Cultivating Student Potential Through the Performing Arts

On today’s educational stage, where academic rigor and social and emotional learning coexist as main characters, the two of us believe that including performing arts in elementary school offer a powerful, often underutilized pathway to elevate both school culture and student achievement. When schools embrace creativity, confidence, collaboration, and constructive feedback through artistic expression, they unlock potential in students and staff.

In our respective roles as principal and performing arts teacher, we’ve seen first-hand how integrating performing arts has enriched and transformed our school. We hope you feel inspired to pursue the spotlight as well by keeping these four ideas in mind.

Creativity: Fueling Innovation and Artistry

Creativity is the heartbeat of the performing arts. Whether students are choreographing a dance, composing a song, or writing a monologue, they’re engaging in imaginative problem-solving and self-expression. This kind of creative engagement fosters innovation—an increasingly vital skill in our rapidly changing world.

As a school leader, I (Jasmine) hope that every student is empowered to unlock their imagination and understand their powerful voice. I see my role as ensuring the necessary investments, partnerships, and training for staff, and ultimately celebrating our student stars. And as our school’s performing arts teacher and creative director, Keira has observed firsthand how performing arts provides students with the necessary skills needed to effectively communicate, collaborate, and problem-solve, having a direct and positive impact on their academic success.

Research from the National Endowment for the Arts shows that students’ involvement in arts learning correlates with positive academic outcomes. Creativity in the arts supports divergent thinking, which enhances students’ ability to approach academic challenges with flexibility and originality. In our case, we’ve seen a rise in our students’ test scores in both math and English since we’ve prioritized performing arts programming at our school with intentionality starting in 2020.

Practical tip: Integrate arts-based projects across the curriculum. Write dialogues, create raps. Consider an activity Keira calls “And then...” where students imagine what happens next in a story. Students collaborate to write a brief scene about five to 10 minutes long and act out what could happen next if the story continued. Dramatic strategies like this can be used across multiple content areas to help deepen understanding and make learning all the more engaging and memorable.

Confidence: Building Agency and Presence

Performing in front of an audience—whether peers, parents, or the broader community—requires courage. For some, the idea of performing, or even speaking in front of others, can feel daunting. When students are provided performance opportunities, they learn how to manage their nerves, project their voices, and own their presence.

At our school, we tell students that bravery is recognizing when something feels hard or scary and having the courage to do it anyway. Over time, these experiences build self-confidence and a sense of agency that carries into other areas of their lives.

Students begin to see themselves as capable contributors, not just as passive learners. This shift in self-perception can be especially powerful for students who may struggle in traditional academic settings. A study published by the Social Biobehavioural Research Group found that participation in performing arts is linked to higher self-esteem and higher levels of self-control. These emotional benefits contribute to a more positive school climate and improved student well-being.

Practical tip: Create low-stakes performance opportunities, such as classroom skits or poetry readings, to help students build confidence gradually. Emphasize that every student’s voice matters by establishing clear group roles. Celebrate effort and growth, not just polished outcomes, to reinforce a growth mindset. Offer students authentic praise for their efforts and perseverance. We may not all get a trophy, but we should take time to recognize when students try their best.

Collaboration: Learning to Work Together

The performing arts are inherently collaborative. Whether rehearsing a play, harmonizing a song, or coordinating a group dance, students must listen, compromise, and support one another. These experiences teach empathy, communication, and teamwork—skills that are essential in both academic and professional settings.

According to the Arts Education Partnership, arts programs foster a sense of community that support students’ social development and shared leadership. The collaborative nature of the arts helps students feel connected to their peers and invested in their school community.

Collaboration in the arts also breaks down social barriers. Students from different backgrounds come together with a shared purpose, fostering inclusivity and mutual respect. We’ve seen our students’ perception of their sense of belonging increase. The performing arts have also helped reduce behavioral issues, which we attribute in part to how the performing arts teach conflict resolution and respect for diversity of thought.

Practical tip: Encourage mixed-grade or cross-class collaborations. This builds community and allows older students to mentor younger ones—reinforcing leadership and responsibility. In our school, we’ve established a “Buddy Classroom” program where older grades partner with a classroom from the younger grades to work on social and emotional learning creative projects. For example, students learn and perform songs together, enact scenes from stories they read, and create props and materials to make these lessons come to life.

Constructive Feedback: Developing Security and Growth

One of the most valuable aspects of performing arts education is the culture of constructive feedback. In rehearsals and critiques, students learn how to give and receive feedback in ways that are respectful and specific. This process helps them develop emotional resilience and a secure sense of self.

When feedback is framed positively and delivered in a supportive environment, students feel safe to take risks. This psychological safety, coupled with a sense of belonging, is crucial for students’ deep learning and development.

Unlike traditional assessments, feedback in the arts is often immediate. Students learn that revision is part of the creative process, which fosters persistence and adaptability. These habits of mind are transferable to both academic tasks and life challenges.

Practical tip: Model and teach the language of constructive feedback. Create reflection routines and rubrics where students assess their own growth and set goals for improvement. Consider a critique framework that Keira created: “I noticed…,” “I wondered…,” and “I liked…” These types of sentence frames help spark curiosity and encourage students to use a critical eye when observing and are easily transferable across subjects.

It’s also important to help establish a safe space for students by co-constructing class agreements. This will help them take these risks and welcome feedback because the delivery is respectful from their peers and common practice. For these reasons, we believe that the performing arts aren’t extracurricular—they’re essential.

Determine What Works Best for Your School

Remember, you don’t have to overcomplicate integrating creativity and performing arts into your daily routine. It should be fun and enjoyable for all. We’ve found that all members of our school community become engaged, excited, and active members of our cast. Whether through a dedicated arts program, an integrated curriculum, or community partnerships, we believe the investment is invaluable.

The performing arts help spotlight the whole child and recognize that education isn’t just about test scores, but about cultivating star-studded human potential.