American School of Dubai
Well-known for its broad and well-rounded curriculum, ASD has a strong reputation also for its involvement in both Sports and Performing Arts. With a team of 15 full-time professional Creative Arts staff (including a Director of Theater and a Director of Music), there is a clear commitment in terms of all-round resources. Facilities are second to none, with a 630 seater theatre as well as Black Box theatre.
The American School of Dubai seeks to ensure that students cultivate a lifetime appreciation, enjoyment and love of the arts through creating, performing and experiencing any one of the disciplines. Students are exposed to and develop an understanding of a variety of the visual and performing arts. By working creatively and gaining competence in various artistic genres and media, students develop an aesthetic understanding of the arts which the school aims to ensure will continue throughout their lives under the motto of “Arts for Life”.
Music is a core subject in Elementary School where over 600 children participate, whilst both Dance and Drama are added to the Creative Arts as electives through Middle and High School. Students must select at least one subject from Dance, Drama or Music and are required to take sufficient classes to achieve course credits.
In Music, Choir remains a popular choice for students, with 375 Middle and High School students participating in 7 different Choir groups. Band also attracts significant numbers, with approximately 250 students involved in the 5 bands at ASD. A team of 10 peripatetic staff teach voice, piano, guitar, violin, drums and saxophone during After-school periods.
The numbers of students involved in Theater are not far behind, with just over 200 students in Middle and High School taking courses. Whilst Dance does not quite have the same level of popularity, the fact that it is provided and attracts approximately 70 students underlines the school’s commitment. In addition, around 65 children of mainly Elementary school age also participate in Dance classes as an after-school activity.
ASD regularly puts on productions at the school and participates in AMIS (Association for Music in International Schools) for which schools are required to audition in order to participate, MESAC Middle and High School Band and Choir competitions, and the Short and Sweet Choir competition in Dubai.
In Theater, the schools is a member of EDTA – The Educational Theatre Association – participating in the International Thespians Festival, in addition to MESAC and Short and Sweet Dubai.
At a glance:
| Dance | Drama | Music | |
| Number of staff | Total of 15 across all disciplines (+Peripatetic teachers) | ||
| Grade/year groups taught | Grade 9-12 elective | KG – grade 5 core subject;
Grades 6 -8 elective, but one required; Grades 9-12 elective with a minimum of 2 credits required. |
KG – grade 5 core subject;
Grades 6 -8 elective, but one required; Grades 9-12 elective with a minimum of 2 credits required. |
| Instruments taught as part of the core curriculum | n/a | n/a | Grades 6-8 – All except string instruments.
Grades 9-12 – All instruments. |
| Courses taught in Middle School | Dance (3 different classes for 40 students) | Theatre (6 different classes for 80 students) | Band, and Choir |
| Courses taught in High School | Dance (3 different classes for 30 students) | Theatre (6 different classes for 125 students) | Band (3 different bands for 125 students), Choir (4 options for 150 students) |
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