Performing Arts
Dance is well established in the school, with a vast range of opportunities for single or multi-disciplined students. Dance club runs during lunch times for Key Stage 3 and 4 with each club taking on different styles. These clubs have led to performance opportunities in our own showcases, across the Trusts festivals and this year also taking Dance Dash to our local village, primary schools and even a supermarket to raise money for 'Children in Need'. In addition, students can join Cascade Dance company, run weekly after school, whereby students can perform in wider showcases across Kent.
Drama has grown over the last few years, with increasing opportunities in the local community, across the VIAT Trust and in our annual school production. Students are offered Drama Clubs at lunchtime, a KS3 club running with regular attendance led to performance opportunities in our showcases and VIAT concerts, with performances ranging from Shakespeare to Blood Brothers. In addition to this, from September to January students have the chance to join our school production team, this is open to all year groups and every student is welcome! The casts are increasing each year with over 60 performing in the 2023-24 production of Oliver and 90 plus students performing in the 2024-25 Beauty and the Beast Production. As the productions have grown so have students' opportunities in our local community, with performance offers to local primary schools, Lenham Lights and the Village Showcase.
We are also pleased to announce our 2025-2026 production will be 'Footloose', with auditions commencing in September.
Within Performing Arts, the extra-curricular opportunities allow our students to be challenged in their own abilities and enrich their lives. As well as vast performance opportunities and clubs’ students also have the chance to experience live theatre and dance to inspire them in their own journey. Regular visits to The Marlow Theatre and London expose students to the world the arts have to offer, experiencing a range of genres, immersive Great Gatsby, challenging Metamorphosis, dance pieces like Message in a Bottle and uplifting Musicals.
In January 2024 Performing Arts students were offerred the opportunity to embark on a trip to New York, this allowed them to explore the city's culture and history as well as what it has to offer performers. Students were able to take part in a workshop with Broadway performers and Musical Directors, learning their own routine to All That Jazz and spending time interviewing the performers about how they made it to Broadway. A trip of a lifetime.
