Stage Challenge 2010

After a frantic start to the year, Dance is well and truly underway.  Miss Pratt has been working incredibly hard with students, teaching them the audition routine, and running the auditions for Stage Challenge.

This year we will be entering the 'raw' category, which is less about the costumes and set, and more about the choreography.  The cast will be smaller, hence the very intense dancers seen around the school.

The theme is around anti-drink-driving, and an incredibly valuable message given the history of teenage drinking in this country.  The main cast and dancers have been selected, and we are all incredibly proud of Zemira Hayvice who has scored the lead role in Stage Challenge 2010.  Well done, Zemira!

We will keep you posted with updates as time goes by.

Zemira Hayvice (2nd from the left) with some of the other dancers, Jinelle, Sam and Maaki.

NZ Festival of the Arts

The NZ Festival of the Arts is about to kick off.  As well as our students heading west to see some fantastic shows and meet some wonderful authors, we are priviledged to host, "Echoa"- a French Dance troop.

We have a MAGNIFICENT discount for Kuranui Students.  $12 a head- and I would recommend as many people as possible get to see it.  Performing at Kuranui on the 1st of March, the school performance is at 1pm.  This means leaving class before the end of period 4 and missing a bit of lunch. 

This is what the Arts Festival has to say about 'Echoa':

"Drums of all descriptions are cleverly organised on scaffolding so that seven distinctly different dance scenes can unfold below. With incredible exuberance the movement and rhythm become flawlessly intertwined as the artists explore the questions: How does a percussionist dance? How does the body of a dancer sound?

Echoa is an unexpected dance experience in which we also see the dance with our ears. Sometimes as gentle as a whisper or as noisy as a carnival, it never lacks in spirit or fantasy. A truly delightful attack on the senses - a show for music and dance lovers of all ages.

Written by: Thomas Guerry and Camille Rocailleux
Sound direction: Olivier Pfeiffer
Lighting director: Laurent Bazire"

Drama newsletter.

This has gone home to parents via their children..... or at least, it will tomorrow.  Here is a preview.  Some have already got a copy, others are waiting for one.

Subject Selection 2010

Well, Friday is re-enrolement for senior students.  Bring in your NCEA results and confirm your course selection (or change it if need be).  Year 11's should attend too, as you may have forgotten which classes you chose, or wish to change.

For the Arts, you should be aware of the requirements to take each subject.

Year 11:

1. Drama - Have taken either Yr 9 or 10 Drama
   
2. Music - Must be able to play an instrument, reading music is recommended
   
3. Dance - Must have taken Yr 10 Dance
   
4. Art - Should have taken Yr 9 or 10 Art
   
5. Te Reo - Must have completed Yr 10 Te Reo, can be used as literacy credits for NCEA

In Year 12, things get more complex.

1. Drama - Should have 12 L1 Drama credits (or approval of JM)
2. Music - Should have gained 12 L1 Music credits (or approval of WT)
3. Dance - Should have gained 12 L1 Dance credits (or approval of PJ
4. Art - Should have 12 L1 Art credits.... you can take Art or Photography
5. Te Reo - Should have 12 L1 Te Reo credits

Year 12 and 13 are much harder than Year 11 courses.  You should be fairly proficient to contemplate studying at each level above L1.  Committment beyond school hours is compulsory for performances.  You will also have to work by yourself and with groups for assessment.

Music, Drama, Dance and Te Reo Maori all have external assessments at the end of the year.  To complete the exam for Dance and Drama you have to have seen a live performance and to have studying a genre of performance.

This is the last year that Unit Standards can be used for assessment.  

In Year 13 Visual Art breaks up into components.  You can take Photography (though you should have completed the L2 course), Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking and Design Art.  A number of Design Art students have taken Graphics prior to opting into Design Art.

All of the performing Arts require that you PERFORM in front of an audience.  In Te Reo, you should expect to have to speak publically in Te Reo Maori.  For all of these courses, expect to be video taped and to watch said tape for analysis.

If you have any queries, talk to the teacher in charge of each subject, or consult the subect selection guidebook that Mr Hall gave out.  You can take more than one Art subject each year, and many go well together.  Come in on Friday and see me if you have any issues.

Greytown Arts Festival

As you well know, the Ukulele Orchestra played at the Greytown Arts Festival.  The weather was appaulling, but the crowds still came to listen to the groovy tunes.  We had an awesome turnout, and a crowd ready to sing along.

We even had an encore!  That is truly hitting the big leagues.

Shortly I will post a couple of the songs we played on Youtube and link them to here.  In the mean time, think about this..... maybe you too could join the KC Uke Orch?  Ukuleles start at about $30, which makes them fantastic value as an instrument.  They are also rated as one of the easiest instruments to play.  Our orchestra has all kinds of people with levels of interest and talent, from those lacking both, to having both in screeds.  As well as learning an instrument, it is a great way of getting to know some awesome people.  We had the chance to hang out backstage with the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra- and it was AMAZING--- we too shall be that cool eventually.

So, school is back next week.  Seniors, re-enrole on Friday.  And do this ESPECIALLY if you are an Arts student.  A number of senior Arts subjects are timetabled at the same time, so you will need to check up on your timetable and sweet-talk your teachers if there is a clash.

Ukulele Update!!!

So, if you read the Wairarapa Times Age, you would have seen some of the Ukulele ensemble on the cover the other day. 

If not, you can see the real thing on Saturday.

We will be hitting the main stage at the Greytown Arts Festival at 3pm, for a sing and play along (if you bring your ukulele).

It is not too late to join the band!  If you show up to the rehearsal in the School Music room at 11am on Saturday, you will get a chance to play along with us in style.  Remember to wear bright colours....

Our playlist includes:
Haere Mai
I'm Yours
Sailing
Slice of Heaven
When I'm 64
Tree Hugger
10 Guitars
Loyal
And the goodnight kiwi song.

We will be playing up to 17 songs.... do not miss this once on Saturday event.... as the price is right (FREE) as a warm-up to the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra performance in the evening which has now sold out.

Ukulele Orchestra-ing

Right, as you all should know, the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra is the key act of the Greytown Arts Festival this coming year.  As you may not know, we are providing a ukulele warm-up act.  Excellent!

As you will know if you have seen our Ukulele Orchestra perform, we are all about a full musical experience, with guitars, mandolin, kazoo and even the odd wooden block.  Totally awesome, complete with mime.  All previous, past and future members of the orchestra are invited to perform with us on January 23 2010 at 3pm in front of the Greytown Town Hall.

We will be holding 2 rehearsals prior to the event, on Saturday 16th at 11am and Wednesday 20th at 7pm at Kuranui.  If you have instrument, come along.  All instruments welcome!  Including ukuleles.  We would love to see as many people as possible.