Creative Arts

Art, Dance, Drama and Music

The creative arts are integral to fostering innovation and imagination. These disciplines

nurture lifelong skills that enhance students’ perception, understanding, productivity, and

overall well-being, complementing their traditional academic pursuits.

Art

The walls at Aldenham are covered in artwork of an outstanding standard. Creativity abounds and students are encouraged to nurture existing skills and new ones. A well resourced department with specialist teaching enables students to really excel. In addition to GCSE and A Level options, many competitions take place and students take part in recreational art too.

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Dance

Dance is taken seriously, but is also a huge amount of fun. Girls and boys are encouraged to take part in the annual Dance Show (a real spectacle and eagerly anticipated as a highlight of the School Year), and dance often features heavily in whole school productions. There is also the option to study GCSE when demand is sufficient, which is often the case.

Students benefit from the ability to express themselves and their individuality, but also to work in a group, playing their part to enhance the whole. Confidence is built and enthusiasm and enjoyment permeate participants and audience members alike.

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Drama

Drama at Aldenham is really strong, delivering productions which are just fantastic! Students who are committed to the stage will benefit from being in a school with other like-minded young people, supported by experienced, enthusiastic staff and excellent facilities.

All students have the opportunity to audition for a major production specifically targeted to their age group so that large roles are not just for the older students. Additionally there are two keenly contended House Drama competitions each year. For those students who opt into Drama GCSE and A level there are also examination performances. Being involved in a production gives confidence-building skills and a sense of achievement within a creative team context.

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Music

At Aldenham we offer music students the chance to work in a beautiful converted chapel with amazing facilities spread over three floors with practice rooms, group room, well equipped soundproof studio, three classrooms, and a 90 seat recital room with foyer area and balcony overlooking the beautiful school grounds.

There are 20 music staff teaching strings, woodwind, brass and percussion (including drum kit), piano, saxophone, pop, classical and musical theatre singing, electric, acoustic and bass guitar. This is a vibrant and enthusiastic environment with opportunities to conduct a 100 strong choir in front of an audience of 1200 in the House Music Competition, play a solo in the Spring Concert, sing in the Carol Service at St. Albans Abbey or perform with peers and staff at ‘Ald Fest’ in the summer.

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Also in Creative Arts News

Co-curricular 2015-The-Great-Gatsby (1)
NOV 27, 2015

Senior Show – The Great Gatsby plays to full houses

“Overall, the performance of The Great Gatsby was sensational”, said Year 13 student Grace Petrie. “The fantastic acting combined with some 1920s dancing created a brilliant party atmosphere. Harry Taylor (Nick) communicated the story flawlessly and had every audience member hanging on every word he said, whilst Azaan Iqbal as Jay Gatsby himself created tense […]

READ MORE Senior Show – The Great Gatsby plays to full houses
Drama 2015-Martineaus-Drama
OCT 13, 2015

Martineau’s House Drama, another winner

The boys and girls in Year 7 and 8 spent a fun day, working together as a team to create a short drama piece based on the Greek myth titles that they had been given three days earlier. Sourcing appropriate costumes and props was just part of the challenge as they rehearsed their plays with […]

READ MORE Martineau’s House Drama, another winner
Drama 2015-Frederick-Neilson-as-young-Richard-1
SEP 27, 2015

Young Actor in the Making

Year 9 pupil Frederick Neilson has a great love of the theatre and everything about it; one of the reasons he joined Aldenham was because of our strong drama department explained his mother. Fred’s first professional job was in a UK tour of A Christmas Carol performing all over the country, from there he went […]

READ MORE Young Actor in the Making