OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE AND ONTO THE STAGE

OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE

AND ONTO THE STAGE

The house lights fade, and excited giggles and nervous chatter give way to silence.

Bodies hurriedly find their place in the darkness.

A deep breath as another moment passes by.

The performers’ sudden burst of adrenaline is almost as loud as the explosion to their senses when the curtain opens and overhead lights illuminate the stage. Hundreds of glistening eyes are staring back at them.

It is showtime.

Moments like these are why our performing arts students rehearse and train for months. They might be one of the first forays into a lifetime of artistic pursuits or might solely boost fundamental skills that help them throughout their chosen careers. We profile three current students to discover their experiences with the performing arts at Mulgrave:

GARRETT DAI, GRADE 12

Performing arts allows me to explore different facets of my personality that are otherwise suppressed. I find that performing creates a safe get-away from the dualling pressures of the IB Diploma Programme and high-level athletics. The productions and my two years in IB Theatre helped me understand that as art imitates life, theatre imitates sport.

I have learned through first-hand experience and by watching my peers push boundaries. Some of my fondest memories are from when things did not go as planned. Although this sounds odd, it reinforces the familial bond that I have with my cohort.

“The plan doesn’t always go as you hope. Learn to adapt and improvise on the fly.”

AVA ASHNAI, GRADE 10

The music programme at Mulgrave allows me to find new ways to creatively express myself and bring novel concepts to other areas of my academic life. Even during the most challenging times, music is a safe place for me to relax and be myself. Bringing the IB mindset to music has allowed me to explore what interests me the most. This year, for example, my studies have focused on music theory to understand the choices that artists make when composing music.

“The community support is integral to the arts at Mulgrave. No matter what, the applause is raucous.”

KATHERINE BRAND, GRADE 10

Despite being in band since Grade 5, I struggled to muster the confidence to put myself forward to perform in front of others. In Grade 9, I made the active choice to face my fears. The fun performing arts environment provided me with a springboard to get involved with the Grade 10 play.

I also had the opportunity to work behind the scenes, which arguably has provided me with my favourite moments so far. There are many ways to test my creativity, such as scriptwriting, directing, and costume design, all within a like-minded community of enthusiastic people.

“Taking a leap of faith might set you on your path to what you love to do.”