Arts
Dance
The dance program at St. Andrew's offers students opportunities to develop as artists through technical training, creative expression, and performance.
From the classroom to the competition stage, dancers build skills across multiple styles while cultivating artistry, discipline, and confidence. Under the Fine Arts department, both The Highlights competitive dance team and the Upper School Dance course provide pathways for students to grow as performers and choreographers.
Dance Team
The Highlights
The Highlights is St. Andrew's competitive dance team. This select ensemble of dancers trains year-round in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and other performance styles, developing both technical proficiency and artistic expression.
Performance and Competition
As performing artists, The Highlights compete at regional and state competitions, presenting lyrical and jazz routines that demonstrate their technical training and creative interpretation. These competition experiences allow dancers to receive feedback from professional adjudicators and grow as artists.
Beyond competitions, The Highlights perform at community events like Austin's Trail of Lights, St. Andrew's sports games, and other special school events. Through these varied performance opportunities, dancers learn to adapt their artistry to different venues and audiences.
Dance Course
Dance (Grades 9-12)
Upper School students may choose to take Dance I, a year-long Fine Arts course. Dance I is open to students with or without prior dance training. This comprehensive class provides technical instruction, creative exploration, and performance experience across multiple dance styles.
Curriculum
Dance students study technique and history in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, Musical Theatre, Improvisation, and Dance/Drill team. The curriculum balances structured technical training with creative opportunities, allowing students to develop their own artistic voice. Classes also cover anatomy, physiology, and nutrition to support wellness and injury prevention.
Dance Course: Learn More
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Creative Development
Beyond technique classes, students participate in guest master classes with professional choreographers, study cultural dance styles from around the world, and collaborate with peers on original choreography. These experiences help students understand dance as both an athletic discipline and an expressive art form. -
Performance Opportunities
The course culminates in a required Spring Showcase open to the St. Andrew's community. This performance features works created by the instructor, guest choreographers, and students themselves, providing dancers with professional-level stage experience. In-class performances throughout the year give students regular opportunities to develop their performance skills and receive constructive feedback. -
Dual Credit
Dance I offers dual credit, providing students with one year of Fine Arts credit and one semester of Athletics credit toward graduation requirements. This recognition reflects both the artistic and physical demands of dance training.
