Performing Arts
Drama
About Us
Our Commitment
We offer a diverse, challenging and rewarding range of experiences within the dramatic arts. Each specialist teacher will demand the best of their students, facilitating a secure environment in which the learner is able to take creative risks with their performance work. We are committed to providing purpose built rehearsal and performance spaces including the Ariel Centre which is a fully equipped theatre.
Our Expectations
We expect every student to make the best progress that they can. We expect commitment, perseverance and creativity. Drama is not just about the performing arts, it is about life skills, communication skills, empathy and confidence. We expect our students to rise to these challenges.
Home Learning
Although we do not set independent learning tasks as a matter of routine at KS3, students are expected to keep a working journal for the KS4 and KS5 and vocational, performing arts courses. We also expect our students to invest in their drama work between lessons. This might involve research tasks, line learning or extra rehearsals.
Enrichment
We regularly host workshops by companies such as Frantic Assembly and Kneehigh. Students at KS4 and 5 are taken to see a wide range of live theatre in Plymouth, Exeter, Bristol and London. We provide opportunities for students to be involved in extra curricular productions such as Les Miserables and Billy Elliott for the older students, and His Dark Materials for KS3 and the Addams Family.
Our Achievements
Our students go on to pursue a wide range of careers in the arts including venue management, box office and as performers. Many of our students have been successful in auditioning for places at drama schools. As a department we have been recognised as having outstanding qualities in our teaching and learning.
Dance
About Us
Our Commitment
As specialist teachers we aim to raise the standards in choreography, performance and appreciation with an inclusive ethos regardless of physical facility. We value performance opportunities for students and encourage many opportunities for students to share their work.
We feel the subject is important because:
Dance is an integrating activity which combines thinking, feeling and doing. It is unique amongst physical education activities in its intention to create meaning and to communicate through movement.
Dance stimulates creativity and imagination.
It helps students develop confidence and self awareness.
Students can use dance as a medium to express themselves.
Promotes collaborative working and sharing of ideas.
Our Expectations
The dance department believes that each child should be provided with an understanding of their physical potential for movement and opportunities to develop that toward self-expression.
What We Expect From Students:
- Real sense of energy
- Focus
- Commitment
- High expectations of behaviour and work
- Good attendance
- Determination
- Self-motivation
- Co-operation.
Home Learning
Students are expected to take an active role in rehearsing in their own time.
Written tasks are set in conjunction with the specifications and exam courses the students study.
Enrichment
There are a range of extra-curricular dance activities available to students:
The dance department utilises gifted and talented students who have leadership qualities to give them the responsibility to lead extracurricular dance clubs.
Our Achievements
CREATIVE DANCE on Saturdays at KEVICC for ages 4-13 years. Contact Abbie Gallacher on AGallacher1@kingedwardvi.devon.sch.uk
EXIM Dance Company - Partnership with Making Waves project at Plymouth College where dance practitioners teach weekly contemporary dance classes to students and provide performance opportunities within the South West.
SPRUNG - annual dance showcase for all years, demonstrating the wealth of talent at KEVICC.
Music
About Us
Our Commitment
To ensure that every student has the opportunity to listen and play as wide a range of music as possible. This embraces popular cultures, Western art music and the world!
Our Expectations
We believe that every student has musical potential: we strive to unleash that potential. This can be achieved through instrumental playing, singing or music technology.
Home Learning
Opportunities for further learning experiences are made through the facilities on offer. These include rehearsal spaces, recording studios, computer suites, practice rooms and the Ariel Centre.
Enrichment
The rich and varied music programme of the Ariel Arts Centre is made available to the students. Workshops in every style of music regularly occur. Productions with dance and drama ensure cross-curricular links.
We share our music with the community around us, through bands, choirs, orchestras and other ensembles, through a regular concert programme that runs throughout the year.
Our Achievements
Several of our students continue to strive for music excellence and have been awarded unconditional offers into conservatoires around the country - the most recent being Danny Cleave (The Royal College of Music in London on Double Bass 2017) and Tilly Coulton (The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland 2018).
We have been working with Conductors for Change as part of the national charity, Orchestras for All in supporting their training programme through using our students to conduct and rehearse.
We continue to work with a local composer, Elfyn Jones and look forward to being a part of his Sonorities project in 2019-2020.
Our students are members of the (TSO) Torbay Symphony Orchestra and the South West Camerata, as well as previous links with DYJO (Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra).
We are often asked to support our community by playing in the Civic Town Hall, in Party in the Town and within Dartington Spaces.