Arts

Maui Prep Dance

Visual and Fine Arts

K-12 Dance Curriculum: 

Lower School: Kindergarten–5th Grade

Dance is part of the Lower School Performing Arts curriculum, with all students participating in a weekly 45-minute class. These classes introduce students to the foundations of movement, musicality, and storytelling through dance while preparing them for performances throughout the school year.

Students explore rhythm, spatial awareness, and expressive movement while developing foundational dance skills in a supportive and collaborative environment. The program emphasizes creativity, teamwork, and confidence as students learn how movement can communicate ideas and emotions.

In addition to their weekly dance class, Lower School students participate in Hula instruction for six months of the school year, providing a meaningful connection to Hawaiian culture and movement traditions.

Lower School students perform in several school traditions and productions, including:
  • Lower School Halloween Dance Assembly
  • Lower School Musical Theater Production
  • May Day Celebration
  • Arts Night
These experiences allow students to share their work with the community while developing stage presence and confidence.

Middle School Dance Elective

Middle School students may elect to study dance as part of their Performing Arts pathway, meeting for approximately two hours each week.

The curriculum evolves throughout the year to expose students to a range of dance styles and creative processes.
Quarter 1 & 2 – Musical Theatre Dance
Students develop performance technique while participating in the Middle and Upper School theatrical production.
Quarter 3 – Contemporary Dance & Choreography
Students explore contemporary dance vocabulary while learning the fundamentals of choreography, composition, and movement design.
Quarter 4 – Commercial Dance Performance
Students study commercial dance styles and prepare choreography for Arts Night.

During the second semester, Middle School students also participate in Hula, further enriching their understanding of cultural dance traditions.

Upper School Dance Elective

Upper School students may pursue dance through an advanced elective that meets for approximately three hours each week.

Semester 1 – Musical Theatre Dance
Students train in musical theatre dance technique and perform as part of the Middle and Upper School production.
Semester 2 – Commercial Dance & Conditioning
Students explore contemporary commercial dance styles while focusing on strength, conditioning, and performance preparation for Arts Night.

This progression allows students to deepen both their technical abilities and their artistic expression while gaining valuable performance experience.

Upper School Dance Elective

Upper School students may pursue dance through an advanced elective that meets for approximately three hours each week.

Semester 1 – Musical Theatre Dance
Students train in musical theatre dance technique and perform as part of the Middle and Upper School production.
Semester 2 – Commercial Dance & Conditioning
Students explore contemporary commercial dance styles while focusing on strength, conditioning, and performance preparation for Arts Night.

This progression allows students to deepen both their technical abilities and their artistic expression while gaining valuable performance experience.

List of 4 items.

  • Styles of Dance

    Students are introduced to a diverse range of dance styles throughout the program, including:
    • Jazz
    • Hip Hop
    • Musical Theatre
    • Contemporary
    • Creative Movement
    • Hula
    Each level builds upon previously learned skills, allowing students to grow technically while developing their own artistic voice.

  • What Students Gain

    Through their study of dance, students develop skills that extend far beyond the studio, including:
    • Confidence and stage presence
    • Physical strength, flexibility, and coordination
    • Discipline and perseverance
    • Teamwork and collaboration
    • Creativity and artistic expression
    • Performance and presentation skills
    These experiences help students grow as both performers and individuals, equipping them with skills that support success in all areas of life.

  • Performance Opportunities

    Performance is an essential element of the Maui Prep dance experience. Students have numerous opportunities throughout the year to share their work with the school community.

    These include:
    • Lower School Halloween Dance Assembly
    • Holiday Highlights Performances
    • Middle and Upper School Musical Theater Production
    • Lower School Musical Theater Production
    • May Day Celebration
    • Arts Night
    May Day is a signature cultural event at Maui Prep that celebrates Hawaiian traditions through music, dance, and community. Dance students play a significant role in this cherished annual celebration.


  • Integration with the Performing Arts

    Dance at Maui Prep is closely integrated with the broader Performing Arts program.

    Students collaborate with the drama, theatre, and music departments on school productions and interdisciplinary performances.

    Dance is frequently featured in theatrical productions, where choreography enhances storytelling and allows students to experience the collaborative nature of the performing arts.

    This interdisciplinary approach strengthens students’ understanding of performance as a shared artistic endeavor.

List of 3 items.

  • Theater Studio

    The theater studio, located on the main Maui Prep campus, is a multipurpose room devoted to the drama, music and dance.

  • Chin Studio at the Bozich Center

    The Chin Studio is a multi-purpose room primarily used as a dance studio in the Bozich Center.  The room features wall-to-wall mirrors, portable ballet barres, and a luxury sprung dance floor.

  • Graham Theater at the Bozich Center

    The Graham Theater, part of the Bozich Center, is the main stage for Maui Prep productions

Program Leadership

The dance program is led by Nathalie Smith, Director of Performing Arts at Maui Preparatory Academy.

Nathalie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Performance Theory and Practice (Dance Studies) from the University of Western Sydney and a Postgraduate Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching (Secondary Education). She also trained at Bradfield College in Sydney, a specialized Performing Arts institution, where she was awarded excellence for her graduating choreography and selected to present her work at the Sydney Opera House as part of a statewide showcase.

Her teaching career includes developing and implementing the inaugural dance curriculum at Westall Secondary College in Melbourne, where she taught dance and Theatre Studies. Nathalie has also taught in several schools within the Sydney Board of Education system, including Blacktown Girls High School, Caroline Chisolm College, and Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School.

In addition to her work in schools, Nathalie served as a lead choreographer and educator with the National Youth Dance Theatre for seven years, where she trained young performers and prepared students for major festival performances in Sydney and Melbourne.

Her professional background in choreography, dance education, and musical theatre allows her to bring a high level of artistic and educational expertise to the Maui Prep Performing Arts program. She is passionate about helping students develop confidence through strong foundational skills while creating meaningful opportunities for students to perform, collaborate, and grow as artists.
 

Find Us

4910 Honoapi'ilani Highway
Lahaina, Hi 96761

About

Maui Preparatory Academy is a preschool through 12th grade private school located in West Maui. 
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