Upper School Intersession 2025

California's official state dance, West Coast Swing, is a fun social dance that emphasizes improvisation (check out examples of competitive WCS here, here, and here). Originally a form of Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing has evolved into a modern partner dance which can be danced to almost any kind of music and is also degendered (anyone can lead or follow). It's increasingly popular thanks to social media: Learn how to "speak" WCS, and you'll have a community of Westie friends on college campuses and in cities all around the world.
No dance experience necessary. Wear pants and comfortable sneakers/flat shoes.

In this half-day stand-up comedy writing workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of crafting and delivering their own original comedic material. Through interactive exercises, group collaboration, and solo writing time, students will explore the art of joke construction, comedic timing, and finding their unique voice. The workshop will also emphasize the importance of storytelling and personal experience in comedy, helping students turn real-life observations into relatable, funny material. By the end of the session, participants will have developed a short stand-up set and gain the confidence to share their work with the group.

You will make a (very) short film in one day. You will come into the session with an idea for a (very) short film. You will learn about the type of shots and framing to tell your story. You will storyboard your film, including thinking about camera placement. You will cover the basics of directing actors. Then, you will shoot your film and come back in the afternoon to edit your film into the final form - including using music and sound to make your film more impactful.

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a children's book writer? Then this session is for you. Sabrina Moyle, author of over 20 children's books including nine Amazon Editor's Picks, will walk you through the business and process of writing and publishing a children's book. What makes a great children's book? What are the different children's book types and formats? Why do people purchase children's books? Why are some books successful, and others are not? What are the key elements of a children's book? What does a finished children's book manuscript look like? How does a book go from manuscript to publication? How do you get a children's book published? We'll start by discussing some beloved children's books, such as Where the Wild Things Are, Goodnight Moon and The Rabbit Listened, investigate what makes them work, and discuss how books like these are made and published.  Students will then have a chance to brainstorm some ideas of their own.