Performing Arts
DANCE
Dance Academy
Our Academy students are prepping for their final Eisteddfod of the year. Next week they will compete at the Lockyer District Dancing Festival. They will perform their Contemporary and Jazz routines all of which have been taught and rehearsed in class time. Dance Academy doesn't require any additional commitment time outside of class other than our four eisteddfod days (two in term two and two in term three). Our program is designed to be delivered in three x 70 minute curriculum lessons per week. Our final trial for this year is on Friday 8th September so if your child is interested in a 2024 Dance Academy position please ensure you complete the EOI form by clicking this link. https://ripleyvalleyssc.schoolzineplus.com/form/499
If you would like any further information then please email Miss Starkey - Head of Department Performing Arts on jxsta12@eq.edu.au
7 Dance
Students have been busy learning technical and expressive skills for their upcoming performance task! With their assessment coming up early term 4, students have gradually started performing in front of their peers.
With remarkable courage, they have been taking to the stage to showcase their talents, inspiring and captivating their peers in the process. The impact of these performances extends beyond the applause and cheers that follow. As these young students captivate their audience, they ignite a spark of inspiration among their peers. Witnessing fellow Year 7 students command the stage fosters a sense of unity, encouragement, and shared enthusiasm. The performances serve as a reminder that the journey through high school is not just about academic growth but also about developing one's passions and nurturing a well-rounded personality.
9 Dance
Our year 9 Dance students have finalised their theory assessment task! Students were required to write a blog piece which responded to the musical theatre routine "Revolting Children" from the stage show "Matilda." In this task students were taught the skills of analysis and evaluation which can be easily transferred to their other subjects. Moving forwards, they will be working on their performance piece. A musical theatre routine to Sparkling Diamonds from Moulin Rouge.
10 Dance
Year 10 students have recently embarked on their 2nd choreography task for the year. Students are required to portray their chosen social issue in their piece with the use of a costume and prop. Most students were brave and opted to do this task as a solo! The creativity behind their ideas and communication in their planning sheet were both innovate and thought provoking. I can't wait to see their pieces come to life over the next few weeks.
11 Dance
Year 11 Dance students have been working very hard on their Dance Film Clip project. This project saw students choreographing their own Hip Hop dance routines, teaching this to a group of selected students, filming on locations, editing and presenting this as a multimodal presentation with choreographic intent and an analysis of choreographic problems. Once this task is complete, students will be moving into evaluation of contemporary performance.
Junior and Senior Dance Squad
Dance Squad are off to their final eisteddfod for the year at Gatton Shire Hall on the 8th of September. A big congratulations to all the dancers and their teachers for their remarkable achievements thus far! It is sad to see the competitive year coming to a close.
As the cheers from the Eisteddfod still echo in the air, our Dance Squad is already setting their sights on the next exciting endeavour – the upcoming showcase event! Mark your calendars for 13th of October as our dancers take the stage once again to present a mesmerising performance that promises to be an enchanting blend of artistry and passion.
Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to the showcase date. We can't wait to see you there, supporting and celebrating the incredible journey of our Dance Squad members. Let's continue to show our unwavering support for these dedicated young performers!
DRAMA
8 Drama
Well done to Year 8 Drama students, who created realistic and dynamic characters in their Indigenous Theatre performances of the play "Honey Spot". Now, they tackle a new challenge – critical reflection. Students will analyse and evaluate their own performances, considering how the Elements of Drama were used to communicate a key message for the audience. These reflections will help the students improve their acting skills in preparation for Term Four!
9 Drama
Congratulations to our Year 9 Drama students who have completed Part A of their melodrama unit. Exploring the conventions of this theatre style, students successfully devised and created a performance which engaged an audience of their peers. They have now moved on to Part B of their assessment, which requires students to analyse a melodramatic work and successfully answer relevant questions.
11 Drama
After creating their own directorial vision of 'Jasper Jones' to engage audiences in deeper meaning about our society, our Year 11 Drama students are moving into a practical component. Drama students will create a polished performance of one of their directorial visions, bringing their dynamic ideas to life. Genuine emotion and three-dimensional characters will collide with supernatural and gothic elements in this hybrid performance. Drama-in-Practice students will be bringing their unique visions to life by directing their peers in presenting their excerpt in the most impactful way. The end of this term will be an exciting one with directorial prowess and engaging acting taking over our Drama room!
Drama Troupe
Our Drama Troupe members have been enjoying the wacky world of Commedia Dell' Arte! Students have their ensemble groups and they have chosen their favourite characters in preparation for our Showcase improvisation performances. Playing with exaggeration and quirky characterisation with these larger-than-life roles has led to a laughter-filled rehearsal room! Now that students are familiar with their characters, they will begin mastering one of the most challenging components of this style – mask skills. Just as exaggerated as the roles, these masks are funny and even sometimes grotesque, bringing these extraordinary characters to life!
