Performing Arts

The performing arts programme at Claremont is an important tool for developing our students’ confidence, self expression and helping them develop an enquiring mind – all skills which are considered highly important for university, apprenticeship courses and future careers.

Comprising, drama, dance and music, in a unique collaboration, our performing arts department offers a creative and dynamic style of teaching which was recognised in 2021 when Claremont won the prestigious Independent School of the Year for the Performing Arts award.

Contact our Admissions Team to find out more

DRAMA

The drama studio is a learning environment where every student has worth, every idea a possibility and where it is accepted that others’ opinions of us don’t have to become our reality. Some students can only be the very best version of themselves when they give themselves over to a learning environment where anything goes…and in the theatre it certainly does! It’s a special place where students can’t help but develop life skills that will endure. It’s also a nice place to dress up and pretend to be someone else!

DANCE

Our students have a genuine passion for Dance and as such are inspired and empowered to create their own devised pieces throughout their time with us at Claremont. They are able to meet and work with industry professionals, share their work with live audiences and experiment with new styles and genres. It is a vibrant area of our performing arts offering that really allows our students to branch out into new areas where they are able to showcase their strengths.

MUSIC

Music Technology is an increasingly popular subject area where student learn recording techniques, audio editing and effects, computer composition, sample synthesis as well as the history of music technology itself.  Students have the opportunity to put their skills to work in collaborative cross-curricular projects such as the Claremont Extra Podcast

Music is especially important to me. It is a career path I would like to follow so I find the experience and skills we learn in Music particularly helpful

Claremont Extra was an idea born out of the confines of lockdown when Drama and Music students started to work with the original and powerful creative medium of Radio in order to share the plays that they had been devising and rehearsing with an audience.  Claremont Extra’s main feature is the student-produced radio drama ‘Holly Avenue’, which is scripted, voice-acted and edited by the students.

Claremont Drama and Music students worked together on their entry for the first ISP International short film festival in 2021 alongside 32 other ISP schools across the world.   The film featured, scooped the Best Production Design Award’.  It was a huge challenge for a small group to learn, plan and deliver a production (especially under COVID conditions), but they combined their strengths in script writing, performance art and media tech know-how, to create ‘BETCHA’.  It also featured the work of music students who created a new arrangement based on Chicago’s Cell Block Tango.

Our facilities at Claremont are truly outstanding and create wonderfully vibrant learning spaces for our students to practise their crafts.  These include a state of the art Dance Studio with specialist sprung floor and soundproof ceiling, purpose-built 220 seat theatre, both housed in a Performing Arts Centre with a modern and spacious wing dedicated to Music.  With such a highly experienced creative teaching team, Drama, Dance and Music are also popular recreational pursuits, which students access through our unique Co-Curricular programme.

Drama has really helped me with speaking to people not just inside school but it has boosted my confidence talking to people outside of school and especially when meeting new people