Walltown offers comprehensive training in three core artistic disciplines—Drama, Music, and Dance—giving students a strong foundation in performance, creativity, and self-expression. These areas intersect in our Musical Theater program, where young artists bring voice, movement, and storytelling together in dynamic productions.
Beyond the spotlight, our Tech & Production workshops introduce students to the behind-the-scenes magic of theater, with hands-on experience in sound, lighting, costuming, props, set design, and stage management.
For our younger artists, the After School Arts (ASA) program provides a safe, supportive space from 2:30 to 5:30. Designed for elementary-aged students, ASA includes supervised play, snacks, games, and creative downtime  PM. in between classes.
With multiple opportunities to perform and grow throughout the year, Walltown nurtures well-rounded artists—both onstage and off.

Dance: Moving With Purpose

Our Dance program empowers students to move with intention, discipline, and joy. Classes range in style—from Ballet and Contemporary to Hip Hop and Jazz—giving dancers a broad foundation in technique and expression. With a focus on storytelling through movement, students gain physical strength, musicality, and confidence. Whether dancing in class, performance, or competition, Walltown dancers learn to communicate powerfully without saying a word.

CLASSICAL FOUNDATIONS: Timeless technique and elegant discipline

Grounded in structure and tradition, these styles focus on alignment, control, and foundational technique—core to every serious dancer’s training.

Pre-Ballet
Especially designed for our youngest dancers to get them passionate and excited about ballet. (Ages 3.5-5)​

Ballet
Studying ballet is one of the most effective and fun ways of improving posture, grace and body awareness. Ballet I is for beginning dancers, and each next level is for more and more experienced ballerinas.

Pre-Pointe/Pointe
Pre-Pointe and Pointe focus heavily on proper body alignment and balance. Furthermore, students will be refreshed on the ballet terminology as well as parts and workings of the body, especially the feet and ankles. Pointe is for higher level dancers who are ready to do more intricate ballet exercises while in point shoes. 

CONTEMPORARY & EXPRESSIVE FORMS: Emotion in Motion

Fusing classical elements with modern innovation, these styles emphasize storytelling, emotional expression, and fluid movement.

Contemporary
Contemporary dance explores both abstract forms and daily life, but still emphasizes proper alignment and technique of the whole body. Contemporary encourages dancers to express their emotions through organic movements.

Lyrical
Lyrical dance is a more literal expression and representation of music using a combination of ballet, contemporary and jazz techniques.

Modern
TBDescribed

Jazz & Rhythm Styles: Bold, dynamic, and performance-driven

With sharp technique and high-impact style, these forms focus on syncopation, stage presence, and powerful movement vocabulary.

Jazz Dance
Jazz class will focus on learning dance technique such as isolations of the body, improving performance quality and developing complex rhythms and patterns.  Class curriculum is based on ballet technique layered with traditional jazz movement and includes a proper warm-up, stretches, isolations, across-the-floor progressions,and combinations. As students progress through each level curriculum will become increasingly more complex.​

Tap
Students develop their own sense of rhythm while learning the vocabulary of tap dance.  We will learn about the history of tap and tap as a contemporary dance form.  We will drill technique, learn choreography, and explore structured improvisation all while expressing our own individual style and voice.  Classes increase in difficulty as the dancer progresses.

STREET & HIP HOP STYLES: Raw Energy, Urban Rhythm

These grounded, high-energy forms encourage individuality, musicality, and confidence, rooted in street and social dance cultures.

Hip Hop
These popular classes teach fast-paced, high-energy urban dance. All routines are done to pop and hip hop music. 
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Breaking
Description 
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 GLOBAL & CULTURAL DANCE: Celebrating the rhythm of the world.

These classes offer dancers a chance to explore and appreciate diverse traditions and movement vocabularies from across the globe.

Latin / Cumbia

African

MOVEMENT & CONDITIONING: ​Strengthen. Stretch. Sustain.

​These practices support dancers’ physical well-being, helping to prevent injury, build core strength, increase flexibility, and improve stamina—while also nurturing focus and body awareness.

Drama: Telling the Story

​Walltown’s Drama program gives young artists the tools to express themselves boldly and authentically. Through creative writing, improv, scene study, on-camera acting, and traditional stage techniques, students learn to build characters, explore emotions, and tell meaningful stories. Our classes focus on imagination, collaboration, and confidence—skills that serve students both on and off the stage. Whether performing a monologue or crafting an original script, each student discovers the power of their voice and the joy of storytelling.

IMPROV

Improv
Kids learn the fundamentals of acting in a fun, supportive and creative atmosphere.  Through theatre games and exercises, students are introduced to collaborative play, the fundamental elements of storytelling and improvisation.  Intermediate improv classes will further explore the techniques of Improv Acting, group building, and team comedy, working to be alert and present in all types of performing.

