Theatre Arts

Theatre Arts (Drama and Dance) offers a huge variety of performance opportunities for students of all ages.

Both drama and dance form part of the curriculum for Years 7 to 9 and become options for Years 10 to 13. Drama and dance are very popular curricular and co-curricular activities at Rangi Ruru and hundreds of students each year get involved in school productions as cast and crew. There are a number of opportunities for ākonga to get involved with drama and dance, including the schools major productions (junior and senior) and joining one of our multiple dance companies.

Drama

Drama is offered to students from Years 7 to 13. Drama is an approved subject for University Entrance, and Drama achievement standards meet Literacy requirements for NCEA. A number of students each year go on to achieve outstanding results in Scholarship Drama. We also have strong links with a number of professional theatrical companies both in New Zealand and overseas and students have the opportunity to work alongside industry practitioners.

Senior drama classes also undertake a number of public performances each year and ākonga get the opportunity to enter the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival as performers. Seniors may also act as student directors for this festival.

Dance

All students from Years 7 to 9 study Dance. The programme exposes them to a wide range of dance styles, provides an opportunity to develop skills in performance, elementary composition, and to study the History of Dance. In Year 10, Dance is a half-year option.

There are three dance companies allowing dancers from Years 7 to 13 to participate. These companies are involved in performances throughout the year including Cultural Concert and Prize Giving, as well as the Annual Dance Show.

There is a Junior Drama Club, Theatre Sports and a very active group of students who work within technical theatre as part of stage crews and lighting and sound operators.

Speech and Drama

This is an itinerant course which focuses on the many skills of Speech and Drama. Skills taught include communication, drama, both scripted and impromptu, poetry, speaking, storytelling and speech making.

Past students have found that these skills are an advantage when applying for a job, whether it is in some aspect of performing or any vocation with communication at its core.

Exams, both Speech New Zealand and Trinity College of London are offered but not compulsory. The primary focus is to offer a joyful way for students to develop confidence in communicating, talking and performing.