Arts

The Arts Department mission is to inspire, nurture and support every student in recognizing their inherent artistic potential. We promote courageous exploration, self-awareness, and cultural fluency through a collaborative approach that allows each student to discover their unique, creative voice. With our arts complex that now includes the Ann and George Colony Hall, as well as the Paul Mellon Arts Center, we are well equipped to support student growth within the arts in inspiring ways.

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Course Previews

Here are just a few classes offered by the Arts Department:

Dance Composition

This course introduces students to the practice of making dances. Students work cooperatively as both choreographer and dancer to experiment with diverse compositional practices, from traditional to contemporary, narrative to conceptual. Each class consists of experimentation, individual and group studio research, presentation, and discussion. Students in this course analyze the work of contemporary choreographers and their methods through video, reading, and writing complements daily creation activities.

Music Theory and Harmony, Honors

This course explores Western diatonic classical harmony and voice leading. Topics include four-part harmony, voice leading, harmonic progression, figuration, and rhythmic analysis. Through score analysis and original compositions, students explore melodic construction and development. Through two large-scale composition projects, each theoretical concept is applied to heighten mastery and help formulate each student’s creative process.

Stagecraft I

In this course, students learn about technical theater and the skills necessary for successful backstage work in a hands-on environment. Students learn the history of technical theater, the different types of physical spaces, building/structural theory, and how to read and draft theater architectural plans. Students are expected to become adept at theater-specific construction and safe equipment operation, and learn the fundamentals of rigging systems, scenic lighting, and scenic painting.

Digital Media Design I

Students explore the world of designing graphic and animated digital media projects. They develop their artistic voices in this course, creating vibrant design pieces while establishing the foundational technical literacy needed to produce more advanced work. Students utilize professional design software as expressive tools, including, but not limited to, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, and After Effects. Over the term, the course examines visual design in print, app design, online media, and emerging technology while focusing on color, composition, and style.

Course Descriptions Explore the Program

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