Culture
Culture
It has long been recognised that there is more than a causal link between active involvement in the Arts and cognitive development, especially during the formative years. Thus, Visual Arts, Drama, Dance and Music are offered as formal academic subjects or as extra-curricular activities. At DSG, the Arts are considered to be an essential element in both creative and intellectual development and we recognise their importance in a well-rounded and balanced education.
Dance
Ballet (RAD) and Contemporary Dance are offered in the well-appointed DSG dance studio, where girls are prepared for external examinations and performances during the course of the year. All girls are given the opportunity to demonstrate their expertise during various performances held throughout the year.
Drama
Drama is offered as both a Matric subject and an extra-mural activity. Girls are given the opportunity to hone their dramatic skills during the course of the year. The interhouse play competitions see many girls involved in dramatic productions. These pupil-organised events allow girls to act, script-write, direct or back-stage manage plays. The more serious thespians participate in the annual school productions. These can range from light-hearted musicals to demanding dramas, such as the 2018 Metamorphoses.
Music
The DR Wynne Music School has a reputation as one of the most vibrant, varied and exciting places to study music at school level in South Africa. This is achieved by combining the vigorous pursuit of excellence with the concept of music being a fun language that everyone can learn. As a result we have almost 400 music students with 10 full-time staff and 17 part-time staff.
We offer the following instruments:
- All of the brass, woodwind, string and percussion orchestral instruments
- Piano
- Drum kit
- Guitar
- Bass Guitar
- Voice
Pupils have the opportunity to be involved in Chapel Choir, Chamber Choir, String Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Contemporary Band, Marimba Band, and Sound Production Club.
Visual Art
The Diocesan School for Girls boasts a strong and vibrant Visual Arts Department where students are taught by Fine Art subject specialists from their Grade 8 year. In Grade 8 pupils are taught the basics of academic drawing. In their Grade 9 year, pupils are able to choose Visual Art as one of their Creative Arts subjects for the year and are taught the basics of Art Theory, painting, ceramics and print making . After Grade 9 Visual Arts becomes one of the formal subject choices in Grades 10, 11 and 12. The subject comprises of a 50% Theory and 50% Practical component. Art Theory exposes pupils to an array of different artists, cultures, and movements. The Theory of Art builds and links directly to the pupils understanding and conceptualisation of the practical component of Visual Arts and is therefore an important aspect of the subject. In the senior phase of Visual Arts pupils are encouraged to explore a variety of different media ranging from traditional Fine Art materials to more contemporary mediums. An individual exploration of practical themes is always encouraged. The Visual Arts Department is an active centre that allows girls the space and time to discover themselves creatively.
