Performing Arts
DANCE
Dance Academy
A massive congratulations to our Dance Academy students who recently competed at the Ipswich Combined Teachers Dance Festival and placed for both of their routines!
1st Place – Year 9 and under Jazz
2nd Place – Year 9 and under Musical Theatre
In our curriculum classes our Dance Academy students have moved onto their final task in this unit, choreography. This task requires students to make up a routine in groups of 4 using a variety of complex actions, choreographic devices, formations and levels.
Year 7/8 students will be creating a Musical Theatre
Year 9 students will be creating a Fosse inspired Jazz routine
We can’t wait to see what they create!
7 Dance
Year 7 Dance students have recently completed their performance task. Students gained confidence in their performance skills and took the stage with great technical and expressive skills! They have now started their final task for the year, choreography. Students will take on the challenge of creating their own dance performance as they "dance through the ages". They will apply their knowledge of the Elements of Dance and cleverly use choreographic devices as they work in groups to finish their master piece.
10 Dance
Year 10 Dance have begun planning their group choreography task. They are now immersed into their creative ideas and will be individually choreographing 1 minute of Hip Hop choreography. They will then begin the challenging task of teaching their group members their choreography to bring the masterpiece together!
Cert II Dance
Our Certificate II students compete at the Ipswich Combined Teachers Dance Festival with their Jazz routine "Love Shack". Students were up against some tough competition and placed Very Highly Commended! Students are now straight into their new contemporary routine expressing emotional maturity with a very heavy topic. Students will then add this routine ready for the next eisteddfod.
11 Dance
Year 11 Dance students have moved onto their next assessment where they will examine how purpose and context influence the manipulation of movement through the selection of elements of dance, structure and production elements to communicate meaning. As stimulus for their own choreography, students will choose and research an iconic figure from history; taking their life story, the impact they had on a society and their human experience and express this through Contemporary dance. We are looking forward to seeing their creations.
12 Dance
Year 12 Dance Students have been in the creative process of choreographing a contemporary dance piece exploring socia-political themes such as mother nature and the effects of global warming, woman's pro-choice rights, femininity and domestic violence. Each dance piece is design to provoke an audience into considering how they feel about the issue and how they can make a change. They have selected a variation of complex movements and emotive movement qualities to communicate their choreographic intent.
DRAMA
8 Drama
Exploring the world of exaggeration, characterisation and story-telling, Year 8 Drama students are currently writing their own Children's Theatre script based on children's stories or folktales. Shortly, their written creativity will come to life as the student-devised scripts are transformed into live productions by their peers. Including humour, slapstick and high-energy performance, the Drama team are hopeful that these performances may be showcased as Children's Theatre pieces for younger students in our community.
9 Drama
This term, Year 9 Drama students will be delving into the fascinating world of Realism Theatre, a genre that aims to capture life as it is, exploring authentic human experiences and emotions. As part of our exploration of Realism Theatre, the Australian play, Juice, by Stephen Davis, will allow students to consider their own journey and how they view themselves in a world where expectations are ever-present. This powerful play engages teenage audiences as it delves into the various pressures and challenges that young people face while navigating their final few years of high school. Juice offers our students a unique opportunity to explore complex human emotions and experiences through theatre. It will assist in developing their acting skills, empathy, and understanding of the wider community. As we dive into this text, it has been excellent to see how students are engaging with their emotions; it's clear that our class will have a meaningful and enriching experience within the Realism style.
12 Drama
This term, Year 12 Drama students have created their own unique concept for a piece of Political Theatre that can be used as a tool for social change, bringing about awareness to issues in our wider community. As always, I have been impressed with the candour, curiosity and maturity with which this class discusses a wide range of topics, some of which they feel very passionately about. The students used excellent creativity and critical thinking skills as they navigated how best to portray some of society's most troubling issues. Moving forward this term, Drama students will begin examining Postmodern and Contemporary theatre styles, something that is new for them and bringing about a lot of excited questions already!
