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ICon Beginnings students perform from Shrek: The Musical
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On Location, produced by ICon Beginnings students.
Choreographers: Hailey Frank, Abbey Schley, Leslie Nolte, Jayme Braverman
Editor: Scott Olinger
Music: The Way You Do by Shlohmo
Choreographers: Hailey Frank, Abbey Schley, Leslie Nolte, Jayme Braverman
Editor: Scott Olinger
Music: The Way You Do by Shlohmo
Iowa Conservatory (ICon) offers an in-person intensive arts education for young people ages 11-19, designed to complement an online academic course of study. ICon Beginnings students can attend school 8AM-4:45 PM Monday-Thursday, with more than 16 hours of arts education weekly. We offer studies in the areas of dance, voice, theatre and visual arts. Students take core arts classes along with selecting electives to pursue their own interests more deeply and round out their arts education. Opportunities for collaboration are built into our programming daily, and our faculty is committed to facilitating interdisciplinary artistic projects with rich outcomes for every student-artist.
The Learning Environment is Real-World
Our afternoon arts program design is grounded in Project Based Learning (PBL). At the heart of PBL is a deep understanding of content, mastery of skills and personally satisfying, relevant student project outcomes. We strive to facilitate authentic arts experiences, growing students’ skill and expertise through hands-on, innovative projects, centered both within their own discipline and across majors. Arts-rich PBL contexts build 21st century skills: critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity.
Our afternoon arts program design is grounded in Project Based Learning (PBL). At the heart of PBL is a deep understanding of content, mastery of skills and personally satisfying, relevant student project outcomes. We strive to facilitate authentic arts experiences, growing students’ skill and expertise through hands-on, innovative projects, centered both within their own discipline and across majors. Arts-rich PBL contexts build 21st century skills: critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity.
The Student-Artist is Central
We put students in charge of their own learning. Student innovation and divergent thinking is encouraged, drawing on individuals’ interests and goals to shape project outcomes: real-world artistic experiences with other artists. Unlike more traditional educational settings, PBL asks students to bring the full force of their invaluable resources and attributes to the center of the learning experience.
The Teacher-Artist is Guide
The role of the teacher-artist is to guide students as they develop mastery of their art form, providing scaffolds to students as needed. Our faculty is trained to carefully design courses with intentional team-building and project outcomes in mind, with the most important content-area skills and concepts embedded in student activity. All of our teachers value the person first, and aim to build highly responsive, trusting teacher-student relationships.
We put students in charge of their own learning. Student innovation and divergent thinking is encouraged, drawing on individuals’ interests and goals to shape project outcomes: real-world artistic experiences with other artists. Unlike more traditional educational settings, PBL asks students to bring the full force of their invaluable resources and attributes to the center of the learning experience.
The Teacher-Artist is Guide
The role of the teacher-artist is to guide students as they develop mastery of their art form, providing scaffolds to students as needed. Our faculty is trained to carefully design courses with intentional team-building and project outcomes in mind, with the most important content-area skills and concepts embedded in student activity. All of our teachers value the person first, and aim to build highly responsive, trusting teacher-student relationships.
Artistic Learner Outcomes
Participation in PBL leads students to engage deeply with the content and with their peers in the arts community. As they delve into the work, steps to reach personal and group goals and bring projects to fruition stimulate a deep and intrinsically satisfying learning experience. Participation in our program inevitably grows the identity of the student-as-artist.
Academics Lab
ICon Beginnings' morning option is reserved for individual students’ online courses of study in core academic subjects. We provide an onsite support teacher to assist students in time management, course content, assignment completion and navigating online learning and instruction.
Participation in PBL leads students to engage deeply with the content and with their peers in the arts community. As they delve into the work, steps to reach personal and group goals and bring projects to fruition stimulate a deep and intrinsically satisfying learning experience. Participation in our program inevitably grows the identity of the student-as-artist.
Academics Lab
ICon Beginnings' morning option is reserved for individual students’ online courses of study in core academic subjects. We provide an onsite support teacher to assist students in time management, course content, assignment completion and navigating online learning and instruction.
Arts EducatioN + Core Academics Support
Program Majors 2021-22
Courses and Weekly Schedule 2021-22
see why our students chose icon beginnings
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"I dream of becoming a professional dancer when I grow up. The focused attention I receive at Iowa Conservatory has helped me grow more in a year than in all my nine years of dancing. I love how we get a variety of classes and instructors so you learn something different from each class. This past year I have achieved many of my goals as a dancer. I have made many friends because I am in a room with people that have the same interests. Our passion for dance is something we all have in common."
— Adeline Bair, current ICon Beginnings dance student |
"With Icon … I can hone a craft that I really, really love."
— Deucalion, Theatre & Visual Arts Student
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"ICon provides a deeper, intense study of an art form that I plan to do professionally."
— Emma, Dance Student
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"I get to do lots of dancing, but I also get to learn about all the different types of jazz, improvisation, choreography and dance history."
— Katelyn, Dance Student
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"I chose ICon because I love musical theatre and this is a great opportunity to try out a performing arts school with great staff."
— Pieter, Theatre & Visual Arts Student
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"I love being challenged because I can grow as a performer, a person and an artist, and I know ICon is going to give me just that."
— Maya, Dance Student
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“I love to dance and I hope to do it professionally one day … I am so excited Leslie and her team created a way for us to train in a more focused way...”
— Gabe, Dance Student
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"I'm looking forward to safely singing with my friends again! I'll get to learn more about creating a show, writing a song and even stage combat!"
— Shea, Theatre & Visual Arts Student
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