Visual and Performing Arts

Express yourself like a Tiger.

Art has the potential to expand and transform every Tiger in miraculous ways. Many NDB students share their artistic skills with their peers and have an opportunity to teach others. Some students arrive feeling as if they are not creative, only to find an opportunity to unleash a talent they had only imagined! NDB students explore a variety of artistic mediums including drawing, painting, printmaking, dance, theatre, video production, photography and graphic design. No matter what career our students choose, whether it be the arts, education or medicine, NDB’s Visual and Performing Arts program empowers students to learn to express themselves and utilize design thinking that can be applied to all aspects of life.

Arts Concentration

The Arts Concentration immerses students in creative expression in the classroom, on the stage and in the studio. Students explore historical and cultural meanings of art to intensify visual perceptions. Students gain insight into the technical processes involved in the production of art while they learn how to both express and create something greater than themselves, in and out of the classroom.

Arts Concentration Students Develop:

An understanding of art history
Skills to conduct the technical processes involved in the production of art
Confidence to express themselves in innovative ways
Exposure to all facets of film; language, genre and visual and narrative structures
Creative self-expression

Who is an Arts Tiger?

An Arts Tiger doesn’t quite “fit the mold,” their expansive mind wildly beautiful and unique. Quirky, imaginative and creative, the mind of an Arts Tiger is visionary. Whether they are drawing a scene created from the depths of their mind or acting out the experience of a charismatic, complex character in a play, an Arts Tiger is expressive and dynamic. Unapologetically innovative, an Arts Tiger paints their own path and expresses themselves without limitations.

Arts Concentration Curriculum

If you are a rising sophomore interested in NDB’s Arts Concentration, please keep the requirements below in mind for planning purposes.

Course Requirements

Course Requirements: 40 VPA credits total including:

10 VPA credits (required for all NDB graduates)
30 additional VPA credits in one area of specialization. Some examples include the following:
- 30 additional credits in Dance OR
- 30 additional credits in Visual Arts OR
- 30 additional credits in Instrumental Music OR
- 30 credits in Vocal Music, etc.

Electives

Dance I-IV
2D Art (Art I-IV)
Graphic Design I-III
Photography I-III
Video Production (Tri-School)
Video Production II and III
Sculpture I-III and Sculpture III Honors
Symphonic Band (Tri-School)
Jazz Ensemble (Tri-School)
Drama I-IV (Tri-School)
Tri-School Productions fall play and spring musical
Choral Music
Tri-School Choir
Tri-School Symphonic Band
Tri-School Jazz Ensemble

AP and Honors Courses

Other Requirements

Additional Opportunities

Sample Four-Year Course Plan

Additional Program Experiences

Independent Experiences: Completion of three cultural experiences in the arts

Sample independent experiences include attending a live performance (play, musical, concert, recital, etc.), visiting an art museum. leadership and/or active participation in an arts organization, volunteering with a local arts organization, or participation in an arts competition (such as the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards), etc. Independent experiences not listed on the NDB website require pre-approval.

Academic Experiences: Attendance at three academic lectures, conferences or workshops related to the arts

Co-Curricular Experiences: Sustained participation in NDB co-curricular activities related to the arts during the junior and senior years, which involve publication or performance of creative work

AP Studio Art students (both 2D and 3D Art) achieved 100% pass rate on AP Exams, exceeding CA and global scores!

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The Luggage Project

“'What would you take with you if you had to leave home and could only take three things?' This is the question asked of beginning sculpture students at Notre Dame Belmont by sculpture teacher, Ms. Kuntz. Students design a piece of luggage with three meaningful objects to place inside. From a childhood tree growing up and out of a suitcase, to a row of houses and three teacups — Notre Dame Belmont students challenge themselves to think beyond the obvious.

The Mannequin Project: Fashion as Sculpture

Fashion is in the eye of the beholder. This Sculpture II assignment asks students to bring fashion and sculpture together using found materials based on a personal theme. Each of the final art pieces displays a vision of the world we live in.

Tri-School Productions

Live theatre offers the best of both worlds to students who are interested in the performing arts and in technical design. Tri-School Productions students shine on stage and unleash their creativity by participating in the fall play and the spring musical. There are numerous opportunities to act, sing, dance and help by building sets, sewing costumes, and working on lighting and sound.

Explore the Tri-School Advantage

Fall Play "Clue"

Spring Musical "Newsies"

Tri-School Productions Build and Tech Team

Go behind the scenes as part of the Tri-School Productions Build and Tech Crew. Students work side-by-side with our team of professional designers to put on all aspects of each show.

Construct, paint and dress the set using theatrical painting and set techniques.
Learn to properly and safely use a variety of power tools.
Work with lighting designers to hang and focus lighting instruments and run light board operations.
Learn sound engineering to set up audio equipment and manipulate audio levels to obtain excellent sound quality.

Hear why students think you Should Join

NDB InStep Dance Company

The NDB InStep Dance Company provides a professional dance experience for students like no other. Students choreograph numerous dances that are performed for the school community, at Open House and more.

An Evening of the Arts

An Evening of the Arts features live performance pieces by the NDB Choir, a-capella group, the InStep Dance Company, dance levels I-IV and an art and sculpture showcase.

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Evening of the Arts Highlights

Enjoy the highlights of NDB's An Evening of the Arts on-stage performances.

Talking Art

View the work of NDB's talented artists as they talk about their pieces.

Winter Choir Concert

Choir students from Notre Dame, Serra and Mercy performed a wonderful Winter Lights Concert featuring a dazzling composition of festive songs including the all-time favorite "All I Want For Christmas is You."

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Career Examples:

Choreographer

Graphic designer

Photographer

Videographer

Actress

Dancer

Participating in Tiger TV at Notre Dame really inspired me to pursue film and television production as my major in college. Were it not for courses at NDB and the enjoyment and experimentation I had in them, I don’t think I would have thought that I could pursue those studies as my major, let alone my career. I am proud to be a part of the legacy of strong, powerful women from NDB.

I have been an international recording artist and touring musician for 20+ years. I have released 11 albums and have toured all over the world. Notre Dame gave me the confidence I needed to find my voice. When I used my voice to speak up about issues and values that I held dear, I found great support among my classmates - the bonds between us were incredibly strong thanks to the community spirit encouraged by NDB. Those members of faculty who supported me as I used my voice made me feel safe, seen and loved during those years when a young adult is most vulnerable. I have needed to trust in my voice as I make my way through a male-dominated industry, as I find the courage to put pen to paper and compose music and words, and as I step on stage and perform my work in front of thousands of strangers.

Participating in classes and extracurricular activities such as Orchestra, Video Production, and Tri-School Productions helped me develop a solid understanding of filmmaking and the roles music and storytelling play in that. At the same time, the rigor of my Honors and AP classes prepared me for managing multiple film projects, and the experience I gained in various leadership positions helped me navigate the collaborative nature of the film industry. Being involved in Performing Arts and leadership positions at NDB prepared me for my career as a film composer managing her own composing business.

I am appreciative of NDB’s variety and rigor of coursework, which prepared me for the next chapters in both education and life. The most important benefit of an all-girls education is a growing sense of confidence. By the time I graduated from NDB, I was ready to take on the world.

Visual and Performing Arts Faculty

Martha Anne Kuntz

Titles: Visual and Performing Arts Teacher, Visual and Performing Arts Chair

Isabella Custino

Titles: Choir Teacher, Visual and Performing Arts Teacher

Coleen Lorenz

Titles: Dance & Psychology Teacher, InStep Dance Company Director

Mark Thiesen

Titles: Art, Photography and Graphic Design Teacher

News & Highlights

Tri-School Choir Performs at Spring Concert

Notre Dame Belmont (NDB) students participated in Symphonic Band and Tri-School Choir at the Spring Concert hosted by Serra High School.

Dancers perform on stage and throw sparkly hats into the air

Students Shine on Stage and in the Art Gallery at Evening of the Arts

Visual and Performing Arts students showcased their work on the stage and in the art gallery at An Evening of the Arts.

Sianna Kiebler sings as lead female perfomer in Spring Musical Newsies

Have You Heard the News? Newsies the Musical Hits the Headlines on Opening Weekend

Tri-School Productions Newsies the musical had an incredible opening weekend featuring outstanding performances by several NDB performers.

NDB Announces Fund-a-Need 2025: Athletics Complex, Movement Center and Art Studio

This year’s Fund-a-Need will ensure that all students experience the power of self-expression and movement.