Denver School of the Arts
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| Denver School of the Arts | |
|---|---|
 DSA rotunda (on east side of building) | |
| Location | |
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7111 Montview Boulevard Denver, Colorado United States | |
| Coordinates | 39°44′53.06″N 104°54′18.75″W / 39.7480722°N 104.9052083°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Magnet secondary |
| Established | 1991 |
| School district | Denver Public Schools |
| Principal | William Kohut |
| Staff | 72[1] |
| Grades | 6 to 12 |
| Enrollment | 1,100 |
| Color(s) | Black and white, in addition to a separate color for each major |
| Athletics | None |
| Mascot | White Siberian tiger |
| Superintendent | Tom Boasberg |
| Website | Official website |
Denver School of the Arts (DSA) is a comprehensive secondary arts magnet school (grades 6–12) within the Denver Public School District of Denver, Colorado, United States.
In addition to pursuing a rigorous academic program, DSA students engage in intensive studies within one of 11 arts majors – bands, creative writing, dance & movement, guitar, orchestra, piano, stagecraft & design, theatre, video cinema arts, visual arts, and vocal music. DSA is committed to fostering a lifelong love of the arts in a culturally diverse, academically challenging environment. Founded in the late 1980s, DSA was a pioneer of the magnet school concept.[citation needed]
History
Denver School of the Arts began as a concurrent program at Manual High School, but was eventually transformed into a fully staffed school in the former Byers Middle School at 150 South Pearl Street – the former site of Byers Mansion. During the 2003–2004 school year, DSA moved to its permanent home at 7111 E. Montview Boulevard, the former site of the Colorado Women's College and the Lamont School of Music.
DSA continues to provide rigorous academic and arts training to its students, and it consistently ranks among the top high schools in the state of Colorado.[citation needed]
Students have performed in places all around the country, including off-broadway productions and with Barry Manilow as his choir.[citation needed]
Students
DSA serves both middle school and high school students. Graduating class sizes are small, with approximately 140 students comprising the Class of 2014.
Audition process
DSA requires an audition for prospective students competing to join one of its eleven offered majors, which include creative writing, dance, instrumental music (bands, orchestra, piano and guitar), stagecraft & design, theatre, video cinema arts, visual arts, and vocal music.
DSA maintains rigorous academic and artistic standards, and a student with deficiencies may be placed on artistic or academic probation, with the eventual possibility of losing his or her position at DSA.
Extracurricular activities
Clubs and organizations
Extracurricular activities include Tri-M Music Honor Society, International Thespian Society, National History Day, Destination Imagination, Gender & Sexuality Alliance, Black History Month, Harry Potter Alliance. DSA has an active National Honor Society program, which emphasizes both academic excellence and community service. DSA also has an award-winning Speech & Debate team.
Performances
There are many performance opportunities for students from the performing arts majors, including large events such as Orff's Carmina Burana, Elton John's Aida, And Duke Ellington's Night Creature.
Majors
DSA has majors in Guitar, Vocal Music, Piano, Creative Writing, Video Cinema Arts, Stagecraft and Design, Dance, Visual Arts, Band, Orchestra, and Theatre.[2]
Sports
No extracurricular sports programs are offered at Denver School of the Arts. DSA students are encouraged to participate in sports programs at other Denver high schools and middle schools. Many students at DSA play sports at the sister school of East High School or at their "home" high school.
Notable alumni
- Peter Atencio: director, Key & Peele, Comedy Central
- Gabriel Ebert: Tony-winning actor, Matilda the Musical; actor, Ricki and the Flash
- Mackenzie Gault: musician, co-founder of Flobots[3]
- Mondo Guerra: fashion designer, winner of Project Runway: All Stars (2012)
- Justine Lupe: actor, Harry's Law, Cristela
- Jessica Posner-Odede: author, co-founder of Shining Hope for Communities[4]
- Jon Shockness: musician, co-founder of Air Dubai; solo project, Kid Astronaut[5]
References
- ^ "Denver School of the Arts | Staff List". Dsa.dpsk12.org. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
- ^ "Arts". dsa.dpsk12.org. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
- ^ Callwood, Brett (2017-04-10). "Three Albums Later, the Flobots Have Perfected Protest Songwriting". Westword. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ "Jessica Posner Odede: From New York to Nairobi | Independent Lens | PBS". Independent Lens. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ Murphy, Tom (19 August 2015). "Former Air Dubai Singer Jon Shockness Debuts Kid Astronaut". Westword. Retrieved March 22, 2018.