Atencion, Posicion, Freeze

There are three very important words for you to learn before you proceed in Drama class. 

These words are:

 FREEZE

ATENCION

POSICION.

When you hear FREEZE, your job is to stop what you are doing immediately, and FREEZE in whatever position you are in. We will learn more about why FREEZE is important in class.

ATENCION is how we come together and pay attention to what each other may or may not be saying.  When you hear ATENCION, you stop what you are doing, repeat it back, and salute Ms Cooper. This lets us know that everyone is paying attention and ready to hear whatever is being said.

POSICION is how we say “at ease.” Once Ms Cooper knows that you are listening, and focused on the next step of directions or instructions, she will say POSICION and you may sit or take notes.

STAGE DIRECTIONS

STAGE DIRECTIONS

In theater, directions are always given from the actor’s point of view on stage facing the audience.  Here you will find a list of all the directions and a diagram of the stage explaining each one.

STAGE TYPES

A physical stage is not needed for every performance.  All that anyone needs to for a performance is someone performing, and someone watching.  You can make theatre anywhere!  When you begin to work with your stories in this class, it is important to know and understand the types of stages so that you can make decisions about where you want to put the audience. Proscenium, thrust and arena stages refer to types of stages and seating arrangements applicable to venues primarily designed for dance, theatre and opera. 

Proscenium Stage:

  

Thrust, 3/4, or Elizabethan Stage:

Arena Stage, Theater-in-the-Round:

DRAMA PERSONAL INVENTORY

What am I bringing to class?

Since all relationships are give and take, you will probably get more from this class by thinking about the things that you are bringing to the class.  Everyone comes to this class with different experiences and different hopes so we will all have a great deal to share with one another.  Take a look at the questions below, and answer them in your journal to the best of your ability.  You may be surprised at how much you know about Drama!

1.    What previous study of drama have you had?

2.   What do you think of when you hear the words drama, theater, and storytelling?

3.   What plays and musicals have you seen?

4.   Which of those were professional musicals?

5.   Have you ever been part of a production staff?  If so, what were your responsibilities?

6.   Have you ever performed onstage? Is so, what experience have you had?

7.   What do you know about stages or theater traditions?

8.   What theater vocabulary are you familiar with?

9.   Have you read any plays? If so, what plays and what did you think of them?

10.                 What personal goals do you have for studying drama?

11.What do you hope to learn from this class that will help you grow as a drama student, performer, and a person?

DRAMA CLASS GUIDELINES

Drama Class Guidelines

I prefer not to use the word “rules” when discussing the class because I feel that it makes students feel boxed in and unable to be creative.  I have also found that when one person makes the “rules” and passes them down to a group of people, they don’t go over as well as if the group comes up with them on their own. As a result, we will be creating a list of guidelines together.

1. Be Respectful. Everyone is going to make a fool of themselves in this class.  If we are not respectful of each other and not considerate of how everyone feels, no one will be comfortable sharing.  We don’t have to like each other, but we will be respectful.
2. Dress Appropriately.  This class requires movement.  Overly tight or low rise pants and shirts, oversized pants, shirts, and sweatshirts can impede your movement and cause you to possibly hurt or expose yourself.  You should wear loose fitting clothes that you can move in without injury or embarrassment. 
3. Keep ALL Body Parts & Fluids to Yourself. I used to tell people not to hit, and then I had an incident with a kicker. Then I decided to tell kids to keep hands and feet to themselves and I had a student who scratched and bit others. Then I decided to say 'keep all body parts to yourself,' and then a student spit on another student. YUCK! For the sake of safety, please, let's try to follow this guideline.
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5. _________________________________________________________________

6. _________________________________________________________________

7. _________________________________________________________________

8. _________________________________________________________________

9. _________________________________________________________________

If I do not follow the class guidelines, I understand that the following will occur.

1^st Offense:            Warning from Ms. Cooper.

2^nd Offense:            Lunch Detention with Ms. Cooper.

3^rd Offense:            Phone Call Home & After School Detention with School Deans.

Anything that occurs past the 3^rd Offense will require a parental conference with Ms. Cooper.

WHAT DO I NEED TO GET STARTED IN CLASS?

WHAT DO I NEED TO GET STARTED?????

This is the most popular question I get asked at the beginning of each school year.  Over the years, I have tried different methods of presenting the list of what students need in many different ways, but somehow, it always gets messed up. Here is another try: