Music: Harmony in Hand 

From their first musical experience in a Lower School Kindergarten A singalong to performing in our Upper School concerts, our TAS musicians have no shortage of opportunities to make some noise. In the Lower School, we incorporate the Orff Schulwerk approach to have our youngest students engage in music using their natural instincts of play and demonstrate creativity through movement, dance, instrumentation and speech. As early as Grade 3, they have the opportunity for more formal endeavors in strings and dance, and Orff ensembles. Music at TAS includes:

• Strings and Orchestras for Grades 3-12   
• Bands from Grades 5-12   
• Choir from Grades 5-12 
• Music Production and Technology Grades 7-12   
• An Upper School Jazz Ensemble
• Upper School Chamber Music Ensembles 
• 11 Practice rooms for solo and Chamber Music practice   
• IB and AP Music  

Dance: Combining Technique, Collaboration & Movement  

The world's oldest art form is the beauty of a human body moving creatively through space. Surrounding that movement with a physical set, bathing it in light, and wrapping it in a costume are creative and collaborative opportunities in the Dance department at Taipei American School. 

Our curricular dance program focuses on technique, collaboration, creativity and performance skills that feed into our after school program. A wide range of dance courses are offered, starting in the Grade 3 and continuing through Grade 12. 

In addition, our co-curricular theater/dance program mounts bi-annual performances of full-length narrative dance productions and a spring concert featuring pieces by advanced students and guest choreographers. Even our middle school dancers get in on the fun, performing for their fellow students in an assembly twice per year. Upper school dancers can audition for the IASAS Cultural Convention and smaller productions for the end-of-the-year Performing Arts Festival, as an added after school program.

Throughout the year, TAS dancers take master classes in different types of dance - including hip-hop, ballet, urban, modern-fusion, contact improvisation, and contemporary dance - with renowned experts from around the world.

Academically, TAS dancers continue to demonstrate their grit and resilience through IB and Honors performance exams and composition submissions. TAS dancers continue to score above the world average in IB dance.

I think it’s really fun when you’re given a choreography, and then the feeling after you master it and can do it by yourself with confidence. That’s one of the best feelings in the world.

TAS Dancer, Class of 2019

Drama: Using Story to Better Understand the World 

In the Lower School

Our students get their first taste of the dramatic arts in Grade 5, when they have an opportunity to take part in the Lower School Musical, as part of the cast or crew. Each year, this musical is produced by excited student-actors and technicians.  This voluntary production starts in November with auditions, continues with rehearsals three times a week in November through March/April and concludes with four sold out performances in mid-March to early April. The goal of the fifth grade musical is to build confidence in students by guiding them through their first drama production successfully while highlighting the TAS values of Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Kindness, and Courage. Between 50-80 students take part in this annual production. Fifth grade students not only take part onstage in the musical, but they are also active backstage in technical roles including director’s assistant, stagehands, spotlights, costume crew, and ticketing/programs. Students also take part in the accompanying orchestra.

In the Middle School

The Middle School Drama program offers a diverse selection of classes and co-curricular programs in theater and the dramatic arts. Students explore their passion as actors, directors, and theater technicians in sequential classroom program catering to all student levels and interests.  In addition to the classroom program, students may audition for the Middle School musical each year in which our drama students, dancers, and musicians (where licensing agreement allows), collaborate.  As part of the Middle School musical, students also participate in preparing sets, props, and lighting design through our technical theater program.  The school also offers a co-curricular Play Performance Club as an after-school optional extension. Middle school drama students travel annually to an ISTA Drama festival to collaborate with students throughout the Asia region.

In the Upper School

Drama opportunities continue to expand as students enter the Upper School, with 10 different curricular offerings, including honors and IB courses. But the real magic happens when students who are interested in drama find a way to meld their passions between different arts, including journalism (by writing reviews of dramatic performances) and film courses (in which they can practice their acting and technical skills for the film and stage). Each fall, the Upper School hosts either a musical or a staged play, in which students not only act but take large backstage roles including set design and construction, lighting, costuming, makeup, and more. TAS also offers upper school students to take part in other co-curricular activities and trips, including performances at IASAS Cultural Conventions around East Asia.

All Divisions

All students in the TAS drama program can take advantage of excellent facilities including a modern auditorium with an orchestra pit, a Black Box theater, the additional Harmony Theater, a dedicated drama workshop room, and a dedicated dance studio. There are large ensemble rehearsal areas and numerous other classrooms for small group instruction, including practice rooms for students to work individually.

As an active stage designer as well as a high school teacher for almost 20 years, I have seen firsthand the growth of students who work behind the scenes. In today's world where few people pick up tools and work with their hands, it is more important than ever to activate meaningful experiential learning. Technical theater can claim its place in an interdisciplinary and collaborative educational environment, instead of hiding behind the curtain. Technical theater can and should be an immersive and experiential subject that allows students to thrive and blossom. Secondary theater education which is learner-centered provides students with opportunity for growth and change, and it gives young people a voice and agency.DR. KEVIN HELD, TAS THEATER TECH TEACHER