Year 7 – Compulsory subject
In year 7 Performing Arts, students study a combination of Dance, Drama and Music.
In Dance, students focus on creating dance and developing the ability to communicate and express themselves through movement. Students will also learn to analyse and respond to various dances, giving their interpretation of what is being communicated. They will learn and perform dances within groups and/or individually.
In Drama, students will develop an understanding of basic acting skills and using performance spaces. They will develop confidence, awareness of themselves and others. Students will engage in practical activities that focus on playing a role, using language, creating dramatic tension, physical movement and maintaining focus.
In Music, students focus on making music and developing the ability to think and express themselves in sound. Students learn to identify, analyse and respond to music from a wide range of cultural and historical contexts. They sing and play instruments individually and in groups and learn how to read and write music.
Years 8 to 10 – Elective subjects
Dance
In Dance, students focus on creating dance and developing the ability to communicate and express themselves through movement. Students will also learn to analyse and respond to various dances, giving their interpretation of what is being communicated. Students choreograph dances by manipulating and combining the elements of dance, choreographic devices and production elements to communicate their choreographic intent. They choreograph, rehearse and perform dances, demonstrating technical and expressive skills appropriate to the genre and style. They will learn and perform dances within groups and/or individually.
Dance Academy students are required to select Dance as one of their elective subjects for Years 8, 9 & 10.
Drama
Drama helps students communicate understanding about human issues and experience by enacting real and imagined events. They develop confidence and awareness of self and others as they collaborate to prepare and present drama. They learn about a range of forms, styles and purposes of drama.
Music
Music focuses on students making music and developing the ability to think and express themselves in sound. Music is an integral part of everyday life serving self-expressive, celebratory, social, cultural, political and educational roles.
Years 11 & 12
Dance - General Senior Subject (ATAR)
Dance fosters creative and expressive communication. It uses the body as an instrument for expression and communication of ideas. It provides opportunities for students to critically examine and reflect on their world through higher order thinking and movement. It encourages the holistic development of a person, providing a way of knowing about oneself, others and the world.
Drama – General Senior Subject (ATAR)
Drama fosters creative and expressive communication. It interrogates the human experience by investigating, communicating and embodying stories, experiences, emotions and ideas that reflect the human experience. It engages students in imaginative meaning-making processes and involves them using a range of artistic skills as they make and respond to dramatic works.
Music – General Senior Subject (ATAR)
Music fosters creative and expressive communication. It allows students to develop musicianship through making (composition and performance) and responding (musicology). Through composition, performance and musicology, students use and apply music elements and concepts. They apply their knowledge and understanding to convey meaning and/or emotion to an audience. Students use essential literacy skills to engage in a multimodal world. They demonstrate practical music skills, and analyse and evaluate music in a variety of contexts, styles and genres.
Music Extension - General Senior Subject (ATAR)
Music Extension is a one year general subject that is only offered in Year 12 (or once students have completed Unit 1 and 2 of the general subject Music). It offers a specialisation for Music students who would like to undertake a serious in-depth study in one of three areas. These three areas are: Performance (playing, singing or conducting music for an audience), Composition (combining musical elements to create musical ' works'), Musicology (the scholarly study of music as a field of research). Students will attend live performances and/or workshops.