Brooklyn Friends School's arts programs are integral to our mission of providing a multi-dimensional education for all students. The Performing Arts program includes courses and extracurricular opportunities in dance, drama, music, and technical theater. Classes demand active participation and recognize students as artists with individual strengths to be celebrated in a non-competitive, collaborative environment. Professional faculty teach skills, composition, and appreciation in their areas of expertise.
Lower School students have music and dance in their weekly schedule. In the Middle School, fifth and sixth graders are enrolled in dance, drama and music while those in seventh and eighth grades choose from several performing arts electives. Upper Schoolers are required to take one or two years of Performing Arts electives which include Chamber Ensemble, Jazz Band I and II, Dance I and II, Chorus, Introduction to Theatre Arts, and IB Theatre Arts I and II.
The dance program is built on three strands; physical techniques, creative exploration and composition, and critical analysis of choreography and dance in historical and cultural contexts. While rooted in a modern dance tradition, students learn dance from many cultures, usually in inter-disciplinary units concurrent with their humanites classes. Dance techniques and styles include Afro-Cuban, Ballet, Brazilian Samba, Capoeira, Chinese dance & martial arts, Classical Indian dances, Contemporary Modern, Dunham, Jazz (1920s to current), Hip-Hop (old-school to current), Horton, Limon,West-African, Yoga . Middle and Upper School students choreograph and perform for the annual Spring Dance Concert, and all dance students perform during National Dance Week in April.
The music program provides a challenging and supportive learning environment for all students regardless of their level of expertise. Repertoire is drawn from a range of styles, periods, and cultures and students gain an understanding of the role that music plays in daily life. In the Lower School, students explore their talents as performers and music creators using approaches that include Kodaly, Orff, and Dalcroze. Students learn the foundations of sight singing, vocal technique, improvisation, composing, music reading and instrumental work. In the Middle and Upper Schools, students pursue a variety of musical options, performing in concerts, productions, showcases, assemblies, and community events. Private music lessons are available after school.
In the drama program, students develop their bodies and voices as actors and playwrights. They learn to interpret and communicate ideas and feelings through characterization, improvisation, scene work, and writing. They gain focus and physical awareness while developing critical thinking, concentration, and observation skills. Students begin to learn acting technique through cooperative game playing. More advanced classes explore theatrical styles and texts, directing, and the performance of original material.
The technical theater program supports performances in drama, music, and dance, and offers students in-depth practical training in carpentry, lighting, sound, scenic painting, and costuming. Throughout the school year students work on productions in supervised crew calls after school and on weekends. Students also act as run crew for all performances. Advanced students work independently on projects related to productions and provide support for small-scale events in the theater. Safety and proper technique are stressed at all levels.