The TASIS Legacy Gala 2014 was a rousing success, thanks to the efforts of the parent-led Gala Committee!

Our students have big dreams, and TASIS is helping to make them happen. Watch the TASIS Dreams video to see what the future may hold!

Theatre In London course this summer is packed with excursions to London’s most famous theatres, to see some of the world’s finest productions on stage. Ms. Nancy Chism leads the program and uses her rich knowledge of theatre and London to give students a dynamic three-week experience.

 During the three weeks students attend nine productions, including, William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, King Henry IV Part 2, Henry VIII, and West End productions including, La Bete, All My Sons, After The Dance, Wicked, War Horse, and an open air performance at Regent’s Park Theatre of Into The Woods. As well as going to see these plays, students also had a backstage tour of London’s Royal National Theatre and were introduced to a variety of venues with stage designs, including, open air, proscenium arch, and thrust stage.

Back on campus, the class discuss each of the plays to understand theme and characters. Students also act dynamic scenes from each play. Another key part of the course is to read and analyze the course’s focal comedy, William Shakespeare’s, As You Like It. This includes watching a performance of the play at the Old Vic Theatre in London, and acting out the most important acts of the play at the TASIS Fleming Theatre.

One student, from Japan, said, “This course has given me such an amazing opportunity to see many fantastic plays and to see different parts of London. This is my first time visiting London and it has really helped with my English and I have made so many friends, I want to come back next year.”

A student from Russia commented, “I could speak very little English before I came to TASIS, but now that I have been exposed to London theatre and culture, alongside discussing the plays we see, I can understand much more, and want to continue to learn English when I return to Russia.”

With the Victoria & Albert museum as the background, students on the London Through A Lens course photographed their way from The Glory Days Of British Rock to exhibitions on ancient China. Once students finish capturing the V & A they moved onto the bustling and colorful South Kensington high street, where the task was to walk around historic buildings and the unique streets taking photographs as they went along. Back in class, each student made a photo book of their trip to London. Mr. Kurt Svelis, who runs the course, said, “this is a great opportunity for students to really learn how to use a camera to take meaningful and interesting photographs. This generation of students are used to just snapping anything and everything around them, what I like to teach is how to look for that extra special shot and to get that memory of a lifetime.”

During the course, students interact with the world of photography by using computer programs that edit and touch-up photographs including Adobe Photoshop and iPhoto. They also develop ideas and refine techniques in the traditional darkroom setting, learn how to take ‘moving photos’ in an effective way with special camera equipment, and, how the paparazzi is so prevalent in today’s society, amongst many other subjects.

Fatma, 16, from Egypt, commented, “I am enjoying learning how to take really good photographs, I will use the skills that I have learned here for the rest of my life. I really look forward to our weekly trips to London as I get to see lots of different places and also to take great pictures. I am so happy that my parents decided to send me to this summer program at TASIS, I have made lots of great friends and I already can’t wait to come back next summer!”

One of the teaching assistants on the course, Chelsea Mulcahy, a recent graduate in education from St. Bonaventure University, is also really enjoying the program “I am enjoying being a teaching assistant and I am also learning so much from Mr. Svelis about photography. I definitely want to come back to TASIS next summer!”

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Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso, just a few of the many famous artists that are studied in the Art in London summer enrichment class. Over the course of the four weeks, students gain a background in art history including prehistoric art, ancient Egypt, gothic architecture, modern art plus many more. Many museums, art galleries and historic venues are visited from the Tate Britain, to Westminster Abbey. After visiting the Tate Britain one student, Victoria, 15, from the Ukraine, was inspired to draw and paint a piece of modern art (pictured below) she said” I get strong inspiration from our visits to London galleries, I was inspired by a painting I viewed yesterday at the Tate Britain. When I came to class today, I let my imagination create my vision for this piece.”

Mr. Brandon Royal, who teaches the program, commented, “this course is suitable for all levels of students, if there is passion for art in the person, then the creativity will follow. Art is not only a gift, it is also something that can be learned and practiced, and this is what I teach during my classes. Studio work is enriched by trips to London, lessons in art history and debates.” Mr. Royal studied Art History at university, and during the academic year he teaches Tourism and Heritage at Seneca College, Toronto.

Sophia, 18, from Puerto Rico, wants to study illustration at a university in Vancouver and hopes to be a famous cartoonist one day, “I have learned so much from this course, I will definitely use my experience here for my future studies at university and beyond!”

During this week, it was evident that Mr. Royal’s passion for teaching art had inspired the students to create their masterpieces. A selection of the world's most famous artists, Van Gogh, Picasso and Salvator Dali were being studied and student's re-created a piece from each artist. (All masterpieces are pictured below).

                                                         A portrait of Salvator Dali

 A re-creation of Van Gogh's The Bedroom

Picasso's The Dream

More images from Art In London