Shocking news hit ISB in mid-November when school officials announced to relevant students and families that film and dance classes would no longer be offered starting next year. Although discourse surrounding these courses had been ongoing for months, an official Nov. 15 email to ISB Dance and Film students and parents stated that, while all students currently enrolled in Year 1 IB Dance and IB Film will receive full support to complete Year 2 of their studies, the subjects would not be available moving forward.
“While this decision was initially a punch to the gut, I’m choosing to spend my energy thinking about how we can pivot and offer our passionate dancers and filmmakers opportunities to develop,” says Anthony Giles, ISB’s Director of Arts, Activities & Community Engagement.
Importantly, the students currently enrolled in the IB classes will be able to finish out their studies. “Due to low enrollment in both the elective and IB-level courses in these subjects over the past few years, we will not be offering these courses or their corresponding elective courses starting in the 2025–26 academic year,” reads the email signed by high school administration officials. This decision comes after months of careful discourse surrounding cutting programs that are less popular with the student body and allocating those resources to other, more popular courses. Giles emphasizes that efficiencies are being considered all across the school to maximize resources and impact. This is true for athletics, and not just arts.
IB Film, for example, has just four students enrolled in the entire program, making it an expensive cost-per-student undertaking. Although it is a sad reality that not every niche can be explored within the walls of the classrooms here at ISB, IASAS Film and Dance will still be a priority. Funds and resources previously used to keep these small classes running will now be integrated into the after-school programs outside the school curriculum. “I know other schools with very successful IASAS programs and no class,” Giles says. “All of their priorities then fall into the after-school programs. This has proven in many cases to create an amazing space for those students interested in film and dance.”
Film and dance weren’t the only classes considered when efficiencies were reviewed, he says. “We decided on film and dance in particular because of the lack of involvement in these programs,” he says. “Film has very few students, and dance, although we currently have healthy numbers, has a history of being a very small class.”
Having so many classes at ISB can be a “great opportunity for students,” but he notes that a large variety of arts programs can also be a detriment. “Focusing on only a select few interests helps to explore these topics in a deeper way, with great resources and amazingly experienced teachers.”
Although made in what is thought to be the best interest of ISB, the decision has created some controversy. Those currently enrolled in the classes are disappointed in the change. Sisley Li, an ISB junior in Year 1 IB Dance, expresses her concerns, saying, “It seems to me that the school is underappreciating dance as an art form and a creative way for students to express themselves.” She wonders whether the students going into Year 2 “will get the same amount and quality of support next year to help us finish the course.”
Another IB Dance student, senior Ahdia D Onofrio-Johnston, is quick to say she disagrees with the decision. “I feel that it’s super unfortunate for the school to be cutting dance, as the students that are currently taking the class are not only learning different pieces of choreography, but we use it as an outlet to escape from the stress of our other classes,” she says. “On top of this, there are so many students in middle school that … taking away these classes is taking away a course that excites so many students.”
Fear of stifling students’ passion seems to be a unanimous thought among both film and dance students. Gabriela Ferraro, a deeply passionate Grade 11 film student, worries that “younger people who are like me … won’t have the opportunity to learn about something they love so much.” She goes on to say, “We were just learning in IB Film about the ‘mirror stage.’ I won’t get too deep into the theory, but it’s very interesting and claims that film offers characters and scenarios which we see ourselves in. That helps us understand ourselves better and offers such comfort, making us feel understood. That’s how I feel with film. It’s my favorite subject and what I’ll pursue once I’m in university.”
The future of dance and film at ISB is unknown. Will putting more emphasis on IASAS and after-school programs further students’ passion more than a class would, or will cutting IB Film and Dance redirect students who may have otherwise found a love for the arts? Only time will reveal the lasting impacts of this decision, but as junior Bella Jirapaet, a current IB Dance student says, “I just hope we don’t stop dancing!”
For his part, Mr. Giles says ISB remains committed to the arts. According to the email sent to families: “Our school will continue to offer IB Music, IB Visual Arts, and IB Theater as Group 6 pathways, providing diverse and enriching options for students passionate about artistic expression. Additionally, we are actively exploring alternative opportunities for students to engage with Dance and Film as part of their curricular interests, though outside the formal IBDP and elective class framework.”
