On February 7, 2026, our sixth, seventh, and eighth graders from Jersey City took the stage at Première Scène, the annual French theater festival hosted by the Lycée Français de New York.
This unique event gives students the opportunity to perform short plays that highlight theatrical expression, cultural appreciation, and French language skills. Celebrating its twenty-seventh anniversary this year, the festival welcomed more than 400 students around the theme of curiosity.
After a weekend filled with talent, creativity, and teamwork, our eighth graders proudly returned home with the Grand Prix du Festival, the festival’s highest honor, for their performance of “Arts?”
The piece was written by our middle school French teacher, Rémi Dechaume, marking his second consecutive year winning this prestigious award. Rémi is deeply passionate about creating theater projects with his students because of their power to foster connection, creativity, and expression.
While this festival is just one example of the French American Academy’s commitment to the performing arts, we believe theater is a powerful vector of learning. Whether