Upper School Curriculum Guide

The Drama & Dance Department offers a variety of courses in acting, dance, costume design, play production, and public speaking. Students also have the opportunity to work on independent study projects in areas of specialized focus. The Department encourages specialized work and helps students develop projects that will most appropriately advance their abilities and interests.

Course Selection Guidelines

The following electives have no prerequisite:

• Foundational Theater Technique
• Foundational Dance Technique
• Creative Practices in Dance
• Public Speaking

The following courses require departmental approval:

• Acting Styles and Scene Study
• Theater of the World
• Practicum/Capstone: Play Production
• Production and Design
• Progressive Dance Technique
• Cedar Street Dance Company 

The core experience classes offer groundwork for future study in either the Drama and/or Dance program. For students who are particularly interested in musical theater, many 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. The core experience classes include:

• Foundational Theater Technique
• Foundational Dance Technique
• Public Speaking

Upon completion of a core experience course, students can shape the content and trajectory of their course of study in Drama 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 Styles and Scene Study
• Theater of the World
• Practicum/Capstone: Play Production

Production & Design Strand

• Production and Design
• Practicum/Capstone: Play Production
   

Dance Strand

• Creative Practices in Dance
• Practicum/Capstone: Advanced Choreography
• Cedar Street Dance Company

Year-Long Courses

PRACTICUM/CAPSTONE PLAY PRODUCTION
This course is open to students in Grades 11-12 who have demonstrated proficiency in theatrical collaboration and leadership.. Students learn how to function as an in-house theatre company responsible for selecting, reviewing, staging, marketing, directing, and performing a series of on-campus (and potentially off-campus) pieces that intersect with the New York Thespian’s Festival and the English-Speaking Union’s Shakespeare Competition. The year culminates in students directing their own one act performances in a festival that welcomes participation from those outside the class to act, write, or provide technical support. Students taking this course will emerge as leaders who are able to mentor and guide younger students in their last two years at RCDS and leave a mark of their legacy at the school. (1 unit; Grades 11-12;  prerequisite Foundational Theater Technique, Theater of the World and/or Acting Styles and Scene Study)

PRACTICUM/CAPSTONE: ADVANCED CHOREOGRAPHY
The Advanced Choreographic Practicum/Capstone course is tailored to advanced dancers who demonstrate proficiency in both technical and compositional skills. This year-long course entails choreographing two pieces - one group and one solo - for performance in the Winter Choreography Showcase and the Spring Dance Performance. Throughout the course, students undergo a structured compositional process, read and reflect on materials pertaining to choreography and verbal reflections on the creative journey. (1 Unit; Grades 11-12, Foundational Dance Technique and/or Creative Practices in Dance or instructor approval required)

One-Semester Electives

FOUNDATIONAL DANCE TECHNIQUE
Foundational Dance Technique is a course crafted for beginning and intermediate dance students interested in exploring the fundamentals of movement techniques like ballet, modern, and contemporary dance. The emphasis of the course lies in nurturing body-mind awareness concerning foundational technique, movement phrasing, memorization, and performance. Students' advancement throughout the course is evaluated for continuing into Progressive Dance Technique. (½ unit, Grades 9-12)

PROGRESSIVE DANCE TECHNIQUE
Progressive Dance Technique is a course crafted for beginning and intermediate dance students interested in exploring the fundamentals of movement techniques like ballet, modern, and contemporary dance. The emphasis of the course lies in nurturing body-mind awareness concerning foundational technique, movement phrasing, memorization, and performance. (½ unit, pre-requisite Foundational Dance Technique, Grades 9-12)

CREATIVE PRACTICES IN DANCE
Creative Practices in Dance welcomes dance students seeking to enhance their creative movement technique and delve into the topics of dance history and composition. Through choreographic projects, dance history, and cultural dance research, reading “The Creative Habit” by Twyla Tharp, and engaging in written and verbal reflections of the creative journey, students have the opportunity to merge dance history and the creative process to build their choreographic skill set. (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)

FOUNDATIONAL THEATER TECHNIQUE
Foundation Theatre Technique is open to students in Grades 9-12. The course introduces students to basic techniques of acting through physical theater practices (pantomime, mask work, comedia dell’Arte) improvisation games, an introduction to Kristin Linkater’s voice and text work, eventually concluding with action-objective work for monologues and scenes. Through these activities, students hone their public speaking skills, participate in cooperative learning, and build confidence in both their vocal and physical expression. The course also contains an introductory technical theater unit, where students will learn from working scenic and lighting designers. This class is a prerequisite course for students to explore more specific areas of theater study at an advanced level through other department course offerings.  (½ unit; Grades 9-12

ACTING STYLES & SCENE STUDY
Acting Styles and Scene Study is offered to students in Grades 9-12 who wish to develop their acting skills through a deeper dive into different styles of acting that span Stanislavski System and its disparate branches (Adler, Method), Meisner technique, Farce, David Mamet’s Practical Aesthetics, and Classical Acting for Shakespeare. Students will also deepen their understanding of physical acting by engaging with Viewpoints, Laban, Suzuki, and Grotowski. In addition, students will also have the opportunity to briefly explore play analysis and acting for the camera. (½ unit; Grades 9-12; prerequisite Foundational Theater Techniques)

THEATER OF THE WORLD
Theater of the World is open to students in grades 10-12 who exhibit a passion for historical contexts of performance and deepening their response to theater as a social response and community creator in use all over the world. Students will learn about ancient Greek, Indian, Chinese, Roman, Medieval, African, and Latin American Indigenous theatrical styles and traditions.  Students will develop an understanding of how history affected theater styles in the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, culminating in an understanding of play analysis and technology in theatrical performance today. Students who take this course will briefly explore directing, theatre business, producing, and management. 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 10-12; prerequisite Foundational Theater Techniques)

PRODUCTION & 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)

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 two hours, 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. Formal performances include:

• Fall - The Winter Choreography Showcase
• Spring - The Spring Dance Performance

The Cedar Street Dance company is viewed in line with athletic teams and fulfills the P.E. credit. Auditions for new members will be held at the onset of each season. Returning members do not need to audition again