Overview
Students at DreamYard Prep deepen their artistic expression, build self-confidence, gain empowerment, and connect with the world around them through our diverse arts program offerings. While our students have the opportunity to explore a variety of arts disciplines in classes and extracurricular activities, the arts curriculum centers on dance, music, theatre, and visual art. Students study the arts in theory, practice, and performance. Our arts programs stimulate the ongoing practice of critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration, providing students with the tools and ideas to create change toward elevating themselves and their communities.
Our Programs
Dance
Students in the dance program explore several genres of dance, such as contemporary, hip hop, afro-dance, jazz, lyrical, and modern. The dance program teaches students the fundamentals of ballet, jazz, and modern dance technique through in-studio class work. Students simultaneously explore what it means to dance as an ensemble by layering such elements as time, rhythm, focus, and expression into their collective study. They learn general dance vocabulary, rehearse and perform choreography, and discover dance aesthetics through a process-oriented, creative habit. This process of developing a creative habit through dance lends itself to self-confidence, self-awareness, collaboration, health and wellness, and understanding the vital role of dance in the global community.
Vocal Music
The music program provides students with a foundation in Music theory, aural skills, music production, and music performance. Students study the fundamentals of healthy singing, such as intonation and proper breathing technique, and work toward mastery by singing a varied repertoire. They learn introductory music theory and reading music notation and apply it to their vocal repertoire. Nurturing lifelong learning and music listening, students continuously expand their music appreciation by listening to and analyzing music from different genres, cultures, and time periods.
Theatre
In the theatre program, students read, watch, and act out stories to help them understand themselves, others, and the world around them. They learn how to use their voices, bodies, and minds to understand and portray characters on stage. They further examine relationships, emotions, and human behavior to help them understand why characters do the things they do. To foster a sense of connection and discovery, they engage in theatre games and practice ensemble-building. Additionally, students explore improvisation to build self-confidence, learn to take risks, and practice being brave in rehearsal and performance. The theatre program also offers students the unique opportunity to develop their own original stories and characters which allows them to discover their authentic voices.
Visual Arts
The visual art program exposes students to a variety of fine arts methods, techniques, and media through which many societal themes are explored. Students have the opportunity to explore painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, computer art, and photography. As students delve into themes of identity, culture, and the self, they are learning about contemporary artists and gain a deep understanding of how they create in response to the world around them.