WAB Learns: DP: The Arts

The Arts information

The IB DP dance course takes a holistic approach to dance, and embrac-
es a variety of dance traditions and dance cultures—past, present and
looking towards the future. Performance, creative and analytical skills are
mutually developed and valued whether the students are writing papers
or creating/performing dances. The curriculum provides students with
a liberal arts orientation to dance. This orientation facilitates the devel-
opment of students who may become choreographers, dance scholars,
performers or those, more broadly, who seek life enrichment through
dance.
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In addition, the course enables students to:
• understand dance as a set of practices with their own histories and
theories, and to understand that these practices integrate physical,
intellectual and emotional knowledge
• experience dance as an individual and collective exploration of the
expressive possibilities of bodily movement
• understand and appreciate mastery in various dance styles, tradi-
tions and cultures familiar and unfamiliar
• recognize and use dance to create dialogue among the various tra-
ditions and cultures in their school environment, their society and
the world at large.

The DP film course aims to develop students as proficient interpreters and makers of film texts. Through the study and analysis of film texts, and practical exercises in film production, students develop critical abilities
and appreciation of artistic, cultural, historical and global perspectives in film. They examine concepts, theories, practices and ideas from multiple perspectives, challenging their own views to understand and value those of others. Students are challenged to acquire and develop critical thinking, reflective analysis and the imaginative synthesis through practical engagement in the art, craft and study of film.
Students experiment with film and multimedia technology, acquiring the skills and creative competencies required to successfully communicate through the language of the medium. They develop an artistic
voice and learn how to express personal perspectives through film. The course emphasizes the importance of working collaboratively, international and intercultural dynamics, and an appreciation of the development of film across time and culture.
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The film syllabus allows for greater breadth and depth in teaching and learning at HL through an additional assessment task, requiring HL students to reflect on the core syllabus areas to formulate their own intentions for a completed film. They work collaboratively as a core production team in order to effectively communicate on screen.
The aims of the Film course are to enable students to:
• explore the various contexts of film and make links to, and between, films, filmmakers and filmmaking techniques (inquiry)
• acquire and apply skills as discerning interpreters of film and as creators of film, working both individually and collaboratively
(action)

The IB Diploma Programme theatre course is a multifaceted theatre-making course. It gives students the opportunity to make theatre as creators, designers, directors and performers. It emphasizes the importance of working both individually and as part of an ensemble. It offers the opportunity to engage actively in the creative process of inquiring, developing, presenting and evaluating. Students are encouraged to work as inquisitive and imaginative artists, transforming ideas into action and communicating these to an audience.
Theatre students learn to apply research and theory to inform and contextualize their work as they experience the course through practical and physical engagement. They understand that knowledge resides in the body and that research can be conducted physically through both action and practice.
In this respect, the theatre course encourages students to appreciate that through the processes of researching, creating, preparing, presenting and critically reflecting on theatre—as participants and spectators—they gain a richer understanding of themselves, their community and the world.
Through the study of theatre, students strengthen their awareness of their own personal and cultural perspectives, developing an appreciation of the diversity of theatre practices, their processes and their modes of presentation. This enables students to discover and engage with different forms of theatre across time, place and culture and promotes international-mindedness. Participation in the DP theatre course results in the development of both theatre and life skills; the building of confidence, imagination,creativity and a collaborative mindset.
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The aims of the DP arts subjects (dance, film, music, theatre, visual arts and literature and performance) are
to enable students to:
1. explore the diversity of the arts across time, cultures and contexts
2. develop as imaginative and skilled creators and collaborators
3. express ideas creatively and with competence in forms appropriate to the artistic discipline
4. critically reflect on the process of creating and experiencing the arts
5. develop as informed, perceptive and analytical practitioners
6. enjoy lifelong engagement with the arts.
In addition, the aims of the theatre course at SL and HL are to enable students to:
7. inquire into theatre and its contexts
8. develop and practically apply theatre performance and production skills and elements, led by
intentions
9. create, present and evaluate theatre work both independently and collaboratively
10. acquire the perspectives and intentions of an internationally-minded theatre-maker
11. understand, appreciate and explore the relationship between theory and performance (HL only).

The Diploma Programme Music course (for first teaching from 2020) has been designed to prepare the 21st century music student for a world in which global musical cultures and industries are
rapidly changing.
The course is grounded in the knowledge, skills and processes
associated with the study of music and offers a strengthened approach
to student creativity through practical, informed and purposeful
explorations of diverse musical forms, practices and contexts. Thebcourse also ensures a holistic approach to learning, with the roles of performer, creator and researcher afforded equal importance in all course components.
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The aims of the music course are to enable students to:
explore a range of musical contexts and make links to, and between,different musical practices, conventions and forms of expression
acquire, develop and experiment with musical competencies through a range of musical practices, conventions and forms of expression, both individually and in collaboration with others
evaluate and develop critical perspectives on their own music and
the work of others.
Alignment with DP arts courses
The curriculum moves into alignment with other DP arts courses, through the clear articulation of the balance between the theoretical and practical disciplines of music. A new set of assessment tasks that link directly to the processes and roles experienced in the curriculum have been developed. These robust tasks address the concept of holistic musical development by removing optionality (and thereby the possibility to specialize in one skill at the expense of others) and incorporating practical music-making into all tasks. Assessment tasks are now presented as coursework, balanced between internal and external assessment. There are three common components at SL and HL, with a discrete HL extension component which invites students to work within the parameters of real-life music industry practices.
Engagement with diverse musical material
The new course seeks to be inclusive of students with wide-ranging personal and cultural musical backgrounds. In place of prescribed musical content, students and teachers in the new course have the agency to personalise unique approaches to musical forms, genres and pieces. The exploration of diverse musical material is focused through the lenses of four areas of inquiry.
Music for sociocultural and political expression
Music for listening and performance,
Music for dramatic impact, movement and entertainment
Music technology in the electronic and digital age.

The IB Diploma Programme visual arts course encourages students to challenge their own creative and cultural expectations and boundaries.
It is a thought-provoking course in which students develop analytical skills in problem-solving and divergent thinking, while working towards technical proficiency and confidence as art-makers. In addition to exploring and comparing visual arts from different perspectives and in different contexts, students are expected to engage in, experiment with and critically reflect upon a wide range of contemporary practices and
media. The course is designed for students who want to go on to study visual arts in higher education as well as for those who are seeking lifelong enrichment through visual arts.
The role of visual arts teachers should be to actively and carefully organize learning experiences for the students, directing their study to enable them to reach their potential and satisfy the demands of the course. Students should be empowered to become autonomous,informed and skilled visual artists.
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The aims of the arts subjects are to enable students to:
1. enjoy lifelong engagement with the arts
2. become informed, reflective and critical practitioners in the arts
3. understand the dynamic and changing nature of the arts
4. explore and value the diversity of the arts across time, place and
cultures
5. express ideas with confidence and competence
6. develop perceptual and analytical skills.
In addition, the aims of the visual arts course at SL and HL are to enable
students to:
7. make artwork that is influenced by personal and cultural contexts
8. become informed and critical observers and makers of visual
culture and media
9. develop skills, techniques and processes in order to communicate
concepts and ideas.