Drama & Theatre Arts
Coming soon this summer schedule – Classes and Camps!!
Students learn the basics of theatre arts by exploring a character through such activities as pantomime, improvisation and effective speaking using articulation, projection and breathing. Students also explore elements of technical theatre by exploring the use of such elements as costumes, props and scenery. Contact us for Private lessons!
Ages 7 – 18
Summer Classes and Camps – Schedule coming soon with Jazlyn Dingfelder.
BUILDS CONFIDENCE
Getting up onstage – or even in front of other classmates in your acting class – takes a lot of courage. This is especially true if your child suffers from shyness.
Acting teachers are experienced with bringing their students – young and old – out of their shells through games, exercises, and performances. And the confidence that develops translates to school and everyday life.
That kid that hides in the back of the classroom and refuses to answer questions at the beginning of the year may be offering answers after a few months of acting lessons.
INTRODUCES PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS
In many cases, public speaking isn’t formally taught until at least high school. However, even elementary school students must be able to present reports in front of their classes or answer questions.
Theater teaches them valuable public speaking skills before ever getting formal instruction, including:
- Diction
- Pronunciation
- Projection
- Active listening
- Inflection
Developing these skills early gives your child a leg up on everyone else in class so they can further grow and develop as a public speaker.
FOSTERS CREATIVITY
Building creativity is a skill that needs to be practiced; it isn’t something that happens naturally. The more your child uses their imagination, the better it gets.
Acting classes use games and exercises to help participants develop characters and create a believable performance, something that comes purely from creativity.
Not only is creativity important to artistic endeavors, it is essential to problem-solving that’s necessary in school, work, and life.
IMPROVES MEMORY
When you act, even in short pieces, you’ve got lines, stage directions, characterization, and more to remember.
Your memory is a muscle just like your biceps or core, so the more you exercise it, the better it gets.
By giving your child extra practice using their memory, they’ll be more able to remember facts and figures for class and employ tricks that will be useful later in life.
BUILDS FRIENDSHIPS
Making friends isn’t easy, and it can be difficult if your child is always around the same kids they’ve always known.
Acting classes expose them to new potential friends, and these friends share an interest in acting and theater with your child.
Additionally, working hard to perform a play can create strong bonds between kids, giving your child friendships that last far beyond that one class.
About our instructor: Jazlyn Dingfelder
I remember being 6 years old, decorating my house – once a month – for “Shakespeare Day”. Romeo and Juliet (ONLY the 1968 version), Taming of the Shrew with Elizabeth Taylor and even more professional Shakespeare shows on repeat, throughout the day. These were the days I LIVED towards every month. Flash forward a decade or two,
I’m performing C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe on the Royal Mile during the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh Scotland – absolutely surrounded by artists – and there’s a split second moment where I know that this is what I’m going to be doing for the rest of my life.
I started attending Theatre Young Harris in 2017 – being one of the strongest performance programs in the southeast – and added techniques, principles, and etiquette to my tool belt that has served me well in the professional world.
Being equally trained in Dance, Theatrical Performance, and Vocal Performance, Young Harris provided optimal opportunities for me to learn through hands-on experience. In my 4 years at Young Harris, I had the privilege of performing in 7 shows. I graduated with my BFA in Musical Theatre in 2021 from Young Harris College.
My additional interests and hobbies include Tang Soo Do Karate, a Hard Form of Korean martial arts. I trained for 4 years before achieving my first degree black belt. I have also been “horsing” around (literally) for about 6 years, spending 2 of those in training for Equestrian Show Jumping. In 2021, I was able to use my “horsie girl” skills to canter onstage every night for 69 performances. Whenever I’m not exhausting myself with aforementioned extracurriculars, you can find me thrifting for 60’s and 70’s vintage-wear, or adding to my crystal collection!
