Keystone Magazine Learning the Keystone Way 2015-2016 EN | Page 76

Beyond The Classroom
colors and symbols of Beijing as inspiration. This
also brought to life one of the core keystones of
the Academy – promoting Chinese culture and
identity in a world context.
The students also found the ensemble approach
to learning theatre quite thrilling because “it
means we always have to be ready for change,
react in the moment, and think of a solution im-
mediately,” noted Keystone student Jennifer Kim.
ISTA representative, trainer, educator and theatre
professional Fenella Kelly couldn’t agree more:
“Once there is a starting point, it is about what
each individual can contribute to the process.
It is about ownership of the work, and then it is
our performance. So the ensemble approach is
all about the idea of individual strengths coming
together, learning from each other. It helps stu-
dents develop group dynamics, group vision, and
get a holistic view of performance. In any theatre
production it is about the ensemble. You cannot
do the show without the collaboration and coop-
eration between the actors, lighting, sound, and
other elements.”
In addition to enabling students to develop per-
sonal strengths such as inclusion and collabora-
tion, the ensemble approach also encourages
students to learn to solve problems on the spot,
be creative on their feet, and be open to multiple
possibilities and changes. As one student from a
Beijing international school said, “There is a con-
stant element of surprise, exciting not to know
what going to happen next, and then react when
it happens.”
A Festival Off-Stage Too
This ISTA festival also had the added advantage of
experiencing the true spirit of a living and learn-
ing community because of Keystone’s residential
program and facilities. “Being boarders helped the
students make more friends, become closer than
if they would have lived with host families, which
is how ISTA usually accommodates participating
students. Living with the Keystone community in
the residential halls gave the students more time
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with each other. It was a really unique aspect
about this festival, and the students thoroughly
enjoyed it,” said Ms. Kelly.
And even as the curtains came down on the
‘Bringing to Life’ theatre festival, students, teach-
ers and artists left enriching Keystone with life