Dance

Dance

Dance is an important fine arts focus at Pine Crest. The dance program's philosophy is to provide the highest standards in technical and artistic training and to foster individual creativity. From Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 3, all of our youngest students take a general dance movement class, emphasizing coordination and movement to music. The program offers a beginning through intermediate level exploration of dance technique for dancers in Grades 4 - 8. Dance classes are designed to help students develop an awareness of proper body alignment, balance, and coordination. Older students may elect to take ballet as a class, and students may also choose to take ballet, tap, jazz, or pointe after school. Basic ballet positions, fundamental barre exercises, and center floor exercises are emphasized, and the ballet vocabulary is used for a thorough understanding of the terms and positions of the body. Additional forms of dance are studied, including jazz and modern, and students are introduced to the principles of choreography. Examples of performing opportunities include the annual full-length ballet on the Boca Raton campus, and in Fort Lauderdale, the Lower School Festival of the Arts and Dance Etc. The Upper School dance students perform a complete ballet each December holiday season.

Orchestra

Orchestra

The Orchestra program has its roots in the Lower School on the Boca Raton campus. This past year, strings classes were established on the Fort Lauderdale campus as well. Both programs grow through Middle School and merge into the Upper School Orchestra. All programs are open to any student who plays violin, viola, cello, or bass orchestral and chamber music. The Strings program looks at the literature with emphasis on the evolution of symphonic form and style, through the study of selected masterworks of the standard repertoire. The orchestra performs throughout the school for various school and community activities.

Chorus

Chorus

Pre-Primary and Lower School choral groups include the Cool Cats Chorus on the Boca Ration campus and the Mini-Singers and Cub Choir in Fort Lauderdale. The Cool Cats Chorus is made up of select singers from Grades 2 and 3. This group of talented young students performs several times a year, including school performances and local off-campus concerts, such as at the Kravis Center of the Performing Arts. They have also recorded their own CD. In Grades 6-8, chorus students learn singing techniques, performance skills, and the development of musical expression. They are exposed to a wide variety of repertoire, including classical, folk, jazz, pop, and Broadway music. Singers compete in the All-State program and perform at concerts throughout the school year. The Upper School Chorus is a 70 member group performing choral literature, sacred and secular, from the Renaissance to present. The chorus has been invited to Orlando each year to perform at the Walt Disney Candlelight Processional. They also compete with great success in the All-State Choral program.

Band

Band

Lower School Band begins in Grade 4, and the program grows in size and sophistication as the young musicians move into Middle School. A joint band concert and dinner for band members on both campuses has become a highlight each year. Over 120 students participate under the direction of a guest conductor. The concert is recorded live, and each student receives a CD of the performance. Band students also participate in state and regional musical competitions. The Upper School Concert Band brings musicians from both campuses together to learn and perform a wide range of sophisticated and entertaining music. A Pep Band also inspires school spirit at pep assemblies and football games in the fall.

Jazz Band

Jazz Band

Jazz Band begins at the Middle School level, and there are three bands on the two campuses. The objective of the program is to understand and play jazz by learning styles such as swing, blues, shuffle, Latin, and jazz rock. Students work on phrasing, articulation, and improvisation. The Upper School Jazz Band is open, through audition, to all upper school students. The Jazz Band meets every morning before first period. Their music pays homage to the major composers such as Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk, Stan Kenton, who gave the music synthesis and form. This year, the celebrated Jazz Ensemble produced its first school CD.

Theater

Theater

Theatre at Pine Crest offers a wide array of opportunities for the performing artist in every student. Research has shown that dramatic play has a strong impact on a child's cognitive and social development. From the PK show for grandparents to Lower School assemblies, curriculum-based theatrical performances, after school programs and holiday celebrations, young Pine Crest students learn poise and self-confidence as they take their place on the stage. Middle School theatre includes an original student-produced musical on the Fort Lauderdale campus and a full-length Broadway-style production in Boca Raton. Students in both programs learn all areas of production, such as costuming, scenic design, lighting, backstage management, and publicity. In the Upper School, theatre opportunities range from the introductory-level drama course to our new performance-intensive class offered as an elective. The students have the chance to learn, develop, and appreciate their talent and the talent of their fellow classmates. Combine this with exciting musicals, the dramatic Fall Play, and the student-directed Spring Scenes, and you can surely find the opportunity to applaud our outstanding theatre students.