Dance, Drama & Film

This course offers an introduction to dance as a performing art and builds off the skills that may have been acquired in other dance classes (although students can take this course with no prior experience). Students will develop technical skills such as rhythm, coordination, alignment, and flexibility throughout the course. Units of study will emphasize ensemble collaboration and performance while providing opportunities for individual choreography and improvisation. This class is an Arts course, but may be used as 0.5 PE credit (may not replace Gr. 9 PE) if the student is pursuing the 4 year IB Dance stream and with approval by instructors. Dance offers experienced and nonexperienced students the opportunity to explore and create, as well as develop confidence and
communication skills.

Advanced Dance is a rigorous course where students integrate with the IB Year 1 and 2 Dance class, enabling them to study dance and performance in greater depth over a year long program. Building on the foundational skills in the elective course, students will expand their technical proficiency in various dance styles, develop their choreographic skills by exploring different methodologies, improvisation
techniques, and compositional tools, and develop an understanding of the cultural, historical, and social contexts of dance cultures and traditions from across the globe. Students will be assessed in both practical and written assignments. These will focus on three areas: performance and technique, composition and analysis, and world dance.

IB Dance is for students who want to study dance as an expressive art form and appreciate different dance cultures from around the world. Year-1 focuses on performance skills and basic tools of choreography. Students learn movement based on prior knowledge or in new styles while exploring their creative potential in choreographing. This class also encourages curiosity towards “World Dance”. Each semester includes brief historical introductions to dance traditions from different regions.
The course will simultaneously develop critical-thinking in movement analysis and interpretation of dance-art aesthetics by comparing Western dance history (Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary) to other dance cultures. Year 2 focuses studies on the three components of the IB Dance portfolio exams: Performance, Composition and Analysis (Choreography), and World Dance Investigations research essay. IB Dance students will compile these components over each semester, and submit their examinations as a digital portfolio. Students are encouraged to keep an artistic journal documenting the process of learning, creating and analyzing dances for performances and personal expression or well-being.

IBDP Dance Course Guide

Drama offers both experienced and non-experienced drama students the opportunity to explore and create theater, as well as develop confidence and communication skills. Students will be involved in the group and individual activities that are geared towards performing both devised works and published texts. These may be chosen from a variety of styles, time periods and cultures. The course emphasizes supportive ensemble work while developing individual skills in the areas of improvisation, voice, movement, characterization, scene writing, textual analysis, and interpretation. Assessments in this course are mainly on performance and the process of creating a performance. Students will learn
the techniques of theater performance for the stage and will be expected to devise original performances using these skills. They will develop their responding skills through self and peer assessments both verbally in class as well as written and recorded analyses of their performed pieces.

Advanced Drama offers students the opportunity to study theater and performance in greater depth over a year long program. Building on the foundational skills of acting, devising and text work introduced in the elective course, Advanced Drama delves into theater theory in more depth. Students will study the work of influential practitioners, explore complex theatrical styles, learn about theater
traditions from around the globe examining the relationship between culture and performance, research the role of a director in interpreting text for the stage, and devise thoughtful and mature performance work. Assessments will focus on four areas: research, exploration, performance and analysis and will include both performed and written assignments. During the school year Advanced Drama students will learn alongside first year IB Theatre students, offering opportunities for deeper learning and collaboration.

IB Theatre is for students who want to further and deepen their knowledge of theater beyond the elective course. Students will learn through participation in a range of theatrical activities and research. As ‘makers’ of theater, students will explore and have the opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills in specific areas of performance and production by working as researchers, writers, designers, performers, and technicians. Every member of the class participates in theatrical
productions that are directed, acted, and technically crafted by the students themselves. Students attend and critique external theatrical productions and attend theater workshops, both in and out of school as such opportunities present themselves. Students will complete reflective writing, rehearsal journals, production portfolios, and self/peer assessment. During the first year of the course, the students will study a range of practitioners such as Artaud, Boal, Grotowski or Brecht, and a range of styles such as theater of the absurd, physical theater or naturalism. They will also look at different world theater traditions and conduct individual and group research. They will devise original theater, prepare scripted work, and start to consider how theater can push beyond the traditional stage and utilize a range of multimedia and technical sources. They apply their learning to complete three (SL) or four (HL) IB assessments.

IBDP Theatre Course Guide

Film class gives you the tools you need to explore this unique medium of expression. The focus is on creating films of your own by analyzing, experimenting, and demonstrating techniques found in the early days of film history all the way to contemporary styles and important filmmakers. This course is
for students of all levels and experience to develop skills from your point of proficiency, whether you are a newcomer or a practiced filmmaker. “Film” covers writing, pre-production, cinematography, editing, sound, and more, including visualization, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. Be a proficient interpreter and maker of Film with courage, passion, and curiosity.

Advanced Film Studies provides an exploration of the cinematic arts in three key areas: Film history, film theory, and practical filmmaking. Students engage with a diverse selection of films spanning various cultures and contexts, forming the basis of a profound appreciation of film. Throughout the one-year course, students follow alongside their IB Film counterparts in rigorous application of theoretical principles via hands-on projects that foster both creative expression and technical proficiency. This includes in-depth film analysis as well as practice of major film roles, such as screenwriting, cinematography, editing, and more. Advanced Film promises to equip students with the skills to critically navigate and contribute to the dynamic medium of cinema.

Students in the Media Studies Elective design, produce and distribute Media Publications under the flagship title PantherNation, our online school magazine. Publications are influenced by best practices and trends in journalism with a focus on news, events and issues relevant to high school students. Students develop the skills necessary to produce written and/or video accounts of news stories, features articles, editorials, and sports coverage that are then published in both online and hard copy formats. Students also generate topics, identify and maintain sources, conduct interviews with various school personalities, peer edit each other’s work, and ‘keep a finger on the pulse’ of HS student life at ISB. Those who select this elective must be responsible enough to meet deadlines, creative enough to produce engaging stories, eloquent enough to write and speak with conviction, and be interested in the art of writing and video production to the point of seeking to continually improve the quality of both media platforms.

The Yearbook stands as a testament of time for ISB, holding significant moments of High School life for our community. Students in the class will employ a number of different editorial and arts skills; including editing, graphic design, photography and photoshop. Interested students are encouraged to join this class for a semester, or for higher impact as a team leader, committing yearlong to this important artefact.

Film is a powerful communication medium and an art form. The IB Film course develops students into adept interpreters and creators of film texts through discovery of film history, critique, and practical filmmaking. We explore film history, theory, and a variety of critical contexts. Students practice critical-thinking abilities to analyse a range of cultural, historical, and contemporary films while exercising creative thinking skills including writing, directoring, editing, cinematography, and sound design. As a core Arts subject, the Film course achieves visual literacy, reflective analysis, and critical and creative synthesis through practical engagement in the art and craft of film. The key assessments are Textual Analysis (demonstrating understanding of how meaning is constructed in film), Comparative Study (personal research into a chosen area of film focus), and a Production Portfolio (showing development and experimentation of skills and techniques). Higher Level students create a Collaborative Project
resulting in a complete film.

IBDP Film: Course Content Outline
IBDP Film Course Guide