Visual & Performing Arts

Saint Mary’s School in Raleigh, North Carolina, has received a gift of more than $6 million as part of the Saint Mary’s Forever campaign for the creation of The Blanche Robertson Bacon Performing Arts Center. The gift is being made in honor and memory of alumna Blanche Robertson Bacon, a member of the school’s high school Class of 1953 and the junior college Class of 1955, by members of her family.

Saint Mary’s School seminar program integrates what we know girls need, with what we know of the changing world girls will be facing, to provide relevant, forward-looking, real-world opportunities to prepare girls for college and life. In collaboration with Saint Mary’s Seminar faculty, Black Box Dance Theatre is working with our students to provide innovative programming to explore topics relevant to the areas of focus as well as current events for each grade level.

If I had a nickel for every time that someone in the last month has asked me, “How are you teaching chorus online?”, well… I’d have LOTS of nickels. My response has varied from an indignant “Of course, I do!” to a kinder, “It’s different, but we are still singing and sharing music every day. Why wouldn’t we?” I got the giggles in a recent Zoom meeting with Director of Dance Ms. Yount and some others last week when a friend said, “How are you, Lisa?  Are y’all still dancing?”  Ms. Yount backed up so the camera captured her entire living room with every piece of furniture pushed to the walls and stacks of CDs next to an 80’s boom box. Yes! The dance goes on!

Dear Saint Mary’s Community,

Although you may not be joining us for a concert in Pittman auditorium… I hope this letter finds you and your family in great health and in the comfort of your homes. This truly has been a time of adjustment for Orchesis Dance Theatre, as the dancers have left the studios and found themselves spinning around in their kitchens taking virtual dance classes. The vast changes in our daily lives have not, however, belittled the dedication, love, and strength of Orchesis Dance Theatre. This spring concert may look a little different but it is busting at the seams with remarkable creativity.

In the age of COVID-19 and distance learning, arts education may be among the most challenging disciplines to teach online. The performing arts typically involve lengthy in-person collaboration and rehearsals working closely together toward live performance with real-time reaction from an audience. The creation of visual art benefits from the hands-on interaction between teacher and student with all the resources of the studio. True to their creative and resilient nature, Saint Mary’s Visual and Performing Arts faculty and students are rising to the meet the challenge with innovative projects and strategies to continue their work in meaningful ways.

Over the weekend of Feb. 7-9, 2020, 23 members of the Orchesis Dance Theater, along with dance instructors Lisa Yount and Michelle Pearson headed off to Washington D.C. for a delightful two-night trip.

The group left Friday morning and spent their first day discovering Georgetown and sightseeing at the Georgetown Harbor. The day concluded with dinner all together at a Mexican restaurant right next to the ice-skating rink.

Lift every voice and read! Saint Mary’s School presents its 12th annual celebration of the African American Read-In (AARI), Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, during a special assembly in historic Pittman Auditorium.

I am thrilled to invite you to Orchesis Dance Theatre’s Fall 2019 Concert. This concert showcases our company of amazing and talented dancers. We have 19 members currently performing with Orchesis Dance Theatre. We have been so fortunate to welcome eight incredible new dancers into the company this fall.

Orchesis Dance Theatre proudly presented its Fall 2019 Concert, Friday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m., in Eliza Battle Pittman Auditorium. The concert featured choreography by Saint Mary’s dance faculty, Lisa Yount and Michelle Pearson, with guest artist choreography by Valonda Calloway and Natalie Morton. 

Saint Mary’s Theatre is proud to present Decision Height, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26, 2019, nightly at 7 p.m., in historic Eliza Battle Pittman Auditorium. From the winner of the 2013 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, comes a story about friendship and the complex though essential role of women in wartime.