It has been a wonderful start to the year for our Creative Arts Excellence students and teachers!

Here is a snapshot of what we’ve been up to…

For Year 9 and 10 Drama Excellence Junior Drama Club, our first cluster was such a treat! We engaged in some drama immersive activities focussing on improvisation techniques, then went on a mindfulness walk, followed by a visualization “forest walk” relaxation exercise to still and focus our creative minds. We completed the day with a workshop on improvisational techniques and skills and performed our group scenes in front of the class. Overall, the day was a huge success. We have many more fantastic opportunities for these students coming up including trips to the theatre and workshops on physicalising character.

It has been an incredibly busy term with the Senior CAX Drama Excellence program engaging in many internal and external ventures. Earlier this term the 11 and 12 Drama Excellence class travelled to Brisbane Metro Arts Centre to view an exciting new play 'Rising'. Chaperoned by Mr Sarasola and Ms McGlynn, the students had the chance to watch an exciting debut theatre piece and dip their toes into the contemporary theatre scene once more! Internally, students have been working to produce physical theatre works, with auditions for the 2021 Drama Festival well underway.

The first cluster day saw a variety of students from the Visual Arts Excellence program from Years 8 through to 12 engage in a range of drawing workshops. We began with a 2 hour life drawing workshop where students were guided through the process of drawing a life model, learning how to be free and observant with their drawing while experimenting with different materials. We finished the day with a 2 hour session that allowed the students to transform their life drawings into a large mixed media artwork. All students were wonderfully engaged in the workshops and the level of skill was outstanding. 

Dance Excellence students have had many enriching opportunities throughout Term 1 including workshops with guest choreographers and PBC’s first cluster day. Students in Years 8, 9 and 11/12 Dance Excellence have had the honour of working with the very talented dancer/choreographer Kira Stray. Meanwhile, students in Year 7 have had the dedicated PBC alumni Mackenzie Jade choreographing their Eisteddfod routine. Year 10’s were the last group to get started on their routine, but were lucky to have the much-loved Heidi Jennings as their guest teacher. Furthermore, successful auditionees spent a whole day on Sunday 7 March learning a new hip-hop routine with Nick Robertson and Kira Stray. This is PBC’s first hip-hop super team and students are very excited to be involved. Many students also participated in the dance specific cluster day focused on fitness. Dancers started their day at Palm Beach Parklands where they participated in fun beach games and interval training on the sand. Students had a picnic lunch and then walked over to the Palm Beach Aquatic Centre. The lucky groups rotated through 3 x 45-minute classes included Deep Water Running, Spin and HIIT. The day concluded with a refreshing swim and free time in the pool (well-deserved after a hot and tiring day in the sun).

We are so excited for The Working Musicians Program to be running again at PBC this year. Music Excellence students have been working hard on their auditions and re-entry to the program, preparing for intensive workshops to begin next term. This is a fantastic opportunity for excelling music students to be part of, which aims at empowering and equipping young artists, so that they are able to make their start in the music industry as thriving, independent artists. With a wide range of professional experiences planned for this year, students will be provided with real world knowledge as they write, record, release and perform their original music. We invite you to stay tuned for the announcement of another very special ‘Gig Night 2021’, to be held in a professional music venue, where students will showcase their stage craft and artistry at the end of the year.

For our first GC5 cluster day, Music Excellence students were fortunate enough to be visited by award winning local musician Karl S. Williams. His intimate performance of blues and folk was followed by a question and answer session. Students had the opportunity to quiz Karl on all aspects of the music industry including performing, songwriting and the creative process. Some students then showcased their own original compositions and Karl provided some insights into their performances. For our next cluster day, we will venture up to the Queensland Conservatorium of Music at South Bank. This will give students an insight into tertiary level music study and the opportunities available at the Conservatorium. The visit will include a tour of the facilities, an information session and live performances by Conservatorium students.

Dani McGlynn
HOD The Arts, Creative Arts Excellence Coordinator