Program Description
Dance is open to all St. Mary's Ryken students. They should expect to bring to each class responsibility, responsiveness, and active participation. They will be challenged to diversify their dance training, to perform in styles outside their comfort zone, while fostering trust and an active voice in the ensemble.
Dance strives to create balance between content and critical thinking skills which can transfer to other subjects (create, respond, perform, connect ideas and lessons learned).
Dancers will learn the difference between criticism and critique, how to objectively assess skill and performance, how to positively offer critique to oneself and the group, and how to receive critique in an open-minded manner.
Courses Offered
- Dance 1: open to all
- Dance 2: placement by audition and faculty approval
- Honors Dance 3: open to juniors and seniors by audition and faculty approval
Unique Dance Program
- Courses are designed to offer student experiences that are outside the studio experience. These include academic assignments for dance history and dance anatomy, student input, collaboration, and diversity.
- Because St. Mary's Ryken is a college preparatory school, all courses are designed to begin preparing students for college dance learning. Assignments are created that foster collaborative problem solving, develop choreography skills, teaching/leadership opportunities, knowledge of theater (budget, costume, lighting, audience, theme) and use of technology to facilitate learning and creativity.
Art to Heart
This volunteer opportunity, in conjunction with the Southern Maryland Community Resources, offers SMR students teaching opportunities while providing dance classes to adults with different abilities who live in the community.
Community Performances
Additional performance opportunities may arise for such occasions as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Women’s Rally, historical celebrations and ceremonies, public library programs and Leonardtown events.
For more information about the Dance program, please contact Mrs. Julie Daley at julie.daley@smrhs.org.