Grade Level: 12

Dance 1A is a survey course that will introduce movers of all experience levels to a wide range of dance genres.  The course will include physical practice in the techniques of ballet, jazz dance, and social dance.  Students will study dance history, dance composition, and improvisational techniques.  Through written work and class discussions, students will learn to analyze dance performance as an art form, through a critical, informed, and appreciative lens.  Students will work collaborative to explore dance elements and perform choreographed dances in a supportive community environment.

In Drama 1A, we will explore various approaches to acting. We will begin by playing a series of theatre games, move to improvisations, then perform professionally scripted and student-written monologues.  Students will develop an approach to enact short monologues from professional play scripts for final presentation.  Students will receive an overview of the major historical periods of theatre history throughout the world from Ancient Greece to the 19^th Century using student projects and teacher presentations.  By the end of the course, students will have developed an appreciation for the art of the theatre, a respect for working within an ensemble of artists, and an appreciation for the variety of approaches to actor training.

A studio-based problem-solving course that uses a variety of materials: paper, wood, plaster, found objects, and wire to explore the design process in 3 dimensions. Study of historical examples of sculpture will serve as a “spring board” for inspiration directed toward solutions to design projects. The work of 20^th century sculptors such as Alexander Calder, Louise Nevelson and Henry Moore  will challenge the student to understand their own creativity.  Field trips to local museums and some written work will complement the original work created by the student in the studio and at home.

*This class will be offered pending adequate enrollment.

Art and Architecture 1B is a follow-up course to Art and Architecture 1A and is designed as a continuing study of the wealth of artistic expression manifested in the architecture, sculpture, painting and artifacts of traditional cultures and modern architectural expressions.  An exploration of earth-friendly, sustainable and green architectural techniques will compliment the hands-on approach to building practices and inspire new thinking about shelter and cultural values.  Studio assignments in architectural design, drawing and mixed-media architectural structures created from original student designs, will compliment our study of how particular architects and cultures have used architecture as an expression to image themselves, their culture, and their God.

Dance 1B is a movement-based studio course designed to further the development of the dancer in the principles and elements of modern dance practice and choreography.  The class will include physical practice in contemporary/modern dance technique.  Students will study dance history, choreographic processes, and improvisational techniques.  Through written assignments and class discussions, students will grow in their ability to analyze dance performance as an art form through a critical, informed, and appreciative lens.  Students will work collaboratively to explore dance elements and perform choreographed dances in a supportive community environment.

Students will continue the study and development of acting through scene work. While building on the principles and techniques learned in Drama 1A, students will participate in group warm-ups (vocal and physical), theatre games, improvisations, and advanced theatre exercises. Students will work on scenes from professionally produced plays. Students will study 20^th Century theatre through the study of playwrights such as Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, and August Wilson.

Roots of Jazz: Exploring Music in Culture is designed for non-musicians and develops the art of perceptive listening to music of Africa, Latin American, India, Bali, China, the Middle East, Asia, Japan, and Eastern Europe. Learning will be balanced between theoretical and experiential song-writing activities. Students will evolve specific criteria for listening to, describing, analyzing, understanding, and creating music as it is understood and experienced in different cultures. Students will play instruments and explore digital media.  This is an intermediate level course, meeting four class hours per week with extensive lectures, experiential learning, audio-visual presentations, class projects, demonstration and attendance at live performances.