Performing Arts (KS3)

In Performing Arts, we aim to inspire creativity, confidence, and collaboration within our students. Lessons are scaffolded across KS3 to encourage, nurture and develop self-confidence, teamwork, imagination, communication and problem-solving, allowing students to learn, improvise and explore in a safe and supportive environment.

Performing Arts is a powerful and expressive subject which encourages students to develop their creative, physical, emotional and intellectual capacity. The purpose is to develop their key transferable skills whilst widen their knowledge and understanding of the subject through a range of different styles, practitioners and professional dance & drama works through various social, cultural, international and historical contexts.

Performing Arts plays a crucial role in fostering emotional intelligence, resilience and a love for the arts, supporting students in becoming confident, creative, considerate and articulate individuals in the wider world.

In order to meet these aims we will…

Develop essential communication skills and the ability to express themselves through a range of approaches from direct teaching, guided improvisation, role-play, storytelling and performance.
Nurture & encourage creativity and imagination through engaging role-play, storytelling, the use of stimulus, discussion, research and guided improvisation.
Build confidence through performance, encouraging students to express themselves and their intention clearly and effectively.
Promote healthy living and fitness through safe dance practice, warming up, cooling down and strengthening our physical skills.
Promote collaboration and teamwork by students working collaboratively in groups, as a class and through problem-solving tasks.
Encourage active listening and effective communication skills through problem solving, creation and interaction with peers.
Develop empathy, compassion and emotional intelligence by exploring different characters, emotions, stimuli, stories and real-life situations.
Enhance self-awareness and resilience, helping students reflect on their own emotions and responses within themselves and others.
Provide a safe and supportive environment where students feel comfortable taking creative risks and expressing their ideas.
Cultivate a love for the arts and an appreciation for performance, both as participants and as an audience.
Support critical thinking and reflection, guiding students to analyse performances and make constructive feedback on themselves and others.
Ensure inclusive participation, enabling all students to engage, regardless of ability or experience.

Students will be able to;

Work collaboratively and inclusively, developing their listening, communication skills and emotional intelligence to ensure all voices are heard in group tasks and performances.
Develop and refine their physical, technical and expressive skills to ensure high quality performances and effective communication of the choreographic intent.
Adapt to different roles and characters by using body language and facial expressions (Physical 5) and vocal skills to effectively to convey emotions and narratives, showing versatility in their acting skills.
Solve problems creatively by thinking on their feet during improvisation activities and real-life performances.
Manage stage presence and overcome stage fright through regular performance; developing their spatial awareness, voice projection, and movement with confidence.
Reflect, evaluate and apply feedback to improve their performance, demonstrating a capacity to apply feedback to bring about improvement.
Respect and deepen their awareness and understanding of the different cultural, social and historical context of Dance and Drama, fostering an International and open-minded approach.
Understand the symbolism and effect of the technical elements of drama, such as props, costumes, and set design, and their role in enhancing a performance.