The Arts + Progressive Education — the Dance program at the Ecole d’Humanité
Immersion in the arts is a central tenant of progressive education at the Ecole d’Humanité, and our campus buzzes with creativity. Students explore all manner of disciplines from the traditional fine arts to experimental multi-media projects. As they try out new forms of expression – abstract painting, darkroom photography, throwing clay on the wheel, or putting up a theater production – our students are free to innovate, experiment, and discover. They might produce beautiful blunders or mesmerizing works of profound maturity. Whatever the end result, they are free to try! Through our arts program, students a the Ecole d’Humanité are engaged in an essential process of becoming who they are – finding their individual artistic voices.
The results of this process can be seen in this incredible work, conceived, choreographed, directed, and performed by Kealy McGough.
Kealy McGough, a graduate of the class of 2022, came to the Ecole as a 10th-grade student with a desire to continue exploring her passion for dance. During her time at the Ecole, dance was always a part of Kealy’s individual artistic identity. Dance allowed Kealy to expand her leadership skills as she participated in and then co-taught folk dancing groups, and her creativity broadened through modern dance.
As Kealy’s creativity and leadership grew, so too did her artistic vision. In her final work at the Ecole, Kealy presented a piece entitled Nature’s Cry in which she explores the interplay between emotion, movement, topography, global warming, and consumerism. Inspired by majestic glaciers, lush forests, and fresh alpine waterways that surround the Ecole d’Humanité’s campus, Kealy’s work engages with the conflict between the pristine natural landscape and the powerful forces of consumerism.
Kealy’s piece was created as a two-year independent project. Working together with her teachers, student dancers, and student videographer, Noah Bühler, Kealy conceptualized, choreographed, performed, and directed her work while Noah filmed the project.
We are blown away by Kealy’s vision and talent. Kealy’s accomplishment is an example of what is possible for students at the Ecole d’Humanité. Kealy had a vision and found within herself the determination to bring it to life. She recruited a team and led them to create an innovative and inspired piece of art.