VIS Annual Report 2021-2022 - Report - Page 42
Visual and Performing Arts
Performing arts students in school, students not
different media to tell their stories - adding a
in school, only half of the students in school, all
variety of skills to their learning portfolio.
in school but no playing of wind instruments or
singing, staying two meters apart, no sharing of
Our Extra-Curricular Activities managed to
instruments, no touching during drama warm
keep going online. It cannot be denied that the
ups, making facial expressions wearing a mask
progress, especially considering the ability to
or - the most difficult - keeping students engaged
play as a group, was slowed down. However,
when they are staring at a screen all day long.
seeing the joy of our students when they were
What we thought would just be a temporary
finally able to play with their colleagues from
nuisance before, continued for almost the entire
different grade levels was heartwarming.
year.
What we have learned from this experience is
The last year was, indeed, a challenge for such
that our performing arts students need every
a practical subject as Performing Arts. We
single opportunity to create and perform with
missed all the annual highlights - no musicals,
peers. Students learn so much from each other
no plays, no concerts, no public performances
and are inspired by experiencing the arts around
in the Musikverein or the Peterskirche, no ISTA
them. The Performing Arts also need a live
festivals, no workshops and so on. Having all
audience - the thrill, the excitement and the
these enrichment activities removed made us
butterflies in the stomachs to fully experience
realize how much our students profit each year
all the facets of drama and music.
from situations where they are presented with a
variety of learning opportunities.
What are we hoping to achieve this year?
Many different and contrasting opportunities
And yet, they persevered: our DP Theatre and
to showcase our students’ learning! In house
Music students scored great results, showing
concerts, our yearly drama play, performances
how they can deal with adversity, using their
in Vienna again and, maybe, even start
creativity to record impressive performances
planning theater festivals and music tours - it
within the confines of their homes. The increased
has been too long since our students have had
use of music technology has sparked the interest
the opportunity to experience Theatre and
in many students creating music digitally - with
music with students from different schools.
amazing results. The Theatre students explored
42
43