The arts are a vital component of the educational experience at Tampa Day School. Through visual arts and performing arts students have a chance to be creative, express themselves, and have fun! These programs not only honor each child’s strengths, but also allow students to experience competence in non-academic areas — a game-changer for many.
When students are struggling academically, arts programs often allow the opportunity to build self-esteem that has been diminished. The motivation fostered through experiencing success in a creative outlet often translates to the classroom and beyond.
Benefits of arts education include:
- Opportunities for collaboration
- Reduced anxiety
- Improved communication skills
- Discovery of new strengths and interests
- Increased confidence
- Enhanced focus
- Improved visual-spatial skills
- Links to greater academic achievement
Arts Opportunities Available at TDS
- Music
- Reading music
- Performance
- Instrument lessons
- Visual Arts
- Photography
- Drawing
- Painting
- Sculpting
- Crafting
- Performing Arts
- Theatre
- Playwrighting
- Improvisation
- Stage Production
- Musical Theatre
- Technology, Arts and Media
- Video production
- Graphic design
- Video game creation
- 3D printing
Most of the arts programs at TDS are integrated into our curriculum and offered during the regular school day as enrichments (grades 3-6) or electives (grades 7-8). Elective choices may vary from year to year. Our afterschool clubs also vary by student interest and have included dance, crochet, ceramics, drawing, theatre, and jewelry making.
Arts Events
The entire TDS community enjoys yearly performances, such as our Fall Improv Show, Our Original Play Festival (where grades 3-6 put on an original play written by the students), and our spring One-Act, Upper Division Play. Our Visual Arts program participates and competes in the Florida State Fair Art Competition and hosts an Art Show for each grade where student Art Work is celebrated. Student performances and presentations take place within the curriculum as well, such as our “History Alive,” presentations – where students dress up and answer questions from the perspectives of historical Floridians, scientists, explorers, and other figures.