Arts Academy

The program is intended to afford each participant the opportunity to develop a wide-ranging knowledge and appreciation of dance as an art form. To accomplish this, students will study dance skills and techniques in a curriculum that is progressive and demanding of increasing levels of accomplishment and finesse. In order to present well-informed and sophisticated performances, dancers will study the cultural and historical background of the various styles and genres of dance. Additionally, students will explore anatomy as it relates to dance, basic concepts of choreography, and the affective aspects of dance as a medium of human communication. Each day, dancers will participate in a double period of study that will include emphasis on both the applied and academic aspects of dance. Participation in major public performances will generate a large ensemble credit while individual or small group presentations allow students to earn small ensemble credit. 

The program develops students’ ability to perform various types of theatre productions, including monologues, one-act and full-length plays, improvisation, and musicals. Structured as a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum, the program offers a full range of courses in all areas of theatre arts, among them: acting, directing, performance production, theatre history, playwriting, musical theatre, as well as other specialized topics. Students may also receive course credit for working on faculty-directed productions. 

The program encourages students to artistically display their intellectual and emotional interests. Students will pursue a course of study that begins with Fundamentals of Art and branches out to include painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, photography, and digital art. Each student will have structured studio time focusing heavily on the practice of self-expression and building a portfolio of personal direction. Students will also explore the history of art as it relates to developing an understanding and knowledge of diverse historical and cultural contexts of architecture, sculpture, painting and other media.

Portfolio Criteria

• Submit at least ten (10) forms of artwork for review (For example, this can include photos of sculptures by various angles or viewpoints).
• Photocopies of awards received.  
• Applicant essay (maximum of 500 words) detailing your appreciation for art, projects you are currently working on and worked on in the past, and what techniques you would like to explore in the future at Pallotti.

The major areas of this program include vocal and instrumental performance. The scope of the program is broad enough to provide developing artists many chances to perform, either in the large performing ensembles or smaller chamber ensembles, while remaining focused enough to guarantee each student plenty of individual attention. Students will explore academic classes in the areas of Music History, Music Theory, vocal and instrumental techniques, and Music Technology. Participation in Jazz Combo and Creative Ensemble is offered to those students with an interest in improvisation. All music students are required to participate in the large school-wide vocal and instrumental ensembles as well as small ensembles limited to students enrolled in the Arts Academy.