Performing Arts
Performing Arts Updates
I am so excited to announce that we officially have our brand-new Performing Arts Centre! The PAC is a purpose-built facility using industry standard gear to house our Dance, Drama, Music and Instrumental classes. Over the coming weeks we are finalising our move into the PAC and the building will be fully online timetabled from Semester 2.
Dance Night
We received the keys to our new building on the 24th May and put on our first ever event on the 31st May! The Dance team was delighted to share with you our first ever Dance Night where we were able to showcase the hard work of our students across curriculum classes, academies, squad, cheer and cultural groups. We are so proud of all of those involved and would like to thank all the parents and carers for their on-going support.
Dance Academy
Year 7/8
Our 7/8 Dance Academy students have just submitted their Musical Theatre choreography. In this task they have focused on creating a technically difficult routine including a variety of turns, leaps, kicks and complex phrases whilst linking their actions with the music. This assessment piece wraps up their Musical Theatre unit as next term the class will move onto studying the Jazz style. In week 9 the team will be competing with their Musical Theatre routine at the Ipswich Junior Dance Eisteddfod and we are looking forward to seeing them up on stage again!
Year 9
Year 9 Dance Academy students have had a fabulous time performing their Fosse inspired routine at Dance Night. They are about to submit their own Jazz routine for their choreography task. This task will finalise the end of their jazz journey and the students are excited to move into Lyrical Dance next semester. In week 9 our year 9 students are joining the 7/8 Dance Academy group at the Ipswich Junior Eisteddfod where they will be competing with their jazz routine "Feel it still".
Year 7 Dance
Year 7 Dance are wrapping up their final assessment task and have submitted their choreography draft. Their creativity shines as they integrated iconic movements from various eras many before their years. With their final assessment due next week, this sadly brings Year 7 dance to an end for 7B, 7E, 7H and 7F. We hope to see them selecting the subject in Year 9 and can't wait to meet our next bunch of grade 7's next term!
Year 10 Dance
Year 10 Dance students recently performed the opening dance number in our first ever RVSSC Dance Night. They demonstrated high energy, big faces and really entertained the audience. In class, students have been working on their group choreographic task where they are creating a Hip-Hop routine based on a school theme/context.
Year 11 Dance
Year 11 Dance have recently completed their first senior unit, ending with individual choreography in the style of contemporary dance. In unit 2, students explore how physical and virtual environments have an impact on the choreographer’s creative process and selection of dance concepts, and the performer’s use of the dance skills to communicate meaning. Students synthesise their knowledge and understanding of the conventions of each environment and analyse, interpret and evaluate dance, justifying the manipulation of movement through the application of dance concepts and skills to communicate meaning. Students develop their knowledge and understanding of dance concepts and skills through a study of various physical and virtual dance environments. These concepts, skills and environments are those used by choreographers and performers in Australia.
Year 12 Dance
Year 12 Dance students have just completed their IA2 choreography tasks and they did a fantastic job at creatively expressing socio-political issues through contemporary dance. As students move into their final unit, they are exploring self-expression through their own style of fusion dance, combining two or more dance genres together. This is an opportunity for them to share something from their personal experiences and to celebrate the ending of their dance journey in high school.
Year 8 Drama
After writing their own Children's Theatre script based on a children's story or folktale, Year 8 Drama students will now bring their creativity to life as the student-devised scripts are transformed into live productions. With fractured fairy tales and modernised adaptations full of humour and enthusiasm, the Drama team can’t wait to see the final performances. We are hopeful that these performances can strengthen our community partnerships as some of our students may be able to showcase their fantastic skills by presenting their Children's Theatre pieces for younger students.
Year 9 Drama
Year 9 students are getting ready for their final performance of the year! They have explored the concept of risk taking amongst young people through the play, Juice. Students have refined their acting skills in the style of Realism and developed confidence and team work skills in the process, so all that is left is for them to present a fantastic performance! This semester has provided a platform for students explore the depths of human emotion, creativity and self-expression, and it has been a pleasure to watch their skills flourish. Ms McLeod can’t wait to see them all challenging their creativity, communication and collaboration in Year 10 Drama next year!
Year 12 Drama
Year 12 Drama students have just completed their most recent project, creating a piece of Theatre for Social Change. The maturity and depth of meaning communicated in their concepts was phenomenal and it has been a pleasure to watch their creativity over the past term. Now that we have moved into the PAC (and what an exciting move it was!), we will delve into the contrasting worlds of Greek Tragedies and Contemporary Theatre, as Year 12 Drama students explore the transformative power of performance. Combining styles like Visual Theatre, Cinematic Theatre and using hybridity, students will create their own dynamic directorial vision of how the heritage text of Medea could best communicate meaning for modern audiences. With their most in-depth assessment just around the corner, Ms McLeod is so excited to see the incredible directorial visions and acting performances that these students create!
