Performing Arts at St. Mary's Ryken

At St. Mary’s Ryken, the Performing Arts Department cultivates creativity, confidence, and collaboration through dynamic instruction and music, dance, and theatre performance opportunities. Rooted in Xaverian values, our program empowers students to grow as artists and leaders while sharing their gifts with the school and greater community.

The St. Mary's Ryken performing arts programs specialize in teaching the whole student and allowing students the freedom cross over from theatre, dance or band so they do not feel constrained to choose one or the other. Our goal is to foster and nurture the growth of the whole artist.

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Fine Arts

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Choral Music & Piano

St. Mary's Ryken choral students gain experience reading and singing religious music, including traditional and contemporary Christian music.

Knight-N-Gales – An elite women’s choir group who perform at special school and outside events. The students are chosen by audition in their sophomore, junior or senior.

To learn more about the choral music and keyboarding programs, please contact the Fine Arts Department chair, Mrs. Kim Norris at kim.norris@smrhs.org.

Courses Offered

Courses Offered

Dance

Program Description

Dance is open to all St. Mary's Ryken students. They should expect to bring responsibility, responsiveness, and active participation to each class. 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 distinction between criticism and critique, how to objectively evaluate their own skill and performance, how to offer constructive feedback to themselves and the group, and how to receive feedback in an open-minded manner.

Unique Dance Program

Courses are designed to offer students experiences that are outside the studio experience. These include academic assignments in dance history and dance anatomy, as well as 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 theatre (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.

Courses Offered

Courses Offered

Theatre Arts

For more information about the Theatre program, please contact Mrs. Allison Betz at allison.betz@smrhs.org.

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Courses Offered

Courses Offered

Instrumental Music

The SMR instrumental program strives to provide students with the skills needed for excellence in music literacy. Students are challenged to explore the complexities of music beyond the page. It is the goal of our program that students develop an understanding of the humanity of music and to continue musical pursuits beyond graduation.

Mission Statement

Fostering an environment that highlights Xaverian values, the St. Mary’s Ryken instrumental program challenges the individual while cherishing our community. As a group, we strive for musical growth & excellence while providing service opportunities where students share their gifts with the SMR community and beyond.

To learn more about the instrumental music program, please contact Ms. Alison Johnson at Alison.Johnson@smrhs.org.