The subject Creative Arts provides exposure to and study of a range of art forms including dance, drama, music and visual arts from Grade 8 to Grade 9. The main purpose of the subject Creative Arts is to develop learners as creative, imaginative individuals who appreciate the arts and who have the basic knowledge and skills to participate in arts activities and to prepare them for possible further study in the art forms of their choice in Further Education and Training (FET).
Drama
The study of drama in Creative Arts gives learners tools to represent human experiences in dramatic form, through processes of participation, collaboration, exploration and presentation. Drama encourages the creative exploration of themes and issues, creates a safe context for this exploration, and provides opportunities to reflect on the insights gained in the process. Learners appreciate and interpret a wide range of dramatic works both published and created in the class. The focus on physical and vocal warm-up activities is vital because these activities not only help to prevent injury, but also develop physical awareness, coordination and strength over time. Since the body and voice are the primary means of communication and expression in drama, they must be used safely and effectively. An important aspect of drama is the development of classroom performances (through improvisation/playmaking processes) based on a specific stimulus. In drama, the learner explores the motivation and the relationships between people in a real, imagined or historical context, to help him or her understand the world. The learner is encouraged to make decisions and to take responsibility for those decisions within the safe context of the drama.