Performing Arts - Ms S

Howdy all! My name is Sandra Stanton and I’m the new performing arts teacher here at Trinity Primary School. 

I am originally from the United States where I studied theatre and English Literature in Los Angeles. Before I moved to Australia, I worked in South Korea as an English conversation and drama teacher for secondary students. This past year I received my Masters of Teaching (Primary) from the University of Melbourne and I’m looking forward to combining all I’ve learned with my passion for the Arts to lead a well-rounded, participatory and exciting performing arts programme! 

For the remainder of this term we’ll be focusing on some of the fundamentals in performing arts: ensemble building, active listening and character work. Whether making music, dancing or putting together a dramatic performance, learners have to productively work together to achieve a unified vision. Students will get to know one another as artists and performers, utilising improv, movement and acting exercises to participate in informal performances. We have also begun discussing emotions and how they can be expressed through voice, gestures, facial expressions and movement. We will explore how sound, music, movement, and dialogue can be combined to create a mood and atmosphere that reflects different emotions. The work being done this term will provide the foundation for students to confidently identify as performers with unique skills and knowledge to contribute to a production. It will also support students in understanding the artistic process of a performer and will prepare them as we move towards putting together more formal performances in the coming months. 

Hope to see you in the audience!

Ms. S