Department Chair: Richard Hogle, (505) 828-3315
Ever wonder what you might do if given a moment on stage?
From the beginning, every student has the opportunity to dance, play an instrument, and create a theatrical experience. Every sixth-grade student takes a drama class developing the skills to tell stories, ultimately writing their own plays. Additionally students choose a performing group with which they either learn or continue existing studies in dance, guitar, chorus, band, or string orchestra, with each discipline presenting in evening performances.
Advanced performance groups – band, orchestra, and chorus; our Honor Guitar Quartet; and the thespian and dance troupes – participate in regional and national festivals and competitions, allowing them to showcase their talents beyond our own stages and receive feedback from noted professionals.
Through a variety of electives and extracurriculars, students have the opportunity to pursue their interests in traditional and uncommon studies like modern and world dance, the 6-7 Opera Project, Steel Drum Band, Mariachi Band, and focused choral groups. Our largest theatre extracurricular, the spring musical, serves as a vehicle for students of all grades and performing arts, vocal, instrumental, dance, and technical theatre to collaboratively share their many talents.
No matter which performing arts our students choose, they gain more than skill development – our courses and activities stress individual growth, collaborative learning, and an understanding of performance as part of a shared world experience. Through the three disciplines – dance, music, and theatre – students learn that art is an expression of peoples and cultures.
Our performing arts groups are a great source of pride for our student performers as well as our faculty and the wider school community. All are welcome to attend the dozens of performances presented each year; please visit our calendar for details.