BIS Hanoi’s Collaboration with Juilliard Continues to Prosper

The Performing Arts department welcomed two new Juilliard specialists to the team this year; Tania Hakkim has joined us as our new Drama specialist, while Ashley Brown has joined us to support the expanding Dance curriculum as we launch the BIS Diploma in Dance. Erin Wight has also returned as our Music specialist.

In Term 1, we hosted virtual Juilliard team visits that included collaborative planning sessions, goal setting meetings, and a hybrid dance workshop in which students explored creative dance through the Juilliard core work 'Kaash' by British-Bangladeshi choreographer Akram Khan. In Terms 2 and 3, we are looking forward to meeting the Juilliard team in person,

The core works of Juilliard Drama continue to be powerful tools for developing our students' sense of global citizenship.

which will see students participate in live workshops led by Juilliard, while teachers will benefit from professional development of the highest standards.

Drama has grown significantly this year, with Years 2-6 now receiving Juilliard workshops as part of their new Drama lessons. Mrs. Somerville and the team are working with Julliard specialist Tania Hakkim to create a new interdisciplinary unit called ‘The Modern Musical’. It is written in the style and approach of Juilliard Core Works, with framing questions and space for practical exploration before meaningful encounters with professional work.

Mrs. Macdonald is also collaborating with Tania Hakkim to develop the Interdisciplinary Core Work, ‘Ellis Island’, in which students explore culture and identity in this thought-provoking piece depicting the experiences of migrants.

Elsewhere, in their World Theatre Traditions unit, IB theatre students gained a comprehensive understanding of theatre across space and time, which was enhanced by Compagnia Baccala's Juilliard workshops. Year 9 students are studying the Greek Chorus and the American Players' production of ‘Oedipus’, which Juilliard launched this year.

The core works of Juilliard Drama continue to be powerful tools for developing our students' sense of global citizenship.

Catherine Somerville Whole School Head of Performing Arts