Upper School Curriculum Guide

The RCDS Drama & Dance department is committed to fostering self-expression, creativity, and passion through rigorous curricular and extracurricular opportunities. We strive to model and teach empathy, human connection through art, and actively encourage our students to find their own individual creativity and expression.  With performance opportunities that range from full scale musical productions to more intimate showcases, there is something for everyone within our studios and rehearsal room.  

Many students in the Upper School participate in one or more of our performance or backstage opportunities, such as the Fall Play, the Winter Choreography Showcase, the Winter Musical, the Spring One Acts, or the Spring Dance Performance.  Students are encouraged to take a variety of curricular offerings to support their involvement in the extracurricular productions. 

RCDS offers both performance and non-performance-based Drama and Dance electives.  Whether interested in honing dance technique, becoming a better public speaker, theater production and design, or inhabiting a role, our classes provide a jumping off point into students’ journeys within the arts.  The Department also encourages specialized work and helps students develop projects that will most appropriately advance their abilities and interests.    

COURSE SELECTION GUIDELINES

• Intro to Theatre
• Intro to Movement
• Public Speaking

The following courses require departmental approval:

• Acting and Performance Workshop
• Theatre of the World
• One Acts/Fringe Festival Production
• Production and Design
• Lighting and Design
• Dance 1
• Dance 2
• Cedar Street Dance Company

The core experience classes offer groundwork for future study in either the Theater and/or Dance program. For students who are particularly interested in musical theater, many students take Drama/Dance along with a Choir class.
This curriculum is carefully designed to establish common vocabulary, instill the Department’s core values, encourage students to become aware of and overcome personal obstacles, and explore students’ untapped potential. These classes include:

• Intro to Theatre
• Intro to Movement
• Public Speaking

Upon completion of a core experience course, students can shape the content and trajectory of their course of study in Theater and/or Dance. Students are able to construct a sequence of experiential coursework that satisfies their individual interests and passions. The student assumes responsibility for crafting a program of study to develop, advocate for, and achieve artistic goals under the guidance of committed faculty mentors. These classes include:

Performance Strand

• Acting and Performance Workshop
• Theatre of the World
• One Acts/Fringe Festival Production

Production and Design Strand

• Production and Design
• Lighting and Design
• One Acts/Fringe Festival Production

Dance Strand

• Dance 1
• Dance 2
• Cedar Street Dance Company

Year-Long Courses

ONE ACTS/FRINGE FESTIVAL PRODUCTION
Structured in a workshop format, the intent of One Acts/Fringe Festival Production is to study the principles, procedures, and practices of stage direction. Beginning with a non-verbal approach to composition and movement study and progressing to more formal text work, the work in this class culminates in the direction of a ten-minute piece for public performance in our annual student produced One Act/Fringe Festival.  The course is open to students in grades 10-12 who have demonstrated proficiency in theatrical direction and/or theatrical design. Students learn how to function as an in-house theatre company responsible for selecting, reviewing, staging, marketing, and performing a series of on-campus (and potentially off-campus) pieces. In order to prepare our student directors for directing their peers in the festival, those taking the class will learn to assess and devise theatre from the perspectives of various backstage roles. (1 unit; Grades 10-12;  prerequisite Public Speaking, Intro to Theatre, or instructor approval) 

One-Semester Electives

INTRO TO MOVEMENT
Designed for people with little or no previous training in dance, this class is a mixture of movement techniques, improvisation and choreography. Students will engage in different styles and genres of dance while exploring dance as a theatrical expression. Students have the option for a skills assessment to gain entry into the Dance 1 or 2 class, if deemed appropriate. (½ unit, Grades 9-12)

PUBLIC SPEAKING
Public Speaking is an introduction to speech communication with an emphasis on the practical skill of public speaking. Throughout the semester, students not only learn about civility and ethical speech composition and delivery, but they also examine the many different ways in which we as individuals are public and speak in the 21st century. In addition, students partake in various physical and vocal exercises that lessen speaker anxiety, foster body confidence, and hone mental readiness and cognizance. The combined practices provide students with opportunities to develop their own voice, challenge their perspective, and amplify that which represents them.  (½ unit; Grades 9-12)

INTRO TO THEATRE
nItro to Theatre is open to students in grades 9-12. The course introduces students to basic techniques of acting through improvisations, structured relaxation exercises, theatre games, acting theory, and monologue/scene work. Through these activities, students hone their public speaking skills, participate in cooperative learning, and build confidence in both their vocal and physical expression. Students also begin to explore theatre from other perspectives and roles, such as the viewpoint of a director, designer, and playwright. By exposing students to these other perspectives, they not only learn the fundamentals of producing art for the stage, but also begin to view and respect theatre as a machine of many parts. This class is the launching pad for students to explore more specific areas of theatre study at an advanced level through our other course offerings: Acting and Performance Workshop, Production and Design, Lighting and Design, Theatre of the World, and One Acts/Fringe Festival. (½ unit; Grades 9-12)

