ACTING ACADEMY
ACTING ACADEMY STAFF
VANESSA DEIN Vanessa studied a Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Arts (Major in Dance, minor in Theatre Studies) at UNSW from 2003-2006. Vanessa went on to teach Drama and Dance overseas in America at Frenchwoods Summer Camp for the Performing Arts in 2007, and later in London in 2009, as well as various schools in Sydney over the past 10 years. Vanessa originally from Sydney, has directed and choreographed numerous musicals over the past 5 years including Grease, Hairspray, West Side Story and; Beauty and the Beast. Vanessa recently joined the team at Hillcrest as the Dance teacher for semester one of 2017, and is excited to continue her Hillcrest journey, teaching for the Acting Academy from the start of Term 3.
LUCY MARTIN
Dip MT, Dip Perf, Dip Speech, Drama & Dance Teaching and Management Mrs Martin has been a Dance, Drama and Acting teacher for close to eight years and has studied many areas in the Performing Arts industry over that time. With a passion for educating and encouraging kids within the industry – she believes in building their confidence, teaching skill & doing so in a safe & welcoming environment. She holds Diplomas in Musical Theatre, Performance, Speech & Drama and Dance Teaching and Management. Also completing a Diploma in Performance, Lucy passed her teacher’s exam with one of the highest marks in her region at 97%. And found her love for teaching. Over the course of her teaching career she has gained experience in performance including musicals, plays, regional & national competitions, international auditions for theme parks/commercials and more. Lucy was also blessed to receive a 1 out of 9 (in Australia) invitation and completed two years of fulltime preprofessional ballet training at a high end training facility on the Gold Coast. She has choreographed multiple school musicals, and worked with children with speech problems using the aid of the speech and drama communications syllabus.
“To me, teaching kids to love what they do, and do it well, is what it’s all about! My focus is for students to always leave my classroom feeling confident, motivated, supported & proud of the work they have put in. Helping them develop the tools they need to build on their gifts they’ve already been given and help step them into their very bright future!”
SPEECH & DRAMA TUTORS Ms Vanessa Dein Mrs Lucy Martin Mrs Jan Boniwell
HILLCREST CHRISTIAN COLLEGE ACTING ACADEMY 2017 Hillcrest is embarking on a dramatic new journey in the Arts in 2017. The Hillcrest Acting Academy will provide experiences in Drama which are concurrent with the industry; resulting in real performance situations, on the stage, and in front of the camera. We have employed one of the industry’s best teachers to run this program in 2017, Ms Holly Judd. Through this program students are taught skills in Acting for the Stage and Screen as well as Speech and Drama, and are better equipped to use their bodies (their ‘instrument’) to communicate confidently and truthfully. These classes can be used as preparation for: festivals, eisteddfods and AMEB examinations; auditions for College productions and musicals; auditions for television and film; drama as a subject in the Senior Learning Community, auditions for university entry for courses in Drama, Acting and Fine Arts.
ACTING ACADEMY (P-12) We anticipate running a minimum of six classes in the Acting Academy, however if enrolments increase we will provide more services. JUNIOR LEARNING COMMUNITY Prep – Tuesdays 3.00-4.00pm, Year 6 Precinct Year 1 & 2 - Tuesdays 1.00-2.00pm, MPH Dance Studio Year 3 – Wednesdays 1.00-2.00pm, MPH Dance Studio Year 4 – Thursdays 3.00-4.00pm, Year 6 Precinct Years 5-6 – Thursdays 4.00-5.00pm, Year 6 Precinct SENIOR LEARNING COMMUNITY Years 7-8 – Wednesdays 3.00-4.00pm, Year 6 Precinct Years 9-12 – Thursdays 4.00-5.30pm, SLC Drama Studio Class sizes: Class sizes are limited to a maximum of 12 students. GENERAL FOCUS FOR ALL SIX CLASSES Using their bodies as instruments, students are taught how to: • Engage their imaginations as performers. • Develop authentic, convincing characters who remain connected to their audience, through their use of body and voice, both individually and as an ensemble. FOCUS FOR JLC CLASSES 1, 2 AND 3 Each term includes skills, application and production: Skills: Improvisation; acting; script work; mime Application: Acting for the stage; acting for the camera; dramatised prose or verse; script work; devising a mime Production: End of term presentations FOCUS FOR SLC CLASSES: 4, 5 AND 6 Each term includes skills, application and production: Skills: Improvisation; acting; script interpretation and directing; script writing and devising; auditions Application: Acting for the stage; acting for the camera; working from page to stage: acting and directing; writing or devising an original work; preparation for internal or external auditions. Production: End of term presentations; 1-act plays for Gold Coast Secondary Schools Drama Festival, and Hillcrest Christian College Act 1 (see dates below) Gold Coast Secondary Schools’ Drama Festival Held at various schools and colleges across the Gold Coast. Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6pm, over three weeks in 2017: August 3, 4, 5 – Juniors (Yrs 7 and 8) (Hillcrest hosting) August 10, 11, 12 – Seniors (Yrs 11 and 12) August 17, 18, 19 – Intermediates (Yrs 9 and 10) Hillcrest Christian College Act 1 Plays (Presentation of the Junior, Intermediate and Senior one-act play) Held at the Hillcrest Christian College Theatre Wednesday 9 August 2017 COSTS Costs for all classes is $10 per session with eight sessions per term, payable a term in advance ($80)
SPEECH AND DRAMA (YEARS P – 12) Classes can be individual or small group lessons, available for all year levels. The program is designed to build confidence and to suit the student’s specific needs, talent and interest. All Junior Learning Community Speech and Drama students are encouraged to participate in the Somerset Festival for Young Performers in individual, pairs or small group sections. All students also have the opportunity to participate in the Murwillumbah Festival of Performing Arts and the Gold Coast Eisteddfod. Students who complete AMEB examinations in Voice and Communication or Drama and Performance in Fifth Grade or above while in Years 11 or 12, are able to have their results on their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). COSTS Private - $34.50 per 30 minute lesson – 8 lessons per term - $276 per term Paired - $20 per 30 minute lesson – 8 lessons per term - $160 Group (3-4 students) - $12 per 30 minute session – 8 lessons per term - $96
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
Students must comply with all College values and policies at all times. Parents will be advised if there are any concerns, either by the Tutor or the Administrator.
ATTENDANCE
Please make contact with the respective administrator via email to give notification of a student’s absence. Please note there are no make-up lessons for lessons missed.