The ACS Drama and Dance program is guided by the National Core Arts Standards for Theater and Dance. The Dance requirements are also addressed by the SHAPE America Standards that provide guidance for the Physical Education program.
The standards include:
CREATING
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Refine and complete artistic work.
PERFORMING/PRESENTING/PRODUCING
Select, analyze and interpret artistic work for presentation.
Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
RESPONDING
Perceive and analyze artistic work.
Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
CONNECTING
Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural and historical context to deepen understanding.
For the complete list of standards from PreK through high school, please click below:
For the complete list of standards from PreK through high school, please click below:
Ensemble Building
Ensemble Building
Unit Sketch
Unit Sketch
This unit will introduce students to the class and to each other. They will learn about the Actor's Toolbox and how to use it to have fun and make decisions in class.
Enduring Understandings
Enduring Understandings
Students will understand that...
The word Ensemble is defined as a group of people working together as a team.
There are clear expectations of behavior and participation in dance and drama class
Performers have a toolbox to use to prepare for a performance.
Skills
Skills
Students will be able to...
Enter class, put away items and sit down correctly
Respond to the call and response technique: Actor's Neutral when doing group work
Use gestures to describe the Acting Tools we will use throughout the year
Follow class norms: warm-up, using the stage, and ending class
Tableau: Performance Origins
Tableau: Performance Origins
Unit Sketch
Unit Sketch
In this unit, the class will be creating tableaux (frozen images) in a moving tableau performance. Students will have the chance to learn a basic but essential performance skill: the Tableau while learning theater and dance history and making use of the ensemble skills introduced in the first unit. They will use tableaux in drama and dance up until 12th grade. This unit will also give students the opportunity to comfortably perform in the space with a group of their peers so that they can begin to develop a familiarity with the stage and an audience.
Enduring Understandings
Enduring Understandings
Students will understand that...
Performance is a way to communicate ideas, values, norms, and information to groups of people.
People perform to tell a universal story and share ideas that cross cultural and chronological boundaries.
We perform to share stories.
Communication is not limited to the voice; we can communicate with our body and our voice to share an idea.
Skills
Skills
Students will be able to...
Explain the theory of how performance originated
CREATE an effective frozen stage picture (tableau)
UNDERSTAND the definition of the word ritual and its significance in performance
PERFORM a series of moving tableaux in a small ensemble
use body language and effective levels to COMMUNICATE an idea
CRITIQUE artistic peer work
Pantomime
Pantomime
Unit Sketch
Unit Sketch
Students learn that pantomime is the art of creating an object with your body. They will observe and create original pantomimes of their own.
Enduring Understandings
Enduring Understandings
Students will understand...
That pantomime is the art of creating an object with your body- not becoming the object.
The key ways to make an object are: size, shape, weight, function and specificity.
The importance of body language and facial expressions.
The importance of establishing a location.
The basic structure of a scene, using beginning, middle (conflict) and end.
Skills
Skills
Students will be able to...
Use their imagination to create an object without using a prop
Use their imagination to create a set without using any furniture or objects
Improvisation
Improvisation
Unit Sketch
Unit Sketch
This unit introduces students to dramatic improvisation - acting with little planning and no script. They will learn the rules of improvising and be able to apply and develop their learning through a series of activities and performances.
Enduring Understandings
Enduring Understandings
Students will understand that...
We all have our own imagination and we use courage and curiosity to make theater.
Performers have a toolbox they use to prepare for a performance.
Performers use big body and voice choices to express their character’s ideas.
Performers use what they know and have learned to understand theater.
Performers think about their choices in dance and drama to become a better person everywhere.
Skills
Skills
Students will be able to...
Create a scene without planning
Devise and perform an impromptu story with a classmate
Use skills learned in the previous units: Ensemble, Physical Expression and Pantomime
Process Drama
Process Drama
Unit Sketch
Unit Sketch
This unit combines the key elements explored through the year: the Actor's Toolbox, Tableau, Pantomime, and Improvisation into a long form improvisation in which students make choices in character and reflect on what the theme means to them personally. Students will spend the unit telling one guided improvised story.
Enduring Understandings
Enduring Understandings
Students will understand that...
People perform to share stories.
Performers use big body and voice choices to express their character’s ideas.
Performers think about their choices in dance and drama to become a better person everywhere.
Skills
Skills
Students will be able to...
Create a character and make physical choices to contribute to the story
Apply their personal experiences to a fictional story
Demonstrate their understanding of tableau, physical expression, pantomime and improvisation
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