Entertainment & Performing Arts

Pathways

Entertainment & Performing Arts

Living for Lights, Camera, Action takes skill and stamina, whether a person is in or behind the spotlight. From talent agents to singer-songwriters, it’s equal parts show and business. It may be more about the art than it is about the money in the beginning, but everyone is waiting for that big break—whether it’s a dream role or client. The true talent comes from those who can keep the momentum going until the final curtain call.

For students interested in pursuing a career in Entertainment & Performing Arts, we recommend the following core courses in conjunction with Laurel Springs School graduation requirements: African American History, AP English Language & Composition, AP English Literature & Composition, AP European History, AP Psychology, Drama Literature, Economics, Philosophy & Ethics, Psychology, Shakespearean Literature, Sociology, and World Cultures.

American Music Appreciation

In American Music Appreciation, students navigate a unique combination of culture and creativity that spawned jazz, rock and roll, and hip hop. From early church music to 21st century pop, students gain an understanding of the key developments, people, and genres in American music.

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Arts & Society 1: 4000 BCE – 1750 CE

The arts are the result of the people and cultures that create them. Arts and Society I takes the student on a chronological walk through history, stopping along the way at a variety of historical, political, cultural, and artistic key moments. From 4000 BCE to 1750 CE, the student analyzes the relationship between the societal culture and the arts being produced.

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Arts & Society 2: 1751 – Present

How do the people and the cultures of society affect the art around them? Students in Arts and Society II step into history and explore key moments from 1751 to the present in politics, culture, and art. Arts and Society enhances students’ global awareness as they learn to interpret these significant events and their impact on the arts.

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Business Information Management 1A

Build your career skills and strengthen your knowledge of business information management by exploring types of businesses and the elements of business planning. Learn about the initial requirements to start a business, then examine business finances, marketing, sales, and the importance of customer service. Computer hardware, networks, and the internet are discussed as well as the basics of web design. Lastly, you will explore ethics and business law, giving you an opportunity to discover your passion for business!

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Business Information Management 1B

Building on the prior prerequisite course, you will become more familiar with the application of information management in business. You will learn about professional conduct, team work, and managerial skills while also examining careers in business technology. The basics of word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and presentation software are explored while you become comfortable operating each of these programs. Finally, the future of business technology is discussed, providing you a foundation in business information management.

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Choreography and Choreographers

Choreographers shape the dances we see. Students in Choreography and Choreographers gain insight into the creative processes and trace the work of influential choreographers from the 16th century to the present.

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Classical Music Appreciation

Students in Classical Music Appreciation gain an understanding of the structure of conventional music that follows long-established principles, as compared to other genres like folk and jazz. By studying composers and the society that shaped them, students gain an appreciation for the classical music form.

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Creative Writing

For many hundreds of years, literature has been one of the most important human art forms. It allows us to give voice to our emotions, create imaginary worlds, express ideas, and escape the confines of material reality. Through creative writing, we can come to understand ourselves and our world a little bit better. This course provides students with a solid grounding in the writing process, from finding inspiration to building a basic story to using complicated literary techniques and creating strange hybrid forms of poetic prose and prose poetry. By the end of this course, students will learn how to discover their creative thoughts and turn those ideas into fully realized pieces of creative writing.

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Dance Around the World

Throughout human history, different dance forms have evolved in every civilization. Students in Dance Around the World explore dance as a ritual and performed art from the primitive ages through modern day. Historic and cultural perspectives are examined to study those influences on the work of choreographers and dancers.

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Dance in America

The history of American dance is complex and rich with innovation. Dance in America takes the student on a journey through the social and political climates that fostered its development. From early ballet companies to Broadway and music videos, numerous choreographers, artists and dancers have contributed to the evolution of American dance.

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Entrepreneurship: Starting Your Business

Do you dream of owning your own business? Get a head start in learning about what you’ll need to own and operate a successful business. Learn how to create a business plan, finance a business, and price products and services.

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Explorations in Arts Careers

For every Broadway dancer, every television star, and every pop singer, there are countless people behind the scenes helping to make it happen. Explorations in Arts Careers introduces students to the skills that are part of many fascinating careers in the arts. Studying the arts creates independent and innovative thinkers and many doors are open to an artist with the proper training.

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Explorations in Dance 1

Grace, beauty, and the pursuit of excellence are hallmarks of ballet and modern dance. In Explorations in Dance I, students study the foundations of ballet — from clothing and training to rehearsal and performance — and the evolution of modern dance. Students virtually meet various artists on stage and behind the scenes who help to create the magic of these two styles of dance.

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Explorations in Dance 2

The bright lights of Broadway have showcased many talents. Students in Explorations in Dance II are introduced to the basics of jazz and tap, the audition process, roles of agents and unions, and explore some of the most exciting Broadway shows.

