High Tech High School Performing Arts

High Tech High School’s award-winning Performing Arts Program provides students with an immersive, conservatory-style experience in Dance and Theatre Arts, with each program offering two distinct divisions:

  • Dance: Performance and Choreography
  • Theatre Arts: Drama and Musical Theatre

Students audition for a specific division during the admissions process and, once accepted, begin a four-year journey of artistic, technical, and personal growth. While each division offers a specialized course of study, all Performing Arts students are part of a collaborative community that encourages them to learn from one another, work across disciplines, and contribute to a wide range of performances and productions.

Throughout their four years at High Tech, students study closely with dedicated instructors who bring extensive professional experience to the classroom and studio. Their training is further enriched through opportunities to work with guest artists and industry professionals, providing exposure to different techniques, perspectives, and professional practices.

The Performing Arts curriculum combines rigorous technical training with creative exploration and individualized instruction. Students are challenged to strengthen their craft, develop their artistic voice, take creative risks, and grow as confident performers and artists. Productions, showcases, workshops, and interdisciplinary projects provide authentic opportunities to apply their learning and experience the collaborative nature of the performing arts.

Beyond developing their craft, students become part of a close-knit artistic community. The relationships they build with classmates, instructors, guest artists, and industry professionals contribute to an experience that extends far beyond the classroom. Graduates leave High Tech with the discipline, confidence, creativity, and technical foundation to pursue continued study and professional opportunities in the performing arts.

HTHS Performing Arts Programs of Study

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High Tech Theater Arts Drama performs Rent, School edition, Book, Music and Lyrics by Joanthan Larson (Spring 2025)

High Tech Theater Arts Drama performs Rent, School edition, Book, Music and Lyrics by Joanthan Larson (Spring 2025)

This year, the Theater Arts Drama classes, who are part of the Paper Mill Playhouse Adopt-A-School program (Year 4) presented Rent, the High School Edition, an inspiring story about friends and artists struggling in New York City’s East Village in the 1990s, loosely based on Puccini’s Boheme. Despite impoverished conditions, battling HIV/Aids and drug addiction, the...

Gems of the Game

Gems of the Game

We are incredibly proud to celebrate sisters Olivia and Sofiamaria Gallo, North Bergen natives and former dance majors at High Tech High School under the direction of Trista DeFilippis. Both were integral members of the Dance Performance Division, exemplifying dedication, talent, and excellence in their studies. Now at Temple University, Olivia is a freshman majoring...

Seconds Into Days Dance Program

Seconds Into Days Dance Program

On April 9, 10, & 11, the High Tech Dance/Choreography Program presents our 24th Annual Dance Concert, SECONDS INTO DAYS. The show is an exploration of the different ways we feel the passing of time: sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes funny, and often bittersweet. 0 Tickets now on sale on My School Bucks!

High Tech’s Theatre Arts Students Perform in the Friday Night Live, our Annual Improv Show and Fundraiser

High Tech’s Theatre Arts Students Perform in the Friday Night Live, our Annual Improv Show and Fundraiser

Only two weeks after our successful run of Radium Girls, High Tech Theatre Arts improvisers performed in our Annual Improv show, consisting of original skits and live improvisation performances created by each of the four Theatre Classes. The show followed an SNL style format that started with the typical Cold Opening, performed by Aidan Chapas, Gabriela Diaz, Roman Arizmendi,  Nel...