27 February 2012 | by Natasha Mbwana

In a few days, March 1^st to be more specific, 28 Maru-a-Pula Performing Arts students and their teachers (Ms. Matthee, Mrs. Ferreira, Mr. Mhlanga, Mr. Ndlovu and Mr. Paya) will set-off on their 4 day educational trip to Waterford Kamhlaba School in Mbabane, Swaziland.

“It’s an educational trip: we are not going there to have fun, so students should be prepared,” said Drama teacher, Mr. Ndlovu. “Therefore, there is no room for laziness.” Whilst on their stay in Swaziland, Drama students will be attending numerous workshops that will focus on preparing them for their IGCSE theory paper this coming May. “They are bringing their notes; they are bringing their scripts; they are bringing their A-Game; and, they should be on top of the situation,” he added.

The 2012 May/June Drama extract is from Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s dark comic satire, The Physicists. “…The bottom line is that [the students] should understand the script even better [after the experience]. It’s such a beautiful play, there’s a lot to learn from this particular play, especially when you look at the plot [and] the idea behind the playwright’s vision,” commented Mr. Ndlovu. “It’s an opportunity for our students to learn from other students, and also for them to gain [the] confidence that they are doing the right thing [- in terms of understanding the extract].”

When asked about the impact that the Form 5 Swaziland Drama Trip had on her back in 2011, Deborah Fashole-Luke said, “It was helpful, because we got to see [different] views of [the same extract from] other kids we’ve never met. It was [also] interesting because…we are so used to hearing from our own people; [and so] it really opens [one’s] eyes when [you hear] what other people have to say.” Earlier on in the term, there was a discussion about whether or not Waterford students should come to MaP for a change. Due to the fact that majority of the MaP Performing Arts students requested to go to Swaziland, it was agreed that we would go – and the Performing Arts class of 2013 might have to host Waterford students. “Either way, you’ll get the experience of learning more,” said Jack Buckmaster. “It’s a lot easier to go somewhere and learn something than it is in your own environment,” Deborah argued, “ because you are so used to [your own space], you are more relaxed [and comfortable] about it, [so] you’re not really going to push yourself to…learn new things…In another environment…you are forced to think outside of the box.”  Mr Ndlovu also added that the whole notion of “traveling to another country and…” working together as a team has its perks, “If you look at the last trip that we had, which is the Jozi trip: the SASOL Gauteng Schools festival, Drama students bonded more. It was nice to see students working together, you know, outside class, and for them to understand each other even more – which is a key thing in Drama.”

Another new change to the trip is that “there is hope to change this into a Performing Arts trip, rather than a drama trip,” Refilwe Mpai (Music student) informed us. “It is a learning experience [and] there is a first time for everything. The Music students, as well as the teachers, hope that we will benefit from this as the Drama students do.” Michelle Luiz, another Form 5 Music student, stated that  she “[does not] see any reason why [Music students] shouldn’t go [on the trip], because Waterford has its own IGCSE Music class too”, in response to all the negative speculation about Music students joining the Swaziland trip – as Music students have never gone on this trip in previous years. “[Music] holds just as much weight as Drama: being able to facilitate for 2 arts in one trip should be something to praise, not criticize,” she concluded.

The Music students will be working alongside Waterford’s IGCSE Music division on their coursework during the duration of the trip, preparing for their listening exam in June, which includes “understanding a 200 page music score,” Michelle stated.

As the days fast approach, naturally, teachers and students alike have certain expectations regarding the trip: “Students need to realize that there’s far more to Drama and, hopefully, by  seeing another school… [they will take] take Drama more seriously and [view it] as a serious subject, not a soft option,” Mr. Paya said, expressing his hopes.  “What I hope for,” Mr. Ndlovu said, “is that when we get there, that our students have some idea about the play…that we [bring] something to the table and [learn] a lot at the same time.”

On the student’s side, there are similar feelings towards the trip: “I hope to get some revision on our coursework, because I was recently informed that we are ahead of [the students at Waterford], and also to learn another approach towards doing it,” said Refilwe. “I’m so excited!,” exclaimed Michelle, “Swaziland is like a whole new country, which means a new culture and new experiences, I can’t wait!…The prospect of being in a different environment is great, because when you’re in the Performing Arts, working with many more people helps you to learn that much quicker…So I am SURE this trip will be beneficial.” In a burst of excitement, Letsema Ngidi proclaimed that she wants, “an A*!” out of the whole experience.

“Swaziland is going to be a very nice Drama and Music trip,” stated Mr. Ndlovu, “because it’s nice to gather as teachers and students to talk about what you have a passion for”: The Performing Arts.

In a few days, March 1^st to be more specific, 28 Maru-a-Pula Performing Arts students and their teachers (Ms. Matthee, Mrs. Ferreira, Mr. Mhlanga, Mr. Ndlovu and Mr. Paya) will set-off on their 4 day educational trip to Waterford Kamhlaba School in Mbabane, Swaziland.

“It’s an educational trip: we are not going there to have fun, so students should be prepared,” said Drama teacher, Mr. Ndlovu. “Therefore, there is no room for laziness.” Whilst on their stay in Swaziland, Drama students will be attending numerous workshops that will focus on preparing them for their IGCSE theory paper this coming May. “They are bringing their notes; they are bringing their scripts; they are bringing their A-Game; and, they should be on top of the situation,” he added.

The 2012 May/June Drama extract is from Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s dark comic satire, The Physicists. “…The bottom line is that [the students] should understand the script even better [after the experience]. It’s such a beautiful play, there’s a lot to learn from this particular play, especially when you look at the plot [and] the idea behind the playwright’s vision,” commented Mr. Ndlovu. “It’s an opportunity for our students to learn from other students, and also for them to gain [the] confidence that they are doing the right thing [- in terms of understanding the extract].”

When asked about the impact that the Form 5 Swaziland Drama Trip had on her back in 2011, Deborah Fashole-Luke said, “It was helpful, because we got to see [different] views of [the same extract from] other kids we’ve never met. It was [also] interesting because…we are so used to hearing from our own people; [and so] it really opens [one’s] eyes when [you hear] what other people have to say.” Earlier on in the term, there was a discussion about whether or not Waterford students should come to MaP for a change. Due to the fact that majority of the MaP Performing Arts students requested to go to Swaziland, it was agreed that we would go – and the Performing Arts class of 2013 might have to host Waterford students. “Either way, you’ll get the experience of learning more,” said Jack Buckmaster. “It’s a lot easier to go somewhere and learn something than it is in your own environment,” Deborah argued, “ because you are so used to [your own space], you are more relaxed [and comfortable] about it, [so] you’re not really going to push yourself to…learn new things…In another environment…you are forced to think outside of the box.” Mr Ndlovu also added that the whole notion of “traveling to another country and…” working together as a team has its perks, “If you look at the last trip that we had, which is the Jozi trip: the SASOL Gauteng Schools festival, Drama students bonded more. It was nice to see students working together, you know, outside class, and for them to understand each other even more – which is a key thing in Drama.”

Another new change to the trip is that “there is hope to change this into a Performing Arts trip, rather than a drama trip,” Refilwe Mpai (Music student) informed us. “It is a learning experience [and] there is a first time for everything. The Music students, as well as the teachers, hope that we will benefit from this as the Drama students do.” Michelle Luiz, another Form 5 Music student, stated that she “[does not] see any reason why [Music students] shouldn’t go [on the trip], because Waterford has its own IGCSE Music class too”, in response to all the negative speculation about Music students joining the Swaziland trip – as Music students have never gone on this trip in previous years. “[Music] holds just as much weight as Drama: being able to facilitate for 2 arts in one trip should be something to praise, not criticize,” she concluded.

The Music students will be working alongside Waterford’s IGCSE Music division on their coursework during the duration of the trip, preparing for their listening exam in June, which includes “understanding a 200 page music score,” Michelle stated.

As the days fast approach, naturally, teachers and students alike have certain expectations regarding the trip: “Students need to realize that there’s far more to Drama and, hopefully, by seeing another school… [they will take] take Drama more seriously and [view it] as a serious subject, not a soft option,” Mr. Paya said, expressing his hopes. “What I hope for,” Mr. Ndlovu said, “is that when we get there, that our students have some idea about the play…that we [bring] something to the table and [learn] a lot at the same time.”

On the student’s side, there are similar feelings towards the trip: “I hope to get some revision on our coursework, because I was recently informed that we are ahead of [the students at Waterford], and also to learn another approach towards doing it,” said Refilwe. “I’m so excited!,” exclaimed Michelle, “Swaziland is like a whole new country, which means a new culture and new experiences, I can’t wait!…The prospect of being in a different environment is great, because when you’re in the Performing Arts, working with many more people helps you to learn that much quicker…So I am SURE this trip will be beneficial.” In a burst of excitement, Letsema Ngidi proclaimed that she wants,“an A*!” out of the whole experience.

“Swaziland is going to be a very nice Drama and Music trip,” stated Mr. Ndlovu, “because it’s nice to gather as teachers and students to talk about what you have a passion for”: The Performing Arts.