ACTING

Acting
How do actors learn their craft? What skills do they develop and hone in order to perform well during pressured situations? Our interactive acting classes introduce beginning students to the world of acting. Through various exercises and fun activities, students learn how to prepare for acting and develop skills such as diction and vocal projection. We also challenge students to funnel their creativity into the writing side of the craft, creating their own monologues and short plays.  Or advanced acting classes will further hone students skills in connecting to emotions and character development through more intense scene study.

SCENE STUDY

 Scene Study
Scene study students learn and apply acting principles through a step-by-step progression of exercises that develop acting ability and create truthful and expressive behavior in developing their characters. In this class, students will get an introduction to the film and video process and learn basic concepts in pre-production, production, and postproduction. Students will get to apply the information they learn and create a short film.

ON CAMERA

On-Camera Acting
This class is designed for students who have had some acting experience either in theatre, on camera or both.  This class is designed for actors who want to expand their skills and learn how to work in front of the camera and will include:

• Training the actor to fulfill on-camera blocking and direction while incorporating truthful moment-to-moment involvement and spontaneity
• Improvisational exercises to provide the foundation for developing an understanding of character and relationship
• Scenes are assigned, rehearsed, then recorded, with director adjustments, allowing students to see how their work translates on screen and how vital specific work is to the film medium

CREATIVE WRITING

Creative Writing
Using an idea for a story, character, or poem, we’ll discuss simple steps to unlock the words waiting to be written. Formal writing woes will be creatively set aside, as we focus on content development, fostering discussions among students to learn from one another, and offer feedback and suggestions.

POETRY & STORYTELLING

Poetry & Storytelling
Students explore different types of poetry and storytelling, and work with a variety of prompts to find their creative and poetic voices.  For timid writers, fear not: spelling and grammar woes are creatively set aside, as these classes focus on content development. We facilitate discussions among students to learn from one another, offer feedback and suggestions, and share writing with each other if desired.  Some work may be collaborative and some are solo projects.  Student works may be compiled into online magazines at the end of their sessions.

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Music: Finding Your Voice & Rhythm

​Walltown’s Music program introduces students to the joy of making music through voice and a variety of instruments. Whether singing, drumming, strumming a guitar, or learning piano, students build a strong foundation in rhythm, melody, and musical expression. Classes foster creativity, listening skills, and performance readiness—whether students are preparing for the stage or discovering their unique musical voice. From solo practice to ensemble collaboration, our music program nurtures well-rounded musicians with a passion for sound.

SINGING

Voice Instruction
Will help singers to work and aspire beyond their current abilities and expectations while broadening musical skills and knowledge. This class is inclusive and is structured for beginner to advanced students. Singing engages youth to connect to themselves in a very personal way. RV teacher Cara Williams always explains to audiences that music has a way of touching hearts before the mind has a chance to alter the message. 

Ensemble Groups
A deeper dive into the concept of community singing, Will focus on solo, duet and small group performances.  Singers work on vocal technique, blending, and harmonies, and are encouraged through the process of developing their individual artistic sound(s).
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Songwriting
Songwriting is designed to enable young people to explore and express their thoughts and feelings through writing lyrics with the goal of performing them (or having a classmate perform them).  While engaged in the creative process, songwriting students are guided toward writing and reflecting their ideas in a positive way, and are introduced to the workflow of music production—song conception, lyrics, melody, song formation, structure development and arrangement for a cappella or accompaniment.  Although primarily focused on the individual, the process also allows students to learn to collaborate and write songs with other artists. 

GUITAR

Guitar Lessons (Semi-private/Private)
Students focus on basic guitar, reading musical notation, and exploration of rhythm, melody, form, dynamic and tempo. Students may enter these lessons with no previous experience. Private lessons are scheduled individually with the instructor according to the students & teacher's schedules.

Guitar students perform in session recitals and as part of
WT year-end celebrations either live or pre-recorded. 
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​* We do-not have guitars for student rental at this time.

PIANO

Piano Lab
For beginners to advanced musicians, our Piano Lab provides students with the opportunity to explore their passion for music. From learning to read music to improving piano techniques, students can use Piano Lab to learn some of their favorite songs or even play duets together with friends.

Private Piano Lessons
For students ready to engage in more focused learning of Piano technique, we offer private lessons.  Our DUKE student teachers as well as other piano players are matched with students for one-on-one learning for 30mn, 45mn, or 60mn sessions depending on age and ability.  Piano students perform in session recitals and as part of year-end celebrations either live or pre-recorded.  
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​* We have a limited number of student keyboards available for monthly rental.  Please verify availability with the WTown office prior to renting a keyboard.

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DRUMMING

Rhythm Foundations
This class is geared towards those who have little or no prior drumming experience, but also accommodates intermediate players. We cover basics such as: holding and striking a drum properly, basic coordination drills, rhythms, and playing as a group. Please purchase a pair of drum sticks upon registration.

Private Drumming Lessons
For students ready to engage in more focused learning of Piano technique, we offer private lessons.  Our percussion teachers are matched with students for one-on-one learning for 30mn, 45mn, or 60mn sessions depending on age and ability.

