Drama, dance, music, and art are taught across various parts of the curriculum in all three school sections. Our students have the opportunity to perform in productions in our state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center (PAC), Godbout Hall, and mini-theaters in MS and HS. There are also many chances to perform in other locales on campus during special events, such as the International Food Fair and the Spanish Festival. Students can choose to join vocal and/or instrumental ensembles—such as the Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble, as well as participate in the major theatrical and musical productions that RIS puts on each year. Students are also exposed to and get to experiment with all facets of visual arts, from PreK all the way through to IB Art for Juniors and Seniors in high school.
A fun fact: each of our Performing Arts faculty members were professionals in their particular fields of expertise before choosing to become teachers. While all surprisingly shy to admit it, these teachers made their livings by playing in bands that cut albums and toured, singing professional opera or as a principle soloist, playing instruments in jazz ensembles and in pit orchestras, and acting in off-Broadway shows. While none of them were superstars, they have all experienced lives as professional actors or musicians and know, first-hand, what it takes to reach that level of expertise and bring what they learned from their collective experiences with them to our students.
