Dramatic Arts
Drama and speech play an important role at Roseway. Children are exposed to speech and verse early in their school life. They participate in class productions from Class 1, when they do the Nativity play. This environment of immersion into the arts persists all the way through school until Class 12.
The Class 12 plays have been diverse in subject matter. Pupils have performed plays such as “The Crucible”, “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead”, and “The Importance of Being Earnest… as well as many others. All students are given an opportunity to participate and experience the power of drama and stage performance.
Drama is not about the performance but about the complete process. As such, our Class 12 play empowers every individual in the class to participate as fully as possible.
Roles are chosen based on the courage of each performer, and how strongly they resonate with a particular role. Theatre performance allows learners to explore the world from within the perspective of another human being – often set in a very different time and place to our own. Well-written plays give performers the opportunity to imagine the motivations that drive people to behave the way they do. In this way, drama breeds compassion and empathy in our learners. Students find their character journey is supported by their fellow performers as they are encouraged to deliver their own personal best – whatever that may be.
Eurythmy: the Importance of Movement
Eurythmy is an essential subject, and unique to Waldorf schools. As a movement discipline, it is taught from kindergarten to Class 12. This training culminates in a Class 12 Eurythmy performance, which showcases both individual and group work.
At Waldorf we place a strong emphasis on movement and activity. We prefer to work with your child based on who he or she is – not on fitting her into a predefined mould of what a young person “ought” to be. We respect that young people have restless bodies, and we work with those bodies to bring out their best. Starting each day with movement helps to calm and focus the mind, and prepare young bodies for constructive learning – without the distraction of trying to calm their bodies’ natural self-expression.
Music
Music forms a vital part of the development of young people in a Waldorf school. Music is formally taught from Class 1 through to Class 12. Children learn to read music and play instruments. They learn the joy and power of performing in a group. Music has a positive effect on mood and long-term psychology. Further, it is a powerful study tool as it builds synapses and mental connections that cannot be created in any other way.