Year 12 Drama in Practice students have created a Design Folio, designing the costume, sets, lighting and even devising and recording their own sound effects for a Political Theatre production of Angela Betzien's War Crimes. Set in a forgotten coastal town, this performance tells the gripping story of six teenage girls who have fallen through the cracks of society, fighting to earn their respect and leave their mark by whatever means possible. It has been excellent to see Drama in Practice students consider how design could be used to further communicate the powerful meaning of this piece to modern audiences. Moving forward this term, Drama in Practice students will be considering how they can use theatre to provide a voice to those in our community who may be marginalised, or who don’t have the platform to share their stories. Discussions about organising interviews to use real words as part of the dialogue in their scripts has already begun; it's clear this is going to be a very exciting unit!
MUSIC
9 Music
In Year 9 Music, we are working hard at learning how to compose our own music! Students are working on Soundtrap to create compositions that are harmonious and use chords and melodies. The class loves using this technology, and is a great gateway for students to start using software similar to industry standards!
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
If you have any questions about instrumental music then please contact Mr Ezzy: dezzy9@eq.edu.au
EXTRA – Curricular
Dance Squad
A massive congratulations to our Dance Squad students who recently competed at the Ipswich Combined Teachers Dance Festival. All dancers put in a massive effort, showing so much determination and team work! Thank you to all the parents and supporters who came and cheered on our dancers!
We came away with the below results
2nd Place – Year 12 and under Musical Theatre
3rd Place – Year 12 and under Student Choreography
Highly Commended – Year 12 and under Contemporary
Cheer
Family Fun Day on Saturday 11th of May was an opportunity to showcase some of RVSSCs Performing Arts extra curriculum activities. The Cheerleaders gave a small demonstration of some level one basics and gave the crowd the option to join in on some stunting. The experience was welcomed and rewarded with positivity and encouragement.
Drama Troupe
After a very successful Drama Night at the end of Term 1, Drama Troupe members have the performing bug and can't wait to begin considering future productions. This term, they will turn their attention to honing their acting skills, this time with a focus on Realism. Holding a mirror up to society, acting and reacting as naturally as possible is not as easy as it looks. However, the troupe members have been engaging excellently in workshops that challenge them to act realistically, even in scenarios that may not be their 'normal'. In the images, students have created their dilapidated house that has been ravaged by the siege of Sarajevo, and they are embodying the roles of children who have found one another amidst the rubble. It will be an exciting term ahead as Drama Troupe members continue to astound us with their fantastic growth mindset, eagerly engaging with this new set of acting and ensemble skills.
Vocal Ensemble
Our vocal ensemble have their first eisteddfod after school on Friday 24th May! Please see below for additional rehearsal times.
- Monday 20/5/24 (2nd break) – B Block
- Wednesday 22/5/24 (7:30am – 8:30am) – B Block
- Friday 24/5/24 (7:30am – 8:30am) – B Block
If you have any questions, please contact Mr Coles jcole338@eq.edu.au
Creative Generation
Over the coming weeks, our students and teachers involved in auditioning for Creative Generation State Schools on Stage. This is the 20th year of the show and we are so excited to see these performers up on stage in July.
This term our student performers will embark on their C-Gen journey with weekend rehearsals. The rehearsals are run by industry professionals, and is an exciting opportunity for students to learn and study alongside others from schools all across the state. This culminates in 4 performances from 19th to 21st July at Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre. Tickets can be bought through Ticketek: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=CREATIVE24
Students currently involved in a performing arts subject or extra-curricular group will have the opportunity to watch the matinee performance on July 19th, with more information coming throughout the term.
Dance Night
Come along to Ripley Valley's first ever Dance Night! You will get to see performances from our representative teams Dance Squad and Dance Academy. We've also got lots to share from our curriculum classes, cultural groups and cheer team!
WHEN: 31st May 2024
TIME: Doors open at 5.30pm for a 6pm start
WHERE: Raptordome
Tickets go on sale on Monday 20th May at 10am. A ticket link will be released via our school Facebook page.
Please remember that student performers are required for the following rehearsals:
Saturday 25th May - Full cast rehearsal - 8am - Midday in the Raptordome
Friday 31st May - Dress Rehearsal - Periods 3 and 4 in the Raptordome
Please see emails for further information and permission form.
Jessica Starkey
Head of Department - Performing Arts - Year 8E - 8H