Drama and Dance Learning Expectations
Grades 9-12
Cambridge Rindge and Latin School

The study of theatre and dance at the secondary level, as a craft and as a perspective on the history of diverse cultures and societies throughout the world, offers students the opportunity to continue building valuable skills based on what they have achieved at previous levels. Course work focuses on the development of physical and vocal expression, oral presentation, reflective/critical acumen, and the ability to solve increasingly complex and challenging artistic problems. The theatre and dance program at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School provides students a four-year, sequential curriculum that includes studying the history of the respective discipline, learning to interpret and analyze works of art and performances, producing their own works of art, and developing both the creative and appreciative dimensions of the art form. The focus of the program is on the development of the individual rather than on coverage of prescribed information designated by grade level.

The curriculum is organized into two levels of expertise: Foundation and Advanced. At the Foundation level (Years 1 and 2), students refine artistic skills and develop self-discipline through rehearsal, practice, and revision; they acquire appropriate vocabularies and use new and traditional materials, tools, techniques, processes, and technologies when creating, responding to, and performing in the art form; they learn to analyze works of art from a variety of perspectives; they develop familiarity with exemplary works of art from a variety of cultures; they recognize influences of the arts in everyday life; and they relate arts knowledge and skills across the arts disciplines and other core subjects.

At the Advanced level (Years 3 and 4), students pursue in-depth study of an arts discipline and focus on improving their technique, attitudes, and skills in order to communicate fluently and effectively in the art form; they present and perform art publicly, with confidence, pride, and distinction; and they hone their ability to work both independently and collaboratively on sophisticated projects. Students at the Advanced level of study demonstrate a heightened capacity for growth and self-reflection; and they recognize how the skills they have acquired:  discipline, commitment, perseverance, craftsmanship, and a sense of group responsibility affect employability and future life choices.

The CRLS theatre and dance curriculum is driven by the belief that everyone has creative potential and that, moreover, this potential is best developed by a combination of a demand for excellence and a belief in each individual student's capacity for excellence. The words of Henry Van Dyke underscore the department's philosophy: "Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best."