DANCE

Dance Academy

Year 7 Dance Academy students have been hard at work! After successfully completing their theory component in Week 5, they have now stepped into the exciting world of Musical Theatre-inspired Jazz. With energy and enthusiasm, they have begun learning a dynamic routine for their upcoming performance task.

But that’s not all—this routine will go on to represent them in next term’s Dance Eisteddfod! With every rehearsal, students are refining their technique, expression, and stage presence, preparing to showcase their talents on a bigger stage.

Our Year 8 Dance Academy students have just completed their jazz performance assessment, showcasing their energy, technique, and performance skills. Each student demonstrated fantastic commitment, and it was wonderful to see their confidence grow on stage! With their jazz performance behind them, students are now moving into an exciting choreography task. Working in small groups, they will develop their own original routines, applying creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. This project allows them to explore movement, experiment with formations, and refine their choreographic intent. We can’t wait to see their innovative routines come to life in the coming weeks!

Our Year 9 Dance Academy students have just performed their lyrical routine for their first assessment task. Lyrical dance is a combination of ballet and contemporary technique and often communicates a narrative, theme or emotion. This routine will then become the year 9's first eisteddfod entry as we see them take to the stage at Ipswich Combined Teachers Dance Festival early next term. The class is now moving onto their own choreography task. They are exploring personal identity and creating a solo task that will be performed next term. 

Want to join our Dance Academy? Our first trial for the year is coming up! This is opening to existing RVSSC members as well as 2026 enrolments. EOI's close this Friday. Sign up via the below link: https://ripleyvalleyssc.schoolzineplus.com/form/887  or contact ddoor4@eq.edu.au for more information.

7 Dance

Our Year 7 dance students have successfully completed their exam assessments, showcasing impressive skill and dedication. With their exams behind them, they’ve now moved on to their first practical dance task. The students are learning a dance piece choreographed by their teachers, focusing on technique, rhythm, and performance quality.

This marks an exciting new chapter for our Year 7 dancers as they continue to develop their abilities and creativity. We can’t wait to see their progress in the coming weeks!

11 Dance

Year 11 Dance students are gearing up to showcase their Jazz performances next week! Taking on an exciting new dance style, they’ve tackled intricate choreography at a rapid pace—pushing their skills and creativity to new heights. Despite the challenge, their hard work has paid off, with every step mastered and every movement refined. Now, with confidence and enthusiasm, they are in their final rehearsals, ready to perform their assessment.

12 Dance

Year 12 Dance students are delving into how choreographers use movement to express viewpoints on social, political, and cultural issues. Through this exploration, they will develop and refine their choreographic skills to create and perform their own dance pieces that communicate meaning to an audience. By studying both Australian and international dance works, students will gain insight into how a choreographer’s life experiences shape their creative choices and influence the themes in their work. They will examine historical and contemporary issues from Australia and around the world, deepening their understanding of how global perspectives and societal concerns are reflected in dance.

This unit challenges students to think critically, creatively, and expressively as they use dance to convey powerful messages and engage with important conversations. We look forward to seeing their ideas come to life on stage!

DRAMA

8 Drama

This week, our Year 8 drama students will take to the stage, presenting scenes from the renowned Aboriginal Theatre play, Honey Spot. Through this powerful work, students explore themes of culture, friendship and understanding, gaining valuable insights into Australian stories and history.

Drama at this age is important, offering young people a creative outlet to express themselves, build confidence and develop communication skills. It encourages empathy and teamwork, helping students navigate their world with a greater understanding of others.

We’re excited to see their hard work come to life—break a leg, Year 8!

9 Drama

Year 9 Drama students who have been working towards completing Part A of their Melodrama unit. Exploring the conventions of this theatre style, students are devising and creating an improvised performance which engages an audience of their peers. Improvisation is such a highly creative and collaborative form, it has been amazing to see the ensemble and communication skills developing in the class so far. Moving forward, Part B of their assessment requires students to analyse a Melodramatic work and successfully analyse the use of elements of drama and stylistic conventions in communicating dramatic meaning. Critical thinking, analysis and evaluation are skills that are required in so many different pathways and our Drama students are honing these skills with the added dimension of examining pieces through a creative lens.