Year 12 Drama in Practice
Year 12 Drama in Practice students are examining how theatre can have the power to bring communities together and share voices that have previously been unheard. The students will choose a specific community group, spend interviewing them and hearing their stories, before using their words to create an engaging script. From there, a student-devised script will be cast, rehearsed and refined ready to be performed for community members. It will be so incredible for the class to experience the creation of a performance from concept to complete performance and Ms McLeod has no doubt they will do an exceptional job!
Cheer
The Raptors had an extremely successful first performance at Dance Night on Friday 31st of May. The athletes pushed themselves through a significant amount of training to be ready for the performance. There was some anxiety but a lot of excitement heading into the evening, as the team got to wear their uniform and bows for the first time. This opportunity was a chance for the team to come together and meet the expectations required of them for their competitions later this year. The cheerleaders will now begin working towards their first competition.
Drama Troupe
The Drama Troupe have been refining their performance skills through working on manipulating their vocality and physicality to portray realistic characters. Now that we have made the exciting move into the PAC, the opportunities feel endless! So, we are now able to begin introducing Magical Realism and the concept of beauty in moments when our reality and our dreams collide. As the students explore different characters, they are gaining confidence in their movement, voice and ability to portray a wide range of roles. These practices help students with other useful core skills such as, communication, teamwork, adaptability, self-confidence and active listening. The group has made incredible improvements in their performances in the last few weeks and we couldn’t be more excited as we begin working on pieces for our Annual Arts Showcase.
Grade 7 Music:
It's music to our ears as our Grade 7 students wrap up their elective rotation in the music program! From learning the basics of rhythm and melody to exploring different instruments, they've embarked on a melodious journey that's been nothing short of inspiring. Now, as they put the finishing touches on their final performances, we're eagerly anticipating the culmination of their hard work and dedication.
Grade 9 Music:
In Music, the Year 9’s are working hard on their Music assessments, where they are using SoundTrap (an online audio workstation) to create compositions based on mood and emotion. Students are experimenting with various instruments and compositional techniques to create songs that influence their audience’s emotions.
Grade 10 Music:
Our students are not just tuning in, they're turning up the volume on their creativity! As they put the final touches on their "radio projects," crafting one-of-a-kind compositions, they're not only making music, they're also learning valuable lessons about copyright law and ethical use of digital audio workstations and samples.
With a clear understanding of copyright and ethical practices, our musicians are not only creating great tunes but also setting a high standard for integrity in their work. Let's give them a round of applause for their dedication to both musical excellence and ethical principles.
Grade 12 Music:
As our seniors enter the final phase of their high school journey, they are diving headfirst into preparations for both IA3 and unit 4 assessments. It's been incredibly inspiring to witness their enthusiasm and dedication as they tackle these tasks.
Under the guidance of Mr. Ezzy, our students have been impressing us all with their skill and commitment to excellence. Despite the assessments not being due until week 4 of term 3, many students have already begun booking rehearsal spaces to ensure they have ample time to practice and refine their performances, compositions and musicology.
We commend our seniors for their proactive approach and commendable work ethic. It's a testament to their passion for music and their determination to succeed.
Instrumental Music:
We are thrilled to share some exciting updates from our instrumental music program! Our students have been diligently honing their craft, and we're delighted to see them evolving into more nuanced musicians. They're not just playing the notes anymore; they're infusing their performances with a depth of sensitivity and expression that is truly impressive. In addition, our senior students are embarking on an exciting journey as they develop their final projects. These projects will be unveiled at the showcase in term 4, and we can't wait to see the culmination of their hard work and talent. It promises to be a showcase of extraordinary skill and creativity.
As we approach the end of term, we want to remind everyone that instrumental music will continue in weeks 9 and 10, despite the cold weather and the wrapping up of the term. We appreciate everyone's dedication and commitment to the program, and we encourage all students to keep attending rehearsals and giving their best effort.Thank you for your ongoing support of our instrumental music program and our students achieving excellence together.
Grade 12 Student Neve Conducting the Concert Band.
Vocal Ensemble:
Our vocalists are hitting all the right notes as they prepare for their first community performance. With rehearsals in full swing, they're fine-tuning their melodies and perfecting their harmonies, and let me tell you, they're sounding fantastic!
From powerful ballads to upbeat anthems, our vocalists are showcasing their talent and dedication to their craft. We can't wait to see them take the stage and share their voices with the community.
Jessica Starkey
Head of Department - Performing Arts - Year 8E - 8H