Performing Arts High School
Performing arts are a form of art in which student artists use their voices and bodies to convey an elaborate artistic expression. This is a form of art that focuses on physically creative activity, with the help of an encouraging audience. It is different from visual arts in a sense that visual artistry is when artists use paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. As a performing arts focused high school, performing such artistic expressions is a key course we provide here at our Colorado Springs Charter High School.
As an arts-focused high school, our teachers at CIVA work hard to teach our students not only the foundation of performing arts, but also the artistic freedom and confidence that comes with such a course. The small class sizes at CIVA provide a more focused, one-on-one type of environment for our students, which also gives each individual the leeway to pick their own style and personality from within. Performing arts high school courses may include dance, music, guitar, percussion, choir, theatre and musical theatre, comedy improvisation or speech and debate.
The elements within these high school performance arts courses entail much more than just the physical basics. Our charter high school for music and arts in Colorado prides ourselves in teaching our charter high school students how to do something, where to find their internal motivation for it and evolve as an individual to express their emotions in any way they wish to. Art is in part a freedom to express, creating the right environment to be able to express is crucial for inspiring artistic growth. Creative arts high school students are being taught to become effective artisans, scholars and citizens for their community in such a way that they get to decide who they want to be. We give them the guidelines to reach greatness and inspire them to pursue their highest.
Be sure to check out our CIVA high school performing arts courses in the list below and our visual arts courses and let us know if we can help answer any questions you or your student might have. Dive into something new with our Colorado Springs artistically expressive classes today!
ELECTIVES
Theatre 1
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3.0 Prerequisite: None
(Humanities or Elective)
This is a high school performing arts introductory course to theatre. It will broadly cover front of house, onstage and backstage aspects of theatre. Beginners to advanced actors can enjoy this course.
Theatre 2
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade:9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3.0 Prerequisite: Theatre 1
(Humanities or Elective)
This CIVA Colorado charter school class will build upon skills learned in Theatre 1. It will explore how all aspects weave together to show what goes into making a show. Beginner to advanced actors can explore all aspects of theatre in this course in more detail.
Theatre History
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 2.0 Prerequisite: None
(Humanities or Elective)
This class will cover theatre and musical theatre throughout the last 100 years. It will look at the influence of live theatre on our country, how it affected future theatre, and our lives. This performing arts high school course is open to beginner to advanced students.
Behind The Scenes
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 2.0 Prerequisite: Theatre 1, 2
(Humanities or Elective)
This class offered at CIVA Colorado charter school focuses on the aspects of theatre back stage. It will include details on technical theatre, and even include contributing to the building and painting of show sets, costumes, and props.
Acting Techniques
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade: 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 2.0 Prerequisite: Theatre 1 and Theatre 2
(Humanities or Elective)
This high school performing arts class will focus on learning and presenting monologues in class before peers. It will help prepare students in auditioning for shows at CIVA, in the community or at the college level. Students will leave the class with a full acting monologue book. This class will involve memorization outside of class.
Musical Theatre Techniques
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade: 11, 12
Credit per Semester 2.0 Prerequisite: Theatre 1, Theatre 2, and Acting Techniques
(Humanities or Elective)
This class will focus on acting through songs and preparing a vocal book for show, college programs, and professional theatre auditions. Singing in class will be necessary for this class. Students will leave the class with a vocal audition book prepared.
Scene Study Techniques
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade: 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 2 Prerequisite: Theatre 1 and Theatre 2
(Humanities or Elective)
This class will go into detail on working with scene partners, building to the climax of a scene and character work. It will be a collaborative course that will enhance any performer.. It will involve memorization outside of class.
Theatre Production Techniques
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade: 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3 Prerequisite: Theatre 1, Theatre 2, Behind the Scenes
(Humanities or Elective)
This high school performing arts class will look at all aspects of theatre and assist students in creating their own original one acts and pieces from start to finish.
MUSIC
BAND
Course Length: 2 Semesters Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3.0 Prerequisite: 2-3 years’ experience
(Humanities or Elective)
This course will focus on the study and performance of band music. Class activities emphasize the development of instrument technique, tone production, tuning, music reading, and listening skills. In order to take this class, students need to have two-three years of experience with an instrument and be able to read music. This high school performing arts course is open to all concert band or orchestra instruments, with limited spots for amplified guitars, basses and drummers.
CHOIR
Course Length: 2 Semesters Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3.0 Prerequisite: None
(Humanities or Elective)
This is an introductory choral class offered at CIVA Colorado charter school that is designed to help those who have never taken a choir class, and could benefit from a refresher on how to sight-read music, or some help with developing healthy singing technique. We will cover a wide range of genres, from classical to contemporary.