Musical Theater: Where it All Comes Together

Walltown’s Musical Theater program unites singing, acting, and dancing to create vibrant, story-driven performances. Students learn to interpret music both musically and dramatically, developing character, stage presence, and ensemble skills along the way. From introductory classes for young artists to advanced training and performance opportunities for pre-professionals, our program nurtures confident, expressive performers ready to shine in the spotlight. Whether it's their first time on stage or their next big role, every student finds their voice through the magic of musical theater.​​

Behind the Scenes (BTS): Creating the Magic

At Walltown, we know the spotlight is only part of the story. Our Behind the Scenes programming gives students hands-on experience in the technical and creative elements that bring a production to life. From lighting and sound to costuming, props, set design, and stage management, young artists discover the craft, collaboration, and care that go into every performance.
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Our BTS Teacher Workday Camps offer even more opportunities to dive into technical theater. On select teacher workdays, students explore these skills through creative, project-based learning while school is out—turning a day off into a day of discovery.

LIGHTING

Lighting Design/Tech
A theatre Lighting Technician (LT) prepares and operates the lighting system for a production. They make the lighting effects for live theatre productions based on the designs created by the Lighting Designer (LD).  At Walltown, we teach our students both aspects of lighting, and together with our professional lighting team, create and run the lighting for our shows and productions.

SOUND

RJMS provides a space that nurtures the development of student driven music and media beyond writing or composing, and structuring, to recording, podcasting, performing and providing sound enforcement for others that are performing. These particular skills not only strengthen and enhance the strong performance aspects of our school as we continue to work towards our productions being student driven in ALL aspects, but also give them immediately external marketable skills with which they can earn income.

Sound Design
Sound design is the art and practice of creating sound tracks for a variety of needs. It involves specifying, acquiring or creating auditory elements using audio production techniques and tools.  New to Walltown this season, our BTS Sound Design classes will assist in the design of our annual productions.

Sound Engineering/Recording
Audio engineers are responsible for the technical aspects of recording and producing music.  Walltown students can be trained to participate in the recording of original works by other Walltown students, and assist in the creation of backing and parts recordings for our productions.

Audio Tech/Engineering
Sound engineers set up microphones on performers and in various places in the theater. They are responsible for checking sound levels and equipment functionality, running sound checks, and other tasks using MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) production equipment.  Under the supervision of our professional technicians, our advanced BTS students run tech at our live shows and productions.

SETS

Set Design & Modeling
Set design is one the most important parts of any theater production. And Walltown has many productions throughout the year, so students have several great opportunities to create super cool sets. Students will get to learn from and work with our professional stage crew to help build and create the scenery, furniture, and props that help bring our productions to life.  

COSTUMES

Costume Design, Creation & Management
Costume designers tell a story through clothing, using the language of fashion to help express aspects of a play's, mood, and characters. With each wardrobe element and accessory, costume designers bring the characters and settings to life, and immerse audiences—and actors—in their time period, culture, and world.   From design, to creation, to management, WCT students learn various aspects of the costuming process from design, to creation, and then management throughout our productions.

STAGE MANAGEMENT

Stage management encompasses a variety of activities including the overseeing of the rehearsal process and coordinating communications among various production teams and personnel. Stage management requires a general understanding of all aspects of production and offers organizational support to ensure the process runs smoothly and efficiently.  Our advanced students learn this process under professional stage managers and assist in the management of our annual productions.

SET CONSTRUCTION / THEATER SAFETY

AFTER SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAM (ASA): Making Space to Grow

​Performance Arts Classes and activities for students Pre-K through 5th grade
​Monday-Friday 2pm-5pm (following the DPS calendar)

Our Afterschool Program is centered on high-quality arts education, providing students with the opportunity to take part in music, drama, dance, and more. We are a children's theatre committed to delivering top-notch instruction, and our afterschool program is no exception. Students don’t just attend to be supervised—they actively participate in the creative process, taking one-to-two classes a day that build their skills and passion. As part of our community, these young artists are also expected to perform alongside their peers, sharing their talents on stage and embracing the joy of live performance. It's a dynamic and inspiring environment where every child can grow, express themselves, and be part of something truly special.

ALL WCT students must adhere to our yearly arts programming goals and are expected to participate fully in at least one class each ASA day.

​ASA students have supervised play and/or are assisted with homework/reading while not in class

ASA operates weekdays, following the Durham Public School’s traditional calendar, and will be closed on holidays & other scheduled school breaks observed by Durham Public Schools. Instructional classes remain open on Teacher Work Days and Early Release Days.

Enrolled Students are accepted upon release on early release days at no additional charge.
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On DPS teacher work days, Walltown offers a "TEACHER WORKDAY DAY CAMP" from 8:30am-5;00pm
(Fees for the day camps are not included in ASA cost and separate registration is required.)



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Registered students will be welcomed for drop off beginning at 2:00pm and parent pick-up is between 5:00-5:30pm (depending on when the student's classes finish).

​** Parents are responsible for student transportation for any Inclement Weather Closings & Predetermined Closings**