Performing Arts

The Performing Arts faculty is committed to modeling, fostering, and nurturing the development of artistic skills, empathy, and artistic appreciation in the community at large.

We believe the process of working towards performance is key to the artistic development of our students. This paves the way for self-discovery and creativity, all while strengthening students’ passions and skills. In all divisions, we strive to provide our students with opportunities to create, perform, and connect through a variety of performances for their peers and the community, planting the seeds for lifelong supporters of the arts.

In alignment with North Shore’s mission, students share in the experience of performing both on stage and backstage. Our classes and rehearsals challenge them to grow as critical thinkers, active listeners, and collaborators, while building language and social skills and developing emotional awareness. Central to who we are, this is all taught while making meaningful connections in a safe, supportive, and guided environment.

Our Performing Arts Curriculum

Lower School

The lower school music program brings together a diverse set of musical pedagogies, including Orff-Schulwerk, Kodaly, Smithsonian World Music and more, to give students multiple ways to process musical concepts. Activities in dance and creative movement, voice, acting, body percussion, instrumental techniques (including percussion, recorders, and ukuleles), composition, and music literacy develop students’ creative and musical skills. Chorus is offered for third through fifth grades as an after-school program. 5th graders are also offered the chance to start learning an instrument in beginning band.

Middle School

The performing arts are an integral part of the middle school curriculum. As part of an arts rotation, all students are enrolled in general music courses that focus on analytical listening, composition, theory, and music history. Students are also enrolled in performing arts classes that put them on stage. These courses are designed to support students in their development as young actors, musicians, dancers, and theater technicians. From memorizing their lines and blocking for the play, to learning to play an instrument, various styles of choreography, or manipulating the lights and sound, our students learn what the process looks like to prepare for a performance. Students showcase this learning in culminating performances each semester.

Upper School

Our upper school performing arts classes and rehearsals challenge students to be fully engaged in the process of preparing for a performance. Through this process, students continue to develop their critical thinking skills, social skills, and emotional awareness. Students are engaged in the performing arts both during the school day and after school. During the day, students may be enrolled in ensemble courses such as instrumental ensemble, chorus, or acting ensemble. Students may also take courses that focus on developing technical theater skills in areas such as lighting, sound, set construction, and scenic design.

Each year, there are typically four theatrical productions. Our “Take 10” festival showcases 10-minute plays written and directed by students. The winter play is designed as a performance for our youngest students, and the spring play is a series of one-act plays. The largest production of the year is the spring musical, which occurs each year in March.