Performing Arts

This is the introductory course for the Albany High School Theater Ensemble. Theater Arts provides an overview of the basic elements of Theater. Through this framework students will develop a basic understanding of theater in its entirety by exploring exciting topics including: ensemble building activities, improvisation, acting, writing, costume and set design. The goals of the class are to improve student self-confidence, presentation and collaboration skills, imagination and flexibility, and to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the human condition.

Drama is an advanced course that focuses on acting and performing. In this course, students will explore advanced acting techniques as well as learning Dialects and Shakespeare. Students build on foundational knowledge through various works including monologues and scenes. These will include both self-created and previously published works. Additional topics include auditioning workshops, resume creation, portfolio building and acting on film. (This course can be taken more than once.)

This full-year practicum is designed to provide participants with the basics of all aspects of the performing arts, with a hands-on, project-based approach to learning. Participants declare a primary area of study (acting, dance, technical theater, play/screenwriting) and receive training in that discipline during set hours. To fulfill a portion of their seat-time requirement, students will work in other disciplines as a means to enrich understanding of their chosen field, through training, projects and performances. Acting, playwriting and technical theater will always be available; other disciplines may or may not be available. Through all of the disciplines explored, students will grow in self-confidence, public speaking, teamwork, language acquisition and decoding skills (text analysis, script writing and choreography), in addition to developing their artistry. This course can be taken more than once.

* 1 credit earned for 3½ hours seat time/week; 2 credits earned for 7 hours seat time/week

IB Theater HL 1 is the first year of a two-year sequence. IB Art Theater 2 is the second year of a two-year sequence. Work will be submitted for assessment at the culmination of year two. The IB Theater course is a two-year program that involves exploring, designing, directing and performing theater that is inspired by research in world theater tradition. Students are required to work alone as well as collaboratively to fulfill four performance-based assessments within the two-year program. The course meets two days per week after school. Exam fees apply. Fee waiver or reduction may be available to eligible students.

This course is for the beginning dance student who is interested in the study and performance of dance. Topics of study include modern dance, jazz, African, tap, Flamenco, ballet, hip hop and the basic elements of choreography. Students will learn the basic techniques of these dance styles and their history and development through time. This course requires active physical participation as well as written work. Students will be required to wear appropriate attire to dance and also be required to perform. This course can be taken more than once.

This course is next in the dance sequence and will provide a higher level of study for those students who want that challenge. This course covers the fundamentals of ballet and modern dance at the Advanced Beginner level. Positions of the body, leg and arm movement, turns, jumps, and leaps are approached from both an artistic, philosophical, and scientific point of view. Ballet fundamentals will be related to elements of physics, mathematics, and anatomy throughout the course as well.

This class focuses on dance explored from the lens of making sound with the body. We will explore dance styles such as flamenco, tap, step, human beatbox and hip-hop. Students will learn both the technical side of executing rhythmic footwork and arm movement with these styles as well as breath control, musicality and artistry. Attention will be placed on safe dance measures when using the body itself to make music through dance. Healthy practices for maintaining the body through nutrition and inner core strengthening will also be taught. Methods to successfully combine percussive movement and lyrical movement will also be explored. Student success will be assessed based on participation, performance, and summative understanding assessed through dance rhythm choreography assignments.

The course provides an overview of the elements of playwriting. Through this framework, students will learn storyboarding, idea creation, framing a story, how to write dialogue, developing characters and conflict. Students will develop, write, evolve and edit their own original short plays. The course will culminate with a presented stage reading so students can receive feedback on their work. The goals of the class are to improve student writing skills, self-confidence, imagination and creativity through self-written expression and allow them to develop and improve their unique voices. This course can be taken more than once.