It was standing room only at the inaugural Ravenswood Heights Primary School art showcase.
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The showcase was part of a big learning curb for students, who began undertaking the arts as a compulsory curriculum elective for the first time, arts coordinator Sally Hulse said.
For about two terms, the whole school, about 320 students, prepared visual arts, dance, music and drama items for the showcase.
Mrs Hulse said “it was an amazing opportunity for them [the students] to express themselves in a different way to how they normally express themselves in a classroom”.
“It was a bit of a challenge in the beginning because they weren’t used to the idea of being performance ready and having to practice and really refine their ideas.”
The changes had been a “great learning curb” for the students and the program was now “essential”, she said.
“For most of these children, they don’t do a lot of extra curricular activities involved in the arts, so this is the first time they’ve had exposure to music tuition, to dance tuition, which is really mind-blowing for them,” Mrs Hulse said.
School assistant support teacher Fran Smyth said about hundred chairs, which had been set aside for family members and friends, were full and people were also standing during the Wednesday afternoon showcase.
“With most primary schools, the art programs run within classrooms. We have extended that so through that we can offer dance, music, visual arts and drama programs,” Ms Smyth said.
“We feel the arts should take a prominent role so these kids can express their understanding of all curriculum.”