Co-curricular Performing Arts
From Dance and Drama to Language Arts and Music, Performing Arts programs at Pymble offer your daughter every opportunity to build confidence, creativity and a lifelong love of the stage.
The program fosters an environment of experimentation as growth, where students are encouraged to push boundaries and challenge themselves, whether they’re mesmerising an audience with their music, dominating a debate or dancing in front of a full house.
Dance
Our co-curricular dance program is open to students from all year groups, and culminates in the annual dance season showcase in the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts.
Onstage Classes
Years 7 to 12: Our Onstage classes let girls explore a wide range of dance styles, from the free, funky energy of Hip Hop and the ever-evolving influence of Jazz and Commercial Jazz, to the self-expression of Lyrical, the versatility of Contemporary, the performance focus of Theatre Dance, the complex sequences of Tap, and a taste of styles from around the world in World Dance.
Sidestage Classes
Years 7 to 12: Our Sidestage stream focuses on building dance skills without performing at Showcase, from Technique classes developing Contemporary and Jazz technique, to our Eisteddfod Open Class for exploring new styles and choreography, and Dance Pilates, building the core strength and alignment that supports every dancer’s performance.
Ballet
Invitation only: Classical Ballet is the foundation for all styles of dance, following the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus with the option to sit formal RAD examinations. Entry is by invitation from selection classes, with girls progressing through Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced Foundation and Advanced One as their skills develop.
Performance
Invitation only: Our Performance Dance Groups are selective, audition-based groups for talented dancers who wish to excel as part of a dedicated Dance team, including the Pymble Dance Company, Contemporary and Jazz Groups, Hip Hop Crew and Performance Troupes. Girls may also work toward a Certificate in Dance I, II or III alongside their curricular Elective Dance studies.
Drama
Students have diverse range of opportunities to develop their creativity, collaboration and performance skills, and showcase their talents.
Performance Ensembles
This program develops foundational acting techniques, voice projection, movement and stage presence, culminating in student devised performance pieces.
Musical Theatre
Combining acting, singing, and dancing, this program offers foundations for performance in musical theatre, emphasising vocal technique, choreography and character development.
Film
Students learn the art of visual storytelling, covering various aspects such as scriptwriting, directing, cinematography and editing to produce short films.
Theatresports
Improvisation and Theatresports focuses on spontaneous and unscripted theatre, teaching students quick-thinking skills and creativity through competitive improvisation games.
Language Arts
Language Arts (LA) is a burgeoning co-curricular offering with four distinct strands – Debating, Public Speaking, Mock Law and Model United Nations.
Debating
Our Debating programs help girls research, analyse and structure arguments, from Social Debating Classes for experienced debaters and novices alike, through to competitive teams including ISDA Debating, FED, Archdale Shield, Sydney Social Debating, Chinese (Ruiyou Cup) Debating and The International Debating Championships.
Public Speaking
Public Speaking Classes build girls’ confidence in speaking and structuring engaging speeches, while TEDx is a sequenced program culminating in the presentation of TEDx talks.
Speech and Drama
Our Speech and Drama programs build integrated performance and communication skills, from voice and public speaking to storytelling and characterisation, with the option to undertake AMEB examinations in Voice and Communication.
Model United Nations
Pymble Model United Nations (PMUN) is a student-led club that meets every week. PMUN runs an inter-school winter conference and launched NSWMUN in 2024. Pymble is the first Australian school to have been accepted into the United Nations endorsed THIMUN Model UN conference.
Mock law
Through Mediation, Mock Trial and Mooting competitions, students gain a practical introduction to the law and our judicial system. They build skills in communication, conflict resolution, critical thinking and advocacy, developing the confidence to speak persuasively and apply legal reasoning to real-world situations.
Music
Pymble has a long tradition of excellence in music and offers an array of bands, choirs, orchestras and ensembles for students to join, as well as private music tuition.
Private Tuition
We are fortunate to have more than 40 highly qualified specialist music teachers and performers who provide private instrumental and voice lessons. Students are also encouraged to present for the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB), Trinity College or ABRSM examinations. Pymble consistently rates in the top five schools in the state by the AMEB for outstanding results.
Choirs
The School Choir is open to all singers from Year 7 to Year 12. The Pymble Chorale is an auditioned vocal ensemble for students from Year 8 to Year 12. Students must be part of the School Choir.
Chamber Groups
The College has a variety of chamber groups including: College String Quartets, Flute Trio, Clarinet Trio, Flute Ensemble, Clarinet Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble and Baroque Ensemble.
Orchestras
Senior String Orchestra is Open to all string players from Year 7. The Symphony Orchestra is an auditioned ensemble for string and band (woodwind/brass/percussion) players. These students must be part of the Senior String Orchestra.
Bands
The Middle School Concert Band welcomes Years 7–8; the School Concert Band welcomes Years 9–12, with Years 7–8 students able to join both. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble is an auditioned group for woodwind/brass/percussion players at AMEB Grade 6 standard or above. The Senior Jazz Ensemble (Years 7–12) plays jazz standards, while the Stage Band is an auditioned jazz ensemble; both require concurrent membership in a concert band.
Musical Productions
From Broadway favourites to ensemble showcases, our musical productions give students in Years 7 to 12 the chance to perform on a professional stage at the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts. Students build confidence, creativity and teamwork through singing, acting and dance, and work alongside peers across year groups to bring a full-scale production to life.
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