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Arts

Tēnā koutou katoa

The Arts departments are a hive of creative activity! Walking through these spaces you will see ākonga and kaiako busily preparing for and refelcting on the multutiude of performance events art work.

In week nine of term two junior arts ākonga and kaiako from music, dance, drama, media and visual art performed at Ponsonby and Pasadena Intermediate. This is an annual tour and we are were very glad to resume this in 2021. This connection continues to be a highlight and valued celebration for all involved. It is  an amazing opporitnity for our students to share and celebrate their leanring within the arts at WSCW and for ākonga from local intermediates to gain a glimpse into some of what is offered here at WSCW within the arts.  Special acknowledgements to Charlie Frater and Quinn Dye for being outstanding technical support and representatives of the Media department. More to be shared on this event by our wonderful arts leaders below.

At the end of term two I had the privialge of attending music performance evenings.  It was lovely to expereince this warm and welcoming space with supportive students and proud kaiako and whānau. In other music news – On Tuesday Trina Sellers and the Chamber group attended the KBB festival.  More information on this exciting even in the music article from the wonderul Veda Di Fulivo. A little birdy also whispered that this talented group may have won a prize in this festival. Keep a look out for further details in our next Arts News.

Drama has been in full swing with an outstanding showcase of young talent in the year 12 Drama performance Zero for the young dudes. As I sit in my office writing this newsletter the year 11 Drama class are busily preparing for the opening of thier show Wheelers Luck this Thursday and Friday afternoon and evening.

In dance it is also showtime with two shows coming up this term – WSCW Dance Showcase ‘Collections’ is on next week 18th of August 3.30  and 6.30, and the Year 13 Choreography Showcase in Week 8 (Sept 13-15). We would love to see you there. Further details about these shows in the dance article below.  Want to see what dance at WSCW is all about – Come to the show, come and chat to the dance teachers Sam and Chloe anytime in TAPAC and follow us on our newly created instagram page wscw_dance. This term Dance have started a Wednesday Performance Group for Year 9 and 10 students. If you are interested in performance opportunities and developing skills in dance come to Studio 2 Wednesday lunchtimes.

Finally if you are a senior student and keen to share your artistic talents make sure you enter  SENIOR TALENT QUEST entry form is here. More details about this event in the music article.

Thanks to  Hannah Chung and Isabelle Atherford for the ArtsNews heading in this issue.

Samantha Wood Rawnsley – Arts Coordinator 2021

This year’s Junior Arts Tour took some of our most talented junior artists to Ponsonby Intermediate and Pasadena Intermediate to promote WSCW’s awesome arts community. The tour featured a huge variety of young artists, which included performances from our Year 9 & 10 dance, drama, media and music. These performances drew inspiration from a wide range of sources, and included dance performances exploring Sasa, hip hop, contemporary dance, locking ( street dance) and student choreography inspired by Ocean Waves. Music performances of Metallica, Neon Trees, and Michael Blube by some of our talented young musicians. Drama performances of shakespeare, scenes from hospital and exciting live improvisation. A special presentation rounded out each show, showcasing our talented media and visual arts students. A huge thanks to everyone involved, and special thanks to Sam Wood Rawnsley, Dan Barrett, Robert Pollock, and Chloe Davison for putting in the mahi behind the scenes.

Raf Hosking – Arts Leader 2021

What’s happening in Dance this term?

Term 3 is action-packed with two shows, visiting dancers and a weekly performance group for juniors. Year 12 Dance students have enjoyed the energy and teaching of African dance tutor Otis Donovan Herring who has shared African dance movements and given details to develop our understanding of the origins of specific movements. Otis challenged students with polyrhythms, ‘Nigerian leg work’, and complex spatial pathways and formations. The students will be assessed on this dance for NCEA 2.3 Perform an ethnic dance and you can see it in the Showcase next week!

