Arts Department

Term One started with a flurry of activity showcasing all the fantastic opportunities for students to get involved in the Arts at St Hilda’s. Next term is shaping up to be an exciting one for the artswith many things on the horizon.

Our 2022 Arts Liaisons have been decided. Congratulations to Ella Hodgson (Orchestra), Summer Cooper (Kapa Haka), Heidi Platt (Painting), Lucie Holtz (Performing Arts), Chloe Wu (Music), Madi Kaan (Madrigali Rouge), Connie Bennington (Hip Hop), Lulu Grimmond (Dance), Anika Texley (Debating), Hannah Lawrence (Photography), and our Technicians Stella Bowles, Amelie Warlow, Imogen Irvine (Performing Arts) and Molly-Jo McKay (Art)

Next term I encourage you to be daring! Dare to have fun and take risks. Dare to write because you have something to say. Dare to present, because you deserve applause when you give ityour all. Dare to create, because you may discover a passion you didnt realise you had! - Helen Badcock

Shakespeare - Mrs Rachel McMillan

Two student directed Shakespeare performances graced the Kings/Queens Performing Arts stage (amongst an incredible great range of talented contributions from Otago schools). Many other regions went digital this year so we were grateful to perform live in front of our esteemed judges. Evie Rose Grace (playing Puck), won the Terry McTavish award for Best Stage Presence, and was runner up for direct entry to NSSP (where actors are selected to go to the Globe Theatre in London). 

Amelie Warlow directed Evie, and a colourful cast, in a captivating 15 minute scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream. Stella Bowles and Eliabel Legrand co-directed a fun 5 minute scene from Romeo and Juliet, where their cast created the atmosphere of a formal/social event that teenagers can relate to. 

The Shakespeare students were really inspired by watching Logan Park's performances and intend to continue their 'Shakespeare Club' on Friday lunchtimes this year. Other students who are interested in Shakespeare can pop along and see just how exciting 'The Bard' can be! 

Miss Geary has written the following articles about what has been going on in Hip Hop and Dance this term. 

Hip Hop: This term our Hip Hop dancers have been bubbling away, working on learning Hip Hop sets. These sets have been taught by a range of coaches from Year 11 - 13 (Emily Wright, Lindsay Black, Charlie Williams, Connie Bennington, Lucia Grimmond, Holly Davey, Poppy Johnston), and SHCS Alumni (Ella Smillie, Sophie Wispinski).

Students have been learning these Hip Hop dances in 'Zoom Hip Hop classes' so students can learn from home, even if isolating! Students can now use these gorgeous choreographies for Showquest which SHCS will compete in June this year! A super exciting opportunity for those students in a time with lots of cancellations and changes. Miss Geary, Mrs McMillan and Ms Badcock are super proud of the students for their resilience and willingness to be flexible, still showing lots of enthusiasm.

Dance: Dance has been challenging for students this term as they have had to adapt to dancing with masks on, distancing while in the classroom and, at times, dancing out in the sunshine! All dancers have learnt about culture and genre through embodying movement. 

Year 10 students have been working hard to learn a Rock 'n' Roll dance, performing it during class while wearing the traditional '50s' outfits of full skirts and bright colours. Students in year 11 have choreographed group dances according to the brief that 'students must use Yoga Asanas to inspire motifs'. Students also have learnt a "Fosse Jazz" dance for their performance portfolio and beautifully performed at Arts Assembly to the school. Students also demonstrated whakawhānaungatanga, belonging, within the classroom, teaching their own dances to each other in a style they grew up learning. 

Students in Year 12 and 13 have completed many choreographic and performance workshops using Tūrangawaewae to influence ideas. These ideas will be communicated through movement in large scale dance productions in Term 4, at our annual dance showcase. Students also have learnt 'Logo Te Pate', a Cook Island dance choreographed by Cadyne Geary and Pesamino Tili, exploring Cook Island and Samoan culture through embodied movement. Students performed this dance at Brighton Beach for their assessment, embodying the Cook Island culture, perhaps without the warmth of the pacific.