Performing Arts
Welcome to Performing Arts!
Semester 2, 2022 sees the subjects Dance, Drama and Music break away from Creative Industries to become their own faculty. I am delighted to share what we have in store as our department grows. Our team is currently made up of the following teachers:
Dale Ezzy - Music Coordinator, Classroom Music & Instrumental Music
Jason Coles - Music and Drama
Jocelyn McLeod - Drama
Tina Dixon - Dance and Drama
Damika Doorley - Dance and Drama
I have the pleasure of leading this team as I step into the Head of Department of Performing Arts role. My main teaching area is Dance but I have a passion for all of the performing arts subjects including productions across the 3 subjects.
We will still be working closely with the Creative Industries team for upcoming projects later in the year such as our annual Showcase event.
Whats been happening in the Performing Arts? As a new semester rolls over we have all taken on new Junior classes across Years 7 -9. We have been spending our first week back getting to know our classes and providing overviews of the Semester ahead. Our 3 key values in the Arts are collaboration, creativity and excellence. While we see new students coming into our subjects, we understand that some of them may feel out of their comfort zone however we encourage everyone to give the Performing Arts a go. We work together to create safe and supportive learning environments where every student can achieve success.
Dance
Our Year 7 Dance students are starting the Semester with Popular Dance. This term students will have the opportunity to learn a Popular Dance performance plus also work towards their theory responding task. In Dance practical lessons make up two thirds of the time and our theory component makes up the other third.
Our new Year 9 elective Dance class are being introduced to musical theatre. This is the first time we have run this genre in curriculum classes at RVSSC and we are so excited to see the students perform their routine from Hairspray!
Year 10 Dance students study our subject across both Semesters so that means they are jumping straight into their second unit of work. Students will be studying Contemporary Dance with the theme of "social issues". Students will explore how to communicate meaning through contemporary dance. They will get to choose a social issue and create a routine based around their chosen social issue. They will also be learning their performance task which looks at the impact of mobile phones on society.
Drama
Year 8 Drama Students undertake a study of the Elements of Drama. They will then apply this knowledge as they engage in an exploration of Indigenous forms of theatre and story- telling. They will then read the play text “Honey Spot” with a view to select a scene to perform, demonstrating students ability to select appropriate elements of drama along with physical and vocal skills to communicate Dramatic Meaning. Students will select and use the elements of drama, narrative and structure in selecting a scene from the play to develop a Directors Concept with a vision to engage an audience.
Year 9 Drama students will examine traditional folk stories and fairy tales from a range of cultures, including from First Nations people. Students will learn how to employ Physical Theatre conventions such as ensemble skills, juxtaposition, stylised gesture and visual metaphors to create their own fractured fairy tale. Post performance, students will reflect on their work, analysing and evaluating their manipulation of Elements of Drama and Physical Theatre conventions to create engaging dramatic action.
Year 10 Drama students will be studying "Making, shaping and empowering change." This unit focuses on exposing students to the style of Epic Theatre through engaging in the elements of drama and exploration of alienation techniques to examine and challenge social or political issues in order to educate or empower an audience. Students develop skills in play-building through collaborating, developing, devising and creating original dramatic works in response to contexts and stimuli, e.g. current or past social/political issues.
Music
Year 7 Music are learning about the elements of music and how it informs the construction of popular music. This is used as the basis of all assessment identifying preferences in music and justifying points of view from evidence based practices. It has been fantastic to see the level of enthusiasm (and singing!) from the new Year 7 classes in only the first week.
This week the Year 9 Music students have been showing Mr Coles what they can do on their chosen instrument and now will examine how music is visually communicated and organised through scores. Week 6 will see our Year 9's begin working on their individual instruments and how technology can be used to assist and enhance modern performances. Their practical studies will conclude with an afternoon concert in which students are encouraged to perform for family and friends. High achieving students have the option to perform at the end of year showcase.
Grade 10 Music have begun their new unit of Program Music and how it has developed from 1500AD to modern screen media. Students will present a presentation on modern use of Diegetic and Nondiegetic score in Week 5 before working towards their performance evening Week 2 of Term 4.
Instrumental Music
Instrumental music students have been excelling on all fronts this year with all ensembles polishing their first set of songs ready for performances in Semester 2. To continue this progress, it is essential students attend and are prepared for as many rehearsals and lessons as possible. Typically, ensembles only have 10 rehearsals per term and if only 2 are missed that’s 20% of the preparation time!
Extra-Curricular Dance
Dance Squad
Our Dance Squad competed at the Ipswich Eisteddfod in Week 9 of Term 2. Whilst they did not place we are very proud of their hard work and professionalism and their first ever competition. We look forward to them competing again at the end of this term at the Lockyer District Dancing Festival with routines in Jazz, Contemporary and Musical Theatre.
Dance Troupe
Our Dance Troupe has been working with Mrs Dixon this term and they have finished their Jazz routine which they are looking forward to performing at Showcase. This Term they are starting their Contemporary routine. Some students will be joining our Squad team on Thursday afternoons to learn a combined Hip Hop routine.
Cheer
I am so excited to announce that our RVSSC Cheer team will be up and running again this Semester. Our resident Cheer expert Miss Tommii Keating will be coaching the team. Tommii has experience with the QUT cheer team and she is looking forward to teaching the team a Pom routine. Trials for this team were opened up to Squad and Troupe students and will be take place in Week 1.
Creative Generation
We are very excited to be taking part in Creative Generation State Schools On Stage this year! Creative Generation is an on stage spectacular that showcases the performing arts; Dance, Drama and Music. For our first year of participation in this event we have had 5 students successfully get through to the mass dance section. Our C-Gen team have been working tirelessly across most weekends this term attending rehearsals to get ready for the show which is Week 1 of this term. We wish all of our performers the best of luck and look forward to seeing our participation in C-Gen grow next year.
I thank you for your on-going support and look forward to sharing with you over the coming months what our Department has to offer.
Jessica Starkey
HOD - Performing Arts