There are two Showcases this term – the WSCW Dance Showcase ‘Collections’ is on next week, and the Year 13 Choreography Showcase in Week 8 (Sept 13-15). ‘Collections’ has Senior Dance students presenting their excellent NCEA choreography and performance in the TAPAC Theatre. Dances are choreographed by students, by their teachers, and by 4 amazing choreographers from our dance community. Students are presenting their own work inspired by cause and effect, kowhaiwhai patterns, whakataukī, rippling water and connections. They will also be performing Hip Hop, African, Flamenco and Contemporary dance.   The WSCW Chamber Group will be guest artists for both Dance Showcase performances.

This term we have started the Wednesday Performance Group for Year 9 and 10 students. If you are interested in performance opportunities and developing skills in dance come to Studio 2 Wednesday lunchtimes. At the moment they are learning a hip hop dance choreographed by Richie Cesan and taught by senior dance students. This group will work with senior students, the dance teachers and guests choreographers. In other news, Sophia Thomas (Year 11) and Stefan Tomokino (Year 13) have had a great week of dance with The New Zealand Dance Company’s holiday programme. They spent the week at Wellesley Studios learning repertoire from professional dancers, as well as participating in choreography workshops. Sophia says she most enjoyed learning new things, such as using the Fibonacci sequence to create movement, and putting all the movement together into a whole dance. Look out for Sophia and Stefan performing with The New Zealand Dance Company at the ATC Waterfront Theatre on Sept 4.             

Follow WSCW Dance Dept’s new Instagram page: @wscw_dance

Chloe Davison – HOD Dance

Art News!


Greetings from the Visual Art Department

Hard to believe that its already term 3 – traditionally the start of the ‘busy’ness part of the year.   Senior students are definitely feeling the change with a number of students actively utilising their out-of-class and after school time to clarify and extend their ideas.  The flurry of external board making is also creating its own sense of momentum as students present work for formative feedback/feedforward towards the next set of challenges in their critical and creative journey.

Our junior classes are also into full swing this semester, with the Y9s utilising a wider range of Art resources to create a collaborative work for the Junior Arts Festival.  Two of these classes will also be part of a co-teaching initiative, managed and taught by Danielle Teleiai and Ashley Heelam.  Both teachers had previously trialled co-teaching skills – however this is the first time that they have an opportunity to develop their strategies and the programme from start to finish throughout the term.

Except for last year, we have maintained a consistent presence at the international Design Conference ‘Semi Permanent’ for the past number of years.  Made possible by annual STAR funding, we have always viewed the conference as an important opportunity for our students to experience ‘real’ industry level speakers and workshops.  With ‘Semi Permanent’ being held later in the year and only in Wellington – Kirsty Britton-Taylor has been tirelessly organising the logistics of taking a small contingent of students.  Along with Alyssa Venning-Thomas – students will have a full day traveling, participating in the conference and viewing the Surrealist exhibition at Te Papa; all in one day!.

Last term y13 Art students with teachers Kirsty Britton-Taylor, Danielle Teleiai and Ashley Heelam visited local galleries Te Tuhi in Pakuranga to view the NZQA Top Art Exhibiton of 2020 folios and Pah Homestead to view paintings by Star Gossage: He tangata the people, Cathy Carter: Weird fishes photography and lithography by Anthony Davies: A passage of my mind. This is an annual trip that students look forward to as a way of extending their personal practice as they direct their own study in Art towards portfolio completion.

Y13 Art visits NZQA Top Art at Te Tuhi Gallery and Pah Homestead.

Congratulations goes to Isabelle Adamson and Oscar Maltby for receiving 2021 Pat Hanly Creativity Awards at Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tamaki on Thursday 24th June. Isabelle and Oscar received these awards alongside 67 students from 35 secondary schools in the Auckland region. ‘The awards acknowledge the constantly developing nature of what it is to be a young artist and creative in the 21st century’. The awards recognise secondary school students who display high levels of creativity in the visual arts.

Y13 artists Isabelle Adamson & Oscar Maltby receiving their Pat Hanly Creativity Awards 2021.

Ia Manuia      –     Lily Laita – HOD Art

SENIOR TALENT QUEST entry form is here

The Talent Quest will happen on the very last day of this term. House points are awarded for entering AND auditioning. Anything goes in terms of entry, get creative!  Lip Sync done really well is always well received.
Entries close at the end of next week – Friday 13th. Auditions will be in weeks 4 & 5.

Get talking and planning and entering. Any questions please ask Margaret Robertson robertsonm@wsc.school.nz

Chamber Group

In preparation for the KBB band and orchestra competitions Chamber Group invited Ashley Brown, cellist with NZ Trio, to come to listen and give some tips. Ashley is a WSC parent and had offered to help. We were very excited to take him up on this offer.  At an 8am rehearsal, Ashley gave detailed feedback and instantly effective advice to the Chamber Group.  He was very complimentary about the playing and the repertoire.

On the same day, as part of Peace Week, Chamber Group gave a lunchtime concert in KHCL on the terraces.  You’ll see from the photos that the Terraces works very well as a venue. The Music department has plans for some louder concerts in future lunchtimes.

And even more on the same day, after this concert the Chamber Group went over to TAPAC to experiment with having live chamber music accompanying live dance – watch this space.

‘The Dawns’

Here’s an update on performances and TV appearances, from the WSC members of ‘The Dawns’

This coming Monday (August 9) is the first episode of season 2 for the TV series Head High which we will be in for 11 seconds! We will later be on the show along with our song ‘Alibi’ on the 7th episode. Head High is on TV3

This Saturday (the 7th) we have two gigs in one night. We play at Cassette Nine from 8-8:30pm then go to the Raise Up finals at 9:15pm at tuning fork.

Around this time we’ll be releasing our new song – more details to come.

Mila & Georgia

KBB Anual Music Festival

On Tuesday the 10th of August, The Western Springs College Chamber Group is attending the annual KBB music festival held at St Mary’s Church in Parnell. This festival showcases secondary school orchestras, concert bands and jazz bands. Every year it welcomes thousands of young musicians from 50 schools around Auckland and beyond.

I feel that this is such a great opportunity to be able to promote and inspire growth for young people’s interest in music. It encourages performances from all groups as well as giving musicians the possibility to perform in a stunning venue with beautiful acoustics.

The Chamber Group gave an award-winning performance in the annual KBB Band and Orchestra on Tuesday 10 August and will receive their award at the KBB Gala Concert #1 on Saturday 14 August.

Veda Di Fulvio 

ĒNĀ KOUTOU WHĀNAU!

Wheeler’s Luck written by Nigel Collins, Toby leach & Damon Andrews is a rural comedy about a small coastal NZ town full of eccentric characters and authenticity.

A determined Auckland developer comes to Bell End in order to obtain a slice of coastal paradise connected to a piece of local history. very proud and quirky locals put up a fight to save their beloved landmark. Community

can not easily be stripped of its identity and traditions. Wheeler’s Luck is a genuine laugh and a highlight of the truly alive spirit of kiwi community.

Date: Thursday 12th August and Friday 13th August

Time: 3:30pm and again at 6pm

Where: TAPAC Theatre

Tickets available by koha on the door. Limited seats available. First in first served. 

 

Term two was completed by the year 12 class performance of – Zero for the young Dudes. This work Commissioned by The National Theatre (UK) Zero for the Young Dudes! was Alistair McDowall’s call to arms for the disenfranchised Gen Z. Set against a dystopian background, inmates of a bizarre summer camp plotted a revolution. Beneath the schedule of cross country runs, lessons and meals, a long history of unrest and injustice lies hidden.

  I have been so impressed with the hard work, tenacity and creativity of our young people. In a world that so often overlooks the voices of youth, our students have shown this term that they have a lot to say! This work represents their ability to work collaboratively, to problem solve and to make meaning from text – turning a play written for a youth company in London, into a story that could be at home here in Aotearoa. I’m proud to present my students work, and impressed with what they have accomplished for themselves.

 

 Kayleigh Haworth – Drama

 

 

 

 

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