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Course Length: 2 Semesters Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 5.0 Prerequisite: Audition/Teacher approval
(Humanities or Elective)
This high school performing arts course primarily focuses on chamber music for strings, such as quartet music as string orchestra repertoire. The course covers advanced playing techniques for bowed string instruments, ensemble playing with and without a conductor, scales up to 3 octaves, and basic arranging/composing skills. The styles of music played range from classical music to contemporary popular music. Students must audition with the instructor to be in this ensemble.
CONCERT CHOIR ADVANCED 1, 2
Course Length: 2 Semesters Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 5.0 Prerequisite: Audition or teacher approval
(Humanities or Elective)
This performing arts high school course is designed for singers with previous choral experience and established sight-singing skills. Each member of this ensemble must complete an additional audition for honor choirs around the state, and the ensemble will be a competitive choir. We will cover a wide range of genres, from classical to contemporary. Students interested in this advanced course need to be pre-approved by the music instructor at CIVA Colorado charter school.
GUITAR 1, 2
Course Length: 2 Semesters Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 2.0 Prerequisite: None
(Humanities or Elective)
Students interested in this course need have no experience in playing guitar or reading music. This high school performing arts course is designed to teach basic chords, note and rhythm reading, and techniques needed to play the guitar.
GUITAR 3, 4
Course Length: 2 Semesters Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 2.0 Prerequisite: Guitar 1, 2
(Humanities or Elective)
This course is designed for students that have knowledge of note reading (beyond tablature) and are looking to learn more advanced pieces in both the classical and popular styles. This class is intended to prepare students for advanced band with jazz guitar as well as performing in a guitar ensemble and as a soloist. Students of this high school performing arts class may skip the prerequisites for this course upon audition and instructor approval only.
STRINGS 1, 2
Course Length: 2 Semesters Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3.0 Prerequisite: None
(Humanities or Elective)
This course serves as an introduction to basic playing techniques for bowed string instruments. The course covers basic techniques/posture/instrument care, beginning ensemble playing, and basic notation reading. The styles of music played in this high school performing arts class range from classical music to contemporary popular music. This course is open to any student of CIVA Colorado charter school.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
DANCE 1
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3 Prerequisite: None
(Elective or Physical Education)
Dance 1 is an introductory course to dance. It will cover all genres and forms of dance. Beginners to advanced dancers can enjoy this course. Students will get to explore everything from social dancing to contemporary dance.
DANCE 2
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3 Prerequisite: Dance 1
(Elective or Physical Education)
Dance 2 will build upon skills learned in Dance 1. Beginner to advanced dancers can explore traditional and unique dance forms in more detail in this high school performing arts course.
DANCE MOVEMENT AND FITNESS
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3 Prerequisite: None
(Elective or Physical Education)
Dance Movement and Fitness utilizes dance to increase fitness and activity. Beginner to advanced dancers can increase stamina and fitness with Zumba, dance cardio, barre work and choreography.
MUSICAL THEATRE DANCE TECHNIQUES
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade:10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3 Prerequisite: Dance 1 and 2
(Elective or Physical Education)
Musical Theatre Dance Techniques is geared toward students who want to learn skills that will assist them with auditions and performances for musicals at CIVA, in the community or at the college level! This class is formatted for CIVA Colorado charter students who want to pursue the arts professionally or at the college level after graduation. While this class can be taken by any student meeting the prerequisites - there will be more of an audition and performance focus in the course.
DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade: 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3 Prerequisite: Dance 1 and 2
(Elective or Physical Education)
Dance Choreography Techniques is geared toward students who want to be more creative with the technique they have acquired and prepare them for concentrations in college or the community as a choreographer or director. It uses skills learned in other dance courses and allows the students to express themselves. This class is formatted for students who want to pursue the arts professionally or at the college level after graduation. While this class can be taken by any student meeting the prerequisites- there will be more of an audition and performance focus in the high school performing arts course.
DANCE TECHNIQUES HONORS
Course Length: 2 Semesters Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 5 Prerequisite: Audition or Teacher Approval
(Humanities, Elective or Physical Education)
Dance Techniques Honors is audition only. This performing arts high school course is designed for students with advanced training and interest in dance. It is a performance based class that will focus on both technique, training and showmanship. This class is formatted for students who want to pursue the arts professionally or at the college level after graduation. While this class can be taken by any student meeting the prerequisites- there will be more of an audition and performance focus in the course.