas and the production of art works. Students continue to explore artistic influences, while being encouraged to express greater individualism in their application of ideas and materials.