The Arts Department is located in south campus.  On the first floor there are music rooms, including a keyboard lab and large performance space,  a  drama classroom and a dance studio with a sprung floor.  Upstairs, there are visual arts classrooms and a painting studio.  In the North campus, there is a theatre for drama productions and also a class room with a dark room for our photography courses.

As well as our many courses in the Arts, there are many co-curricular activites that students can be involved with in the Arts. 

Below are a description of the six courses that are available in grade nine and some information about further studies available at Dunbarton.

Grade Nine Arts Electives:

Visual Arts: 

Course Code: AVI 1O1 - Visual Arts

This course is the foundation course for the Visual Arts programme.  You will be taught techniques that will enable you to develop your abilities as a visual artist.

In the following years as well as the Visual Arts course for each grade, there are courses that specialize in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, media arts and design.

Each semester, the Visual Arts students are featured in The Art Show.  The East Gym in the North Campus is transformed into an art gallery featuring work from all the students in the various art courses that semester.  Beautiful water colours, paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures and mixed media pieces are displayed for the public and the who school to enjoy.  It is always a fascinating and impressive display of student work and shows the depth and quality of the visual arts programme at Dunbarton.

Drama:

Course Code: ADA 1O1 - Drama

This course is the introduction to the Drama programme at DHS.  You will be exploring dramatic forms and techniques.  There will be opportunities to challenge yourself through the performance of a wide range of material.

You may continue to take Drama Courses throughout your high school years.  These courses help you to develop not only dramatic abilities and an understanding of theatrical performance but also communication and presentation skills that are useful in a variety of careers.

In their senior year, students may chose to take Children's Theatre.  This course emphasizes the creation and performance of works aimed at children.  The class performs for various public school audiences at least twice a year.

There are also opportunities for students to be involved in performance in the Fall Play, the Spring Play and Theatre Sports (an improv team that performs weekly for the school.) 

Dance:

Course Code: ATC 101 - Dance

This course is the introduction to the Dance programme at DHS.  You will be learning a wide variety of dance styles and preparing for a recital at the end of the term.  Dance courses, which focus on developing dance skills, choreography skills and production skills continue through to grade twelve.

Each semester, the dance classes are featured in an end of term recital.  In first semester comes Fall in Step and in the second semester, Spring into Dance.  There are also opportunites for dancing in the extracurricular dance team and dance club.  These groups also perform in the recitals.

Music:

Course Code: AMI 1O1 - Instrumental Music

Instrumental Music is a course that focuses on concert Band instruments.  It is a foundational course for all of the instrumental courses whether concert or jazz.  You will develop your playing techniques and have opportunites to play in various bands and ensembles.

In grade ten, you may choose to take instrumental music and/or instrumental jazz.  Both the Instrumental Concert Band courses and the Instrumental Jazz courses continue through until grade twelve.

Course Code:  AMV 1O1 - Vocal Music

The vocal music course is designed to help you develop your voice in a healthy manner.  It also focuses on learning to sight read music and learning to perform with confidence.

The vocal programme also continues until grade twelve with many opportunities to perform.

In grade 11 and 12 many instrumentalists and vocalists choose to take Music Theatre.  Previous shows include The Wiz, Les Miserables: School Edition, Scrooge, Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Seussical: The Musical,  A Christmas Carol: The Musical, The Wizard of Oz, The Phantom of the Opera, and most recentlyThe Music Man.

Course Code: AMK 1O1 - Keyboard Music

The keyboard music course is a beginner course.  This course is designed for students who have little or no experience with keyboard instruments but who wish to learn to play.  Students with advanced piano are encouraged to take grade 10, 11 or 12 keyboard but are also able to take this course if they wish to concentrate on theory rudiments.

The keyboard music programme continues until grade twelve, depending on course size, with more challenging repertoire each year.  At the end of grade twelve, students should be ready to play such pieces as Bach's Prelude No. 1, Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and Fuer Elise.

All music students are encouraged to participate in our Concert Ensembles.  These groups are non-auditioned, open-to-all ensembles.  They are: Junior Concert Band, Senior Concert Band and Concert Choir.  We have a policy of "concert ensembles first."  Students who are active members of these groups are able to audition for the Junior Jazz Band, Senior Jazz Band, and Chamber Choir.  Members of the Concert Choir are also able to be in other non-auditioned choirs.