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Explorations in Music 1

In this introduction to music theory, terminology, and notation, students analyze the ways music is connected to other disciplines and industries. The focus is put on an understanding of music and different instrument families.

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Explorations in Music 2

Explore the musical identities of various cultures and countries around the world. Identify the different genres, instruments, and styles throughout the world of music.

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Explorations in Theatre 1

It takes many people to make a play come to life. Explorations in Theatre I lets the student step into the shoes of the actor, director, and playwright and follow them through the process of getting the play from paper to the stage.

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Explorations in Theatre 2

Behind the actors on stage are those helping to make it all happen. Students in Explorations in Theatre II build their vocabulary of crew members and equipment at work behind the scenes. Understanding the business aspects of producing a performance and the artistic considerations in technical production enhances the appreciation for the art.

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History of Theatre 1: 524 BCE–1650 CE

Humans have been performing since the first story was ever told. Students in History of Theatre I gain an appreciation of the ancient literature, architecture, acting styles, and artists that were major influences in early theatre. From ancient times to 1650, students learn how theatre and society have influenced each other to engage and entertain.

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History of Theatre 2: 1651–Present

From a stage in a barn to the lights of Broadway, theatre has a vibrant history. In History of Theatre II, students study the technology, artists, literature, and architecture from 1651 to present. Key points in the development of theatre and the playwrights and producers behind the scenes enrich the appreciation for modern theatre.

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Introduction to Dance

What inspires choreographers and dancers? Students in Introduction to Dance study the main elements of dance — including space, time, and energy. They explore how a choreographer uses these elements to create artistic pieces and how dancers respond with their own creativity.

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Music Appreciation

This course provides students with an aesthetic and historical perspective of music, covering a variety of styles and developments from the Middle Ages through the Twentieth First Century. Students acquire basic knowledge and listening skills, building a greater appreciation of music in everyday lives.

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Music Around the World

There is a vibrant chord of music that rings through every culture. Students in Music Around the World explore the sounds of Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. They study the impact a country’s history and societal values have on the music of that nation.

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Music Theory 1

For any avid music listener or future musician, Music Theory I introduces students to the beautiful language of music. They start with the musical “alphabet”, or notation, to strengthen skills in reading music. Then they move on to the structure of pitch, rhythm, harmony, scales, keys, and chords.

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Music Theory 2

Elevate music comprehension by understanding the concepts and rules. Music Theory II is both theoretical and practical, encompassing advanced harmonic and rhythmic structures, instrumentations, and key changes. Through sight and sound, students deepen their appreciation of music with a grasp of music theory.

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Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance 1A

Gain fundamental knowledge that will help you pursue a career in business! You will explore the different types of businesses and ownership forms, the impact of governments on business, and the marketing of gods and services. You will also engage with the principles of globalization, free trade, and various economic systems. Finally, the impact of technology on business, business ethics, and social responsibility are discussed, providing you with a foundational knowledge of business.

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Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance 1B

Building on the prior prerequisite course, you will expand your knowledge of the basics to explore advanced topics, such as marketing strategy, banking, and investments. Finally, examine employability skills and careers in business, finance, and marketing as well as various entrepreneurship opportunities.

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Public Speaking

Examine the foundations of public speaking through Aristotle and Cicero’s views of rhetoric, then traces those foundations into the modern world. Learn theory as well as the practice of effective public speaking, including how to analyze the speeches of others, build a strong argument, and speak with confidence and flair.

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Sports & Entertainment Marketing

Explore basic marketing principles and delve deeper into the multi-billion dollar sports and entertainment marketing industry. Learn how professional athletes, sports teams, and well-known entertainers are marketed as commodities and how some of them become billionaires as a result.

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The Lord of the Rings: An Exploration of the Films & Their Literary Influences

For years, the vivid characters within J.R.R. Tolkien’s famously epic tale, The Lord of the Rings could only exist in the reader’s mind—until it was adapted into a movie, then fans were immersed into Middle Earth through the magic of Hollywood. In this course, students see first-hand how classic literature transforms into modern film and brings the fantasy alive for a whole new generation of believers.

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Theater, Cinema & Film Production

This course introduces the basics of film and theater productions including lighting, sound, wardrobe, and camerawork. Students explore the history of the industry and its influence on society as well as analyze and critique three influential American films: Casablanca, Singin’ in the Rain, and The Wizard of Oz.

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Theatre Around the World

If all the world’s a stage, then Theatre Around the World is an adventure. Students virtually travel through different countries to study the similarities and differences of theatre in each culture. From ancient Indian Sanskrit theatre to famous African playwrights, students learn how theatrical expression can unite people across the globe.

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