Performing Arts

The Performing Arts program at Roland Park Country School seeks to empower each student with confidence and grace. We treasure, protect and nurture the innate artist in all of our students, while encouraging them to challenge themselves through individual and ensemble explorations in dance, music and theater. While we maintain high performance standards, the focus for the students is primarily on the creative process. Our students discover the joy of sharing their talents collaboratively across all three divisions while gaining a true appreciation and understanding of the importance of the Performing Arts within the school and global community.

In This Section

Dance

The RPCS dance program strives to cultivate confidence and grace in all of our students by promoting movement, collaboration, technique and performance.

Music

The music program at RPCS fosters a love of music for all. We instill in our students the idea that music builds connection and creates joyfulness, which is epitomized in our shared community songs.

Theatre

Opportunities to engage in theatre at RPCS, whether as a performer, producer, set builder or stage manager, inspire taking creative risks, sharing ideas with others and discovery through experimentation.

At Roland Park Country School, we believe that every student has a place in the Performing Arts department. From beginners to experienced artists, our classes are designed to build upon students’ strengths and encourage their areas of growth. Our department offers a wide range of courses which are all offered during the school day. In the Performing Arts classrooms, our students explore, create and discover in a collaborative environment. They learn what it means to immerse themselves fully in the performing arts, whether they are crafting their skills as a performer or as a member of the backstage crew.

The Performing Arts Department believes that the stage is an extension of the classroom. Our curricular performances are supplemented and augmented through co-curricular offerings such as the Upper School Musical, the Middle School Musical, and the Upper School Film Festival. Each production team strives to choose material to reflect the diverse talents of our student body, while also choosing topics and themes that are relevant to them as learners. Every Middle and Upper School student is encouraged to audition for their divisional productions. We believe in providing an inclusive environment for all. Our students are involved in every facet of our mainstage performances both on and off stage, including set building, tech crew, and stage management.

In the Classroom

Lower School

All students participate in dance and music classes from kindergarten through grade 4.

As part our of our students' comprehensive experience in the Performing Arts programming at RPCS, the Lower School Dance Program provides an in depth look into technique and repertory through the lens of a variety of dance styles. As students journey through their Lower School years, they will mature as dancers in their overall knowledge of these styles and forms of dance. Emphasis is placed on motor control skills, spatial and motor awareness, muscular development, core conditioning, stretching, and posture. As each grade prepares for a choreographed piece, the focus is shifted to performance quality and expression while maintaining a strong technical development and application. Dance classes are specifically designed to support multiple learning styles. Dancers will also work together to build skills as choreographers.

Middle School

The Middle School performing arts program includes a four-year curriculum of formal classes in dance, music and theater.

The fifth grade will be moving to the Middle School in the 2025-26 school year and will be participating in a Middle School performing arts curriculum. To learn more about this transition, visit the Fifth Grade Transition FAQ.

Students in 6th and 7th grade participate in dance, music, and theatre classes. During the second semester of their 7th grade year, they have a Performing Arts Workshop class that is co-taught by the Middle School performing arts faculty. In 8th grade, students choose two courses from among four arts electives:

Art of the Musical/Theatre
Eighth Grade Dance
Eighth Grade Singers
Visual Arts

Students may also elect to participate in Middle School Chorus and Middle School Dance Company, which are open to all students and do not require an audition. Each semester concludes with a concert performance reflecting the array of curriculum offerings. In addition, the Middle School presents a musical theater production every year, open to all students by audition.

6th Grade	7th Grade	8th Grade
Dance	Dance	Eighth Grade Dancers
Music	Music	Eighth Grade Singers
Theatre	Performing Arts Workshop	Art of the Musical/Theatre
Middle School Dance Company is offered during the first semester and Middle School Chorus is offered second semester. Both opportunities are open to all Middle School students. No audition is required.

