Dance offers a comprehensive curriculum based on modern and ballet technique supplemented by improvisation, choreography, jazz, hip hop, yoga, Pilates, dance history, anatomy, nutrition, injury prevention, college and career preparation.
In addition to training with High Tech's professional faculty, students will also have the opportunity to study with guest artists and learn legendary choreography.
Dancers will have many opportunities to perform their own work as well as that of their instructor and guest artists throughout the year. At High Tech, dancers grow and develop their artistry and technique in an environment that is challenging, focused and supportive.
DRAMA faculty
Raluca Shields
Head of Drama Department
Raluca Georgiana Shields is an theatre teacher, director, actress, and dancer who has a Bachelors of Arts in Theatre, French and Spanish from University of Pennsylvania and a MFA in Acting from Columbia University, currently affiliated with Fusion Theatre (NYC). She trained with Kristin Linklater, Andrei Serban, Anne Bogart, Niky and Ulla Wolcz and others. She spent years directing, choreographing, and teaching for the Dwight School, Fildwith Ensemble and County Prep HS. Over the years she has directed: Heathers, The Teen Edition, Chicago: High School Edition, Little Women (Virtual), Brooklyn: the Musical, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Fantasticks, Jekyll & Hyde Broadway, The Wiz, In the Heights, Grease 2, and the plays A Dream’s Play, The Seagull, Summer and Smoke, Bodas de Sangre, Paradise Hotel, Now What?, R. W. Emerson HS, and The Servant of Two Masters.
Most recently she performed in Fusion Theatre's in-person streamed production of No Exit (Estelle), as well as several online productions such as the new play Zachary Hates Everything (Mom/ Windsor), the film Spaghetti Western/ Feature (Maria dei Gelati), the virtual play One Empire Under God (Amaru Bakali, Ensemble), various Not Muppet Classic Theatre productions such as Little Mermaid (Ariel) as well as other monthly production and the mini tv web series Lockdown Series (Aunt Kathy). Past productions include Luceafarul: the Legend of the Evening Star (Veronica) at the Off-Broadway Marjorie S. Deane Little Theatre, and the Acorn Theatre. (Theatre Row). Other acting credits include Machinal (Young Woman) at Grayfriar’s Kirk in Edinburgh, Twelfth Night (Sir Andrew Aguecheek) at Shapiro Theatre, Turandot (Zelima, Arlechino) at LaMaMa etc.