What is Creative Drama?

There are many opinions on what creative drama is and should be, and my definition here should is just one. In essence, creative drama is dramatic activities which have the experience of the participants as the goal. This differs from theatre classes in which preparation for a performance is the objective. Creative drama is usually reserved for children four to nine years old - ages or stages of development when participants can benefit from dramatic experience if there is no pressure to perform. Creative drama can include dramatic play, story enactment, imagination journeys, theatre games, music, and dance. "Let's pretend" is the norm in creative drama class, not just a child's game. Because the emphasis in creative drama is process rather than product, teachers have the freedom to take as much time as needed with their classes. When a student in a creative drama class prefers to watch instead of participate, because of shyness or fear, a teacher can allow it. When I was teaching a creative drama class for four and five year-olds one summer, a girl named Melissa was reluctant to join in acting out stories. The cooperating teacher and I let her watch the other children instead. Melissa was always interested in the actions of her classmates, and she would participate in the art activities and games which didn't make her feel like she was in the spotlight. Because she was given the time she needed to overcome her inhibitions, Melissa learned that she was "safe" in class. Towards the end of the summer, Melissa began joining in on the stories the class created with exuberance. She even played the part of the evil queen on sharing day, when the parents came to watch a class. This freedom applies also in the opposite situation, when members of the class are extremely willing and skilled at dramatic activity. The teacher can become a participant and let the children lead the activities rather than being guided through them. Creative drama can help children learn about emotions, problem solving, and relating to other people. Through their experiences with drama, students develop their imaginations and their confidence. One of the most special things about creative drama is that there are no "wrong" answers - through pretending, animals can talk, kids can travel to outer space or the jungle, and the sky can be green while the grass is blue. Use the ideas in this section to work magic in your classroom. Janine Moyer Buesgen