ACTING AND PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP
Acting and Performance Workshop is offered to students in grades 9-12 who wish to develop their acting skills through a more personal, hands-on exploration of theatre. Using texts that span from classical to modern theatre, students partake in scene and monologue work that asks them to consider the individual’s relationship to society and the cultural impact of art. Students develop characters and character relationships (to other characters and their surrounding world) through the lenses of various theatre pioneers. In addition, students learn the basics of acting for TV/film, and apply their study to polished auditions pieces in both live theatre and on-camera contexts. (½ unit; Grades 9-12;  prerequisite Public Speaking, Intro to Theatre, or instructor approval)

THEATRE OF THE WORLD
Theatre of the World is open to students in grades 9-12 who exhibit proficiency in acting, movement, production, and/or theatre appreciation. Students are responsible for acting and directing scenes, producing solo performance work, and devising collaborative theatre. Students explore theatre traditions and innovations of various theatre theorists from around the world, which they ultimately apply to polished performance pieces. Through this study, students examine across time and space the role art plays in society and the way society shapes and influences the direction of art. (½ unit; Grades 9-12;  prerequisite Public Speaking, Intro to Theatre, or instructor approval)

PRODUCTION AND DESIGN
Production and Design is open to students in grades 9-12 who wish to explore theatre from the viewpoint of a director and theatrical designer. Students will examine the impact staging, costuming, and the technical aspects of theatre play in engaging audiences and supporting the development of a story. Through mock production team meetings, students will form an in-house theatre company responsible for producing a proposal that supports the intended impact and vision of a playwright. Ultimately, students will develop process portfolios and set models to craft their own vision for the stage. (½ unit; Grades 10, 11, 12; prerequisite Public Speaking, Intro to Theatre, or instructor approval)

LIGHTING AND DESIGN
In this class, students will explore lighting design and the process behind creating successful stage lighting.  The year will start with a focus on how light works and how we perceive light, and then move into equipment used for stage lighting and how certain design looks are achieved.  Students will learn to read light plots, design small scale projects in the Black Box Theater, and dive into specific light programs like Vectorworks.  Students will work collaboratively within the “design team “ for the Upper School Winter Musical and the One Acts/Fringe Festival, which will give them the opportunity to apply their knowledge from class to real world productions.  (1 unit; Grades 10-12;  prerequisite Public Speaking, Intro to Theatre, or instructor approval)

DANCE 1
Dance 1 is a course for students with a solid base knowledge of the fundamentals of dance technique who are interested in furthering their skills through dance training. This course explores dance technique and performance through a variety of modes of movement. Dancers will train in the techniques of ballet, modern, jazz, jumps and turns, as well as supplement with explorations of Pilates, yoga, strength and stability training, dance conditioning, and stretch. Throughout the semester students will not only extend their technical abilities as dancers, but also learn about important trailblazing dancers and choreographers in the past and present time. Dance 1 will perform in the Student Choreography Showcase and/or the Spring Dance Concert.  Both concerts require the after-school commitment of tech week and performances leading up to each of these events. Students have the option for a skills assessment to gain entry into the Dance 2 class, if deemed appropriate. (½ unit; Grades 9-12; Intro to Movement or instructor approval required)

DANCE 2
Dance 2 is open to students in grades 9-12 who exhibit proficiency in technical and compositional skills. This course focuses on advanced technique, composition and performance skills. Students expand on their skills in a variety of dance styles, including ballet, jazz, musical theater, modern and world dance. Students explore advanced-level choreographic projects, which may be featured in the Student Choreography Showcase. Performance in the Annual Spring Dance Concert is a final requirement for this graded course. Enrollment in Dance 2 is at the discretion of the Performing Arts Department and/or by audition. (1 unit; Grades 10-12; Dance 1 or instructor approval required)

THE CEDAR STREET DANCE COMPANY
Cedar Street is an audition-based student dance company composed of the most serious and dedicated dancers at Rye Country Day School. The company performs a variety of repertoire and values technique, passion, hard work, expression, and creativity. Members serve as  ambassadors of the RCDS dance program and work together to enhance the community through dance and performance. Cedar Street works to bring attention to the artistry and athleticism of dance. Cedar Street meets twice a week, for an hour and a half, and is divided into three seasons corresponding with the sports seasons (although not required, it is encouraged that company members commit to all three seasons). Dancers perform in a variety of capacities such as special programs, community meetings, events, fairs, and concerts. Each season culminates in the following:

• Fall - The Choreography Showcase
• Winter - A featured dancer role in the musical
• Spring - The Spring Dance Concert

All concerts/performances require the after-school commitment of tech week and performances. The Cedar Street Dance company is viewed in line with athletic teams and fulfills the PE credit. (Auditions for new members will be held at the onset of each season. Returning members do not need to audition again).