10 Drama

This week, our Year 10 drama students will present scenes from the play Blurred, a work that explores themes of identity, independence, and the transition to adulthood—topics that resonate deeply with their age group.

Drama is incredibly valuable for year 10 students, providing a safe space to express themselves, build confidence, and explore complex emotions. It fosters creativity, empathy, and collaboration, helping students develop important life skills.

We’re excited to see their hard work come to life.

MUSIC

7 Music

Year 7 music students are exploring Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day, analysing its structure through the elements of music. They are examining melody, harmony, rhythm, dynamics, and timbre to understand how these elements shape the song’s emotional impact. As they refine their playing and singing skills, students are preparing to perform the piece, focusing on expression and musicality. This hands-on approach helps them connect theory with practice, building confidence for their upcoming performance.

11 Music

Senior music students are refining their performance skills as they prepare for upcoming assessments. ATAR Music students are focusing on their FIA1 performance, developing their ability to communicate emotion and intent through the elements of music. They are working on expression, phrasing, and stage presence to engage their audience effectively. Meanwhile, Music in Practice students are building fundamental performance techniques, learning how to connect with others through music. By exploring different styles and collaborative approaches, they are developing confidence and musicianship. Both groups are gaining valuable skills to enhance their performances and overall musical communication.

Instrumental Music

Our instrumental music students are gearing up for an exciting excursion to Sandgate SHS, where they will take part in two specialised workshops. One workshop will see them playing alongside Sandgate’s bands, gaining valuable ensemble experience, while the other will provide private instrumental lessons from experienced tutors and instrumental teachers. This excursion marks the beginning of an exciting partnership between the two schools, with plans for Sandgate students to visit Ripley in 2026 and join our program for the day. This collaboration offers students a fantastic opportunity to refine their skills, learn from industry professionals, and build connections with fellow musicians.

Certificate III Community Dance, Theatre and Events

Each year, our Certificate III Community Dance, Theatre and Events class organises, manages, and performs in a community event. For 2025, we are excited to announce our partnership with Animal Welfare League Australia. This year’s event, taking place in Term 3, will raise funds for the incredible work of the AWL. Rehearsals have already begun, and our students are working hard to deliver a memorable performance to support this important cause. Stay tuned for more information—this is one event you won’t want to miss!

Drama Troupe

Our talented Drama Troupe is in full rehearsal mode for the second annual Drama Night on Saturday, 10th May 2025 (Term 2, Week 3). This year’s event is extra special as it will be the first time on the Performing Arts Centre stage, promising an elevated experience for both performers and the audience.

Students are working hard to bring captivating stories to life, showcasing their passion and talent. Mark your calendars and join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the arts!

Vocal Ensemble

Our talented vocal ensemble delivered an outstanding debut performance at the college’s investiture ceremony, captivating the audience with their harmonies and passion. Building on this success, they are now preparing for their next big opportunity—the Greater Springfield Community Festival on Saturday, 17th May 2025 (Term 2, Week 4).

The festival promises a fantastic showcase of local talent, and our ensemble is excited to perform for the wider community. Mark your calendars and come along to support our talented singers as they take to the stage!

Legally Blonde The Musical - Meet the Cast!

Auditions for Legally Blonde: The Musical were nothing short of amazing! Over the audition week, we watched an incredible display of talent, energy, and enthusiasm from our aspiring performers. From powerhouse vocals to dynamic acting and impressive dance moves, every student who auditioned brought something special to the stage.

The casting process was no easy task, as we had so many talented individuals to choose from. We were blown away by the passion and dedication everyone showed, making us even more excited to begin rehearsals. The journey ahead promises to be filled with hard work, creativity, and, of course, a lot of fun.

Now, without further ado… let’s meet the cast!