MUSIC
7 Music
In Year 7 Music, students are continuing to work hard and rehearse their pieces before their task is due! Students have engaged with a wide variety of music genres and instruments, and have been also busy learning about the elements of music and reflecting on how musical artists manipulate the elements of music to create meaning.
This week will be filled with rehearsals, and Mr Coles and Mr Turner are very excited to hear the progress of our students in their finals next week!
9 Music
The room is noisy and the students are happy – Its Prac time in Grade 9 music! Students have been learning about the fundamentals of their chosen instrument and what it means to learn music from scratch to a fluent and cohesive performance. From Slow is smooth and smooth is fast - to inspiring quotes, students are understanding the work ethic, dedication and 21st century skills required to play an instrument. A quote and philosophy we have taken to heart this term is the stonecutters progress. Sometimes we don't always see the progress we are making however with consistent effort we know one day we will achieve our goals.
For the remainder of the term students will begin working on their performance task with first check in draft in week 10, with final submission due week 2 term 4.
11 Music
Senior General music is considering the social, political and cultural identities and how they can be represented in music! All students are dutifully completing their largest assessment to date and the work coming out of the classroom has been outstanding. It is fantastic seeing all the aspects of the project coming together and we look forward to seeing all the presentations next week.
Music in practice is also examining identity however taking a more intrinsic approach. Students are examining who they are as a person and how music can be selected, learned and customised to represent who they are and who they want to be as a performer. There are lots of great performance progress all around the room and seeing students deeply consider aspects of their performance craft has been exceptional to see. In Practice students will be performing start of week 10.
Instrumental
It’s the final countdown and all steam ahead for instrumental music. Showcase is the 13th of October and instrumental performances have reached a new level of difficulty and complexity than all years prior. Our students have had outstanding dedication towards their performances and both Mr Ezzy and Mr Johnstone as appreciative of their efforts. Most students in the program will be performing upwards of 7 different pieces in showcase and we ask parents and carers for their support just in case you hear the same song numerous times at home in the lead up to showcase. A lot of the pieces in 2023 are tricky to put together and often will be unachievable if students are not confident in their individual parts before rehearsal. In the coming week extra rehearsals may be called to finalise and polish the performances. These will be communicated well in advance with families through email.
Certificate III Community Dance Theatre and Events
In 2024 we will be introducing the Certificate III Community Dance, Theatre and events. It is a flexible arts subject that covers a broad range of jobs and skills in the creative industries. Despite the title, any Performing Arts skill may be focussed on as the course is tailored to the individual. This certificate covers Dance, Music and Drama at an industry level. Students may dance, sing, act, compose music, play an instrument, write scripts, design lighting, sound or sets, choreograph, direct or a unique combination of many skills.
Students will hone their chosen craft, while working together on performance events. Students will be responsible for the creation, ticketing and marketing of their annual event. This may be a showcase of their combined skills, a play, a charity fundraising performance or a musical. From the budgeting and costuming to the food and venue, the possibilities for their events are endless. Each cohort of students makes these choices with the guidance of their teacher and through experiences with outside industry professionals.
Through this course, students grow as individual entrepreneurial artists while learning to work collaboratively on events. The skills gained in their own craft, knowledge of event management and networking make this certificate a great choice for any student looking to turn their passion for performance into transferable and employable skills.
For more information about this new subject, please email Miss O'Neill at
krone0@eq.edu.au
Vocal Ensemble
The RVSSC Vocal Ensemble is gearing up for their spectacular finale of the year, as they prepare to take the stage for four more remarkable performances. Throughout the year, their hard work and dedication have lead to a remarkable growth in both their singing technique and confidence.
From the beginning of their journey, the ensemble has embraced challenges with unwavering enthusiasm, resulting in a refined and harmonious sound that showcases their commitment to excellence.
As the final performances draw near, the ensemble is set to leave their mark. From the Annual Showcase to the Jacaranda Festival, Awards Night to the Remembrance Day ceremony, their harmonious melodies will resonate with audiences across various settings.
The RVSSC Vocal Ensemble's yearlong journey is a testament to the transformative power of music, celebrating growth, dedication, and the joy of creating art together. As they approach the end of this chapter, their story of musical triumphs have made our college proud.
Showcase
This event is a fantastic way for our whole community to come together. In particular our staff are very excited. Here's a sneak peek of what we've been working on in the background....
A reminder ALL showcase performers are required to attend a rehearsal on the 7th of September from 3pm – 5pm (Thursday Wk9) to learn the finale routine. Please meet at the Raptordome at 2:50pm in full sports uniform. Attendance is mandatory. Please contact Miss Doorley, Ms Starkey or Mrs Dixon if you are unable to attend ASAP.
Additional upcoming rehearsals:
ALL performers tech run Thursday October 5th 3pm- 5pm
ALL performers full show run through Saturday October 7th 8am – 12pm
Selected performances extra rehearsal Thursday October 12th 3pm - 5pm
Tickets go on sale – 11th of September at 10am!
Jessica Starkey
Head of Department - Performing Arts
Head of Year 7E to 7H