Upper School

The performing arts program at RPCS allows each student, regardless of experience, many opportunities in both performance and non-performance classes to challenge themselves creatively through individual and ensemble explorations in dance, music, and theatre. As we maintain high performance standards, the focus for the students is primarily on the process. Our students discover the joy of sharing their talents collaboratively across all three divisions, while gaining a true appreciation and understanding of the arts’ importance within the school and greater community.

Through our performing arts offerings, we have some of the best opportunities to represent the creative interests of our students and community. Upper School students may select a performing arts course that meets their comfort level. Students may also audition for our select performing arts ensembles listed below in greater detail.

Throughout the year we invite guest artists to work with our students. Recent artists include, ClancyWorks Dance Company, Sydnie L. Mosley Dances, Brooke Berg, Maya Hairston, and Camille McCarroll.

Once students have graduated from the Upper School, they should have a preliminary understanding of the performing arts and be prepared to engage in a college-level course. In addition, students can apply to be part of the Arts Certificate of Distinction program, which is awarded to seniors on Class Day.

The material and repertoire in each discipline is reflective of the diverse world in which we live, and reflective of the community in which we reside. We bring the outside world in by inviting guest artists to work with our students through residencies and guest classes. Our ensembles engage with our community by performing at local festivals, pediatric hospitals, private businesses, retirement centers, and local theaters.

Classes Offered

Dance	Music	Theatre
Studio Dance	Piano I/II	Acting: Foundations of Theatre
Advanced Studio Dance	Somettos – Auditioned singing ensemble (grades 9 & 10)	Directing for the Actor
Roses Repertory Dance Company – auditioned ensemble (grades 11 & 12)	Semiquavers – auditioned ensemble (grades 11 & 12)	Footlights Theater Ensemble – auditioned ensemble (grades 10, 11 & 12)
	Upper School Chorus

Auditioned Ensembles

In the Upper School there are three auditioned Performing Ensembles - Footlights Theatre Ensemble, Roses Repertory Dance Company, and the Semiquavers. Every other year these ensembles create an original collaborative production which they tour. Past tours have included Italy; Greece; Ireland and Scotland; Salzburg, Vienna and Prague; and California.

Facilities

The Macfarlane Arts Center holds a multi-use complex of performance and practice spaces for dance, theatre and music and houses the 425-seat Sinex Theater. The Nancy Roche Performing Arts Wing holds the Swingle Chorus Room and the Tyler Studio.

All School Musical

Since the Sinex Theater was built in 1994, every ten years RPCS produces an all school musical for our community. This year, students in grades 2 - 12 will have the chance to audition to be a part of this beloved tradition as either company or crew members. We are pleased to invite you down the yellow brick road with us as we produce The Wizard of Oz!

I have not been the first

and I will not be the last

to dance through the halls of Roland Park Country School.

THE RPCS CENTENNIAL SONG

Winter & Spring Concerts

All three divisions boast a winter and spring concert. All of these concerts include singing and dancing performances, while the Lower School concerts also include instrumental performances while the Middle School concerts include theatre. In the spring, the Upper School separates it's choral and dance concerts and highlights each in their own performance.

All-School Collaborations

Certain Lower School grades pair up with the Roses and Semiquavers in multiple performances throughout the year. First grade (Rosebuds) dances with the Roses in the winter concert while for the spring concert kindergarten collaborates with the Semis and the Roses dance with the fourth grade (Thornettes).

Musicals

Both the Upper School and Middle School host musical performances for our friends and family to enjoy. The Upper School musical is in the fall, while the Middle School musical is in the winter.

Spotlight Performances

The auditioned ensemble groups travel around the country and internationally to perform at some of the most prestigious stages on Earth. They have performed at Disneyland, the White House, and (pictured left) Carnegie Hall, among others.

Performing in the Community

The Upper School auditioned performing arts groups take their talents to the Baltimore community. From dancing in the Baltimore Theater Project to singing at nursing homes, our performers are happy to share their talents with our neighbors.