Arts
Performing Arts
Dance
Offerings range from classes for students new to the discipline to those for seasoned dancers. Ballet, jazz, contemporary—all class types and levels have the opportunity to participate in or observe master classes by experts in the field and to perform material in informal settings. Composition and choreography classes cover exploration and improvisation, creative problem solving, discussions, field trips, and more. Historical Overview of Dance explores issues in present-day dance by looking at the past. The Emma Willard Dance Company targets the highly motivated and talented dance student looking for additional performance experience; students rehearse in a variety of dance styles, and perform in assemblies, the annual spring concert, on tour, and in other special performance events.Music
The Emma Willard Choir performs both secular and sacred music at various concerts throughout the year, including Eventide in December, the Spring Concert in May, and Baccalaureate. The Inner Choir is a select vocal ensemble with members drawn from the Choir, and performs works appropriate for the smaller choral ensemble. Courses designed for the musician and non-musician alike look in-depth at some of the great classics, as well as the art and composition of various musical styles. Orchestra and ensembles are open to all instrumentalists, with specialized ensembles for jazz and piano. Individual instruction is provided for vocal and instrumental study; Emma Willard attempts to provide instruction in any instrument requested. Students in their first year at Emma Willard are strongly urged not to take more than one course of individual instruction in music.Theatre
Theatre students are introduced to concepts of acting current in American theatre, and do exercises and improvisations designed to free them as actors; imagination, sensory awareness, vocal, and physical techniques are stressed, and special attention is paid to exercises helping students use their own imagination with confidence. In addition to acting, there are several courses in playwriting and directing, as well as technical support. Oral Interpretation and Speech is offered for students who want to improve their ability to read, recite, or speak the famous words of others or their own work. Classes are designed to help students gain a thorough understanding of theatrical and staging techniques as they have evolved through history. Credit is granted to participants in school productions; theatre pieces that include both offbeat one-acts and mainstream productions take place in venues ranging from a 350-seat auditorium to the more intimate lab theatre, living rooms, and gardens around campus
