Classes

Click Here to see our class schedule.
St. John School of the Arts aim is to reach out to our youth, intervening through arts education during these impressionable formative years. Immersion in creativity, self-discipline and self-expression infuses the intellectual, social and psychological well being of our children. Numerous studies reveal arts education increases attention span, focus and cooperative learning, enhances creative intelligence, and augments scholastic learning. Please click on the “+” to see more detail or Click Here for our Class Catalog which contains more detailed descriptions. *These classes are offered based on availability of the instructors and are subject to change; please contact us if you have any questions regarding scheduling. Click Here for Scholarship page to see our financial assistance information.
Theater & Acting
Acting for Theater I & II
Creative expression for the stage, using body, voice and imagination. Students will develop skills in characterization, realistic playing on stage, and emotional connection with a storyline. Class will include character-related theater games and basic techniques for vocal preparation and performance. As an ensemble, we will work on projection, vocal quality, range, energy, and expressiveness through relaxation and technique exercises.
Movement Classes
Tumbling I (Beginners) (with Miss Jude)
Tumbling I: Beginner tumbling (Tumbling I/Tumbling for Tots) will work on strengthening handstands, cartwheels, bridges, and rolls, as well as drills for round offs, and walkovers.
Tumbling II (with Miss Jude)
Intermediate Tumbling (Tumbling 2) have mastered these skills, and will work on perfecting their round-offs, handsprings and walkovers.
Tumbling III (Advanced) (with Miss Jude)
The students will learn stretching and strength exercises as well as a progressive tumbling movements. As each student masters a tumbling skill, the next tumbling trick will be introduced. The students will always learn about safety and team work and positive disciple.
Advanced Jazz Dance
Learn Broadway style dance techniques and movement.
Hip Hop Break Dancing
Start your day off right with a fun movement class exploring country and urban line dancing.
Creative Movement I (Formerly Pre-Ballet)
Students learn to love movement and explore multiple ways of moving around a space. Students learn ballet terminology and steps, stretches, and movements across the floor, while having fun. Students hear a mix of classical ballet music, and silly songs. Dancers use their imagination to transform into animals. Dancers also have fun using props such as ribbons, instruments, parachutes, and much more!
Ballet I
Students learn the structure of a traditional ballet class. Reinforce the Fundamentals of classical ballet, focusing on proper body alignment, basic ballet technique and terminology, and musicality,. Students will be introduced to elementary barre and center work. This class is offered once a week. Students continue to work towards more advanced steps.
Ballet II
Students are invited to Ballet Level 2 after they have demonstrated full understanding of the previous level. Body alignment and muscle awareness will determine progress. Students learn the structure of a traditional ballet class, rms, direction of the body, and increased movement vocabulary. . Students learn ballet steps, and continue to work towards more advanced steps.
Ballet III (Teens)
In Ballet Level 3, attention is paid to the proper extension of the limbs, shape of the feet, developing movement sequences, port de bras and balance. Students will see an increase in difficulty in barre and center work. Students begin focusing on repetition and retention.
Caribbean Movement
This is an introduction to Caribbean Dance. Students will learn and execute the fundamentals of Caribbean Dance by practicing movement exercises and dance phrases designed to increase knowledge of Caribbean dance. Students will engage in traditional Caribbean and contemporary cultural forms such as afro – Caribbean movement, merengue, bachata, calypso, and soca.
Quadrille Dance
Quadrille is the official dance of the Virgin Islands. Students will learn basic quadrille language and dances.
Music Classes
Ethnic Drumming
Using historical folklore as a medium of expression, students will be introduced to basic/intermediate Afro–Caribbean drumming and dance forms
Guitar I
Introduction to Guitar teaches basic guitar rhythm strumming using acoustic steel- string guitars in standard tuning. In this class we will learn and execute the open chord shapes and explore popular guitar strum patterns while engaging with contemporary, global guitar standards.
Guitar II
Guitar II helps student’s improve guitar basic guitar chords, picking, and finer picking techniques. To make the learning process engaging students will learn familiar song. Students will also be encouraged throughout the class to compose his or her own original song.
Groovin' with Ukulele I + II
Introduction to Ukulele teaches basic Ukulele rhythm strumming using acoustic steel-string Ukuleles in standard tuning. In this class we will learn and execute the open chord shapes of C, Em, Am, F, G. We will learn the basic strum patterns using 4/4 rhythms, while engaging with contemporary Ukulele music standards of fun Caribbean, Hawaiian and Pop genres.
Songwriting
Learn easy songwriting techniques and tools to write your own music.
Drumming I & II
Using historical folklore as a medium of Expression, students will be introduced to basic/intermediate Afro–Caribbean drumming and dance forms.
Visual Arts Classes
Expressive Painting and Drawing
Have fun painting and drawing learning to drip, layer, and smear on bright colors and textures. Sometimes we will paint and draw big using our whole body and sometimes we’ll paint and draw small. ng famous paintings to understand the artist’s styles, children are inspired to make their own paintings.
Art For Social Change
This class advocate an approach which stresses the vital connections between students’ lives inside and outside of school within a framework of social and historical analysis. This approach encourages students to speak, create, and represent themselves from their own positions, as well as encourages them to critique their environment, and confront social issues in ways that are synthesized with the study of art. When the focus is shifted to issues and ideas that students truly care about and that are relevant within a larger life-world context, art becomes a vital means of reflecting upon the nature of society and social existence.
Fabric Dye
This class aim to integrate the creating of fabric art works using the many dye techniques like tie-dye, mud cloth, shibori, and batik with the introduction to the history of textile dyes. We will explore and investigate the use of natural resources like roots, berries, bark, leaves, wood and other organic, naturally occurring substances in the creation of beautiful works of art.
Clay Modeling
This class will introduce the students to clay. One of the world’s greatest resources, clay has been used by humans for more purposes than any other material. Demonstrated and explained in this course, are some of the very enjoyable ways in which one can make things of utility and beauty from clay.
Image and Color
Image and Color: This course shall cover not only the basic elements of color theory, but also provide an opportunity for the more intuitive and practical applications of color in the making of art. The perceptual, symbolic, and cultural significances of color are addressed.
Language Arts Classes
Chinese I
Learn to read, speak and write Mandarin Chinese, using calligraphy brushes, ink block, ink slab, and rice paper.
Chinese II
A next level course teaching students to read, speak and write conversational Mandarin Chinese, using calligraphy brushes, ink block, ink slab, and rice paper.