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Visual & Performing Arts
DANCE
Current program: All 4th graders receive two weeks of dance instruction through an exciting program called “Music in Motion.” John Adams middle school has added a new dance class this year. Thanks to the For the Arts endowment, a dance specialist is now providing dance instruction at Santa Monica High School, Malibu High School, and Olympic High School. This funding is ongoing.Dance is also enriched through a partnership with the UCLA Arts Bridge program.Contra Tiempo dance classes information here...
There are two after-school SMC “dual enrollment” ethnic dance classes at Santa Monica High School.
MUSIC
District-wide 3rd grade General Music taught by credentialed teachers once a week for 40 minutes. District-wide Choir, Wind or Strings in grades 4 and 5, twice a week for 40 minutes with ongoing funding from the state Arts Initiative. More than 2,500 students are participating at the elementary level. Elective music classes are offered at all middle and high schools with over 2,500 students participating. The percentage of students participating in music district-wide is 48% – nearly half!The Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation, Gail Dorin Music Foundation, and the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation fund the Dream Strings and Dream Winds programs at the four Title I schools and at two middle schools to provide support for students who cannot afford additional instruction. The Ed Foundation also funds guitar classes at Olympic High School, music performances – In addition to winter and spring concerts at all school sites, the “Celebration For The Arts” Festival at Santa Monica Pier, and the “Stairway of the Stars” concerts at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, student groups performed this year in New York City (at Carnegie Hall), Italy, and Greece. In recent years, high school orchestras and choirs have toured Europe and China as well.
Honors – Large numbers of district music students were selected for honor choirs, string orchestras, orchestras, and bands by the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association; the Southern California Vocal Association; the California Orchestra Directors Association; and the California Association for Music Education. The Santa Monica high school Jazz Band placed first in the advanced division at the Western States Jazz Festival.
THEATRE
Drama classes are being offered at Malibu middle and high schools.At the elementary level, the Morgan-Wixson Theatre is continuing a partnership begun last year to provide opportunities for elementary students to attend theatre performances and improve their literacy skills. PS Arts, a private foundation, is providing K-5 theatre instruction at Edison Elementary School. In addition, a new partnership with the Santa Monica Playhouse and the city of Santa Monica allows students to attend curriculum-based performances at the playhouse and a tour of a working theatre.