Improvisation and composition classes
The major in dance has a long-standing tradition of encouraging and nurturing personal creativity. The process continues throughout the year as pupils conduct a dance dialogue with other dance major pupils, both during class hours and outside the classroom framework. This creative process promotes initiative, independence, creative thinking, social involvement, mutual responsibility, cognitive flexibility, leadership, tolerance and openness. These individual works are presented on stage during class choreography performance evenings.
Repertory workshops
As part of their workshops pupils in the upper secondary school are directed towards specialization in either classical ballet or modern dance. The workshop involves intensive work of 8 hours per week. This program provides pupils with in-depth training in the stage arts, from the learning process, through internalization of the repertoire, to its performance on stage.
Performances with explanations for Jerusalem school pupils
Each year the Dance Department holds two performances with explanations for pupils in Jerusalem’s schools in an effort to bring them closer to the dance arts. Through dialogues between the audience and the young performers, the pupils become familiar with the school’s dance major.
End of year performance
Two dance performances are presented each year. The first is part of the school’s “winter festival,” with performances by pupils from Grades 9-12. The second performance is an end-of-year performance that takes place at the Sherover Auditorium at the Jerusalem Theater, where all dance majors perform a varied repertoire featuring classical ballet, modern dance and jazz.
Open classes
Once a year each subject in the dance major and each class holds an open class during the evening, to which we invite parents, the principal, teachers and friends. During these classes the pupils can demonstrate their progress and teachers can explain their teaching methods. These encounters are very important as they encourage parents to become involved in the school.
Attending performances through dance subscriptions
As part of the curriculum, dance majors receive dance subscriptions and watch performances by Israeli and foreign dance companies. All performances include advance preparation in workshops with the choreographer or dancer, and are followed by summary feedback sessions.
