This week, our Year 9 Drama studio was transformed into a rehearsal space for the RNZB. We were thrilled to welcome Ella Chambers, a Dance Educator from the company, who joined us to lead a masterclass that was as physically demanding as it was creatively eye-opening.
Challenging the "No One Cares" Narrative
The timing of this visit couldn't have been more relevant. Ballet and opera have been making headlines globally this week following some controversial comments by Hollywood actor Timothée Chalamet. In a recent interview, Chalamet suggested that "no one cares" about these art forms anymore - a claim that has sparked a fair bit of backlash from the international arts community.
Our Year 9 boys (as well as Gus from Year 11 Drama), however, proved him well and truly wrong. Seeing them dive into a medium many had never explored before was a real highlight of the week. By opening them up to different art forms, we aren't just teaching them to dance; we are building a well-rounded "creative toolkit." The boys quickly realised that ballet isn't just about grace - it’s about sheer athleticism, core strength, and discipline.
Ella put the class through their paces with an energetic warm-up before testing their focus on fundamental ballet positions. The students even took on the challenge of the arabesque - a classic ballet move requiring immense balance and "grace under pressure." While there were plenty of wobbles (and a fair few laughs), the determination to master the posture was impressive. It was a perfect example of how drama and dance intersect: it’s all about poise, control, and presence.
The session took a darker, more contemporary turn as the students learned a small piece of choreography inspired by the RNZB’s current national tour of Macbeth.
Given that Macbeth is a tale of ambition and betrayal, the movements were sharp, intense, and grounded. It was a brilliant way for the students to see how professional dancers use contemporary techniques to convey the "gritty" atmosphere of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy.
The skills learned with Ella will be put to good use in their current Year 9 Lip Sync unit. In Lip Sync, the challenge is to tell a story and project a character without a single spoken word. Ella’s workshop emphasised physicality and stage presence - teaching the boys how to use their whole bodies to command an audience's attention, whether they are channeling a pop star or a Shakespearean villain.
A massive thank you to Ella Chambers and the RNZB for such an inspiring visit. If you’d like to see the pros in action, the Royal New Zealand Ballet is currently touring Macbeth across Aotearoa. You can find tickets and tour dates at rnzb.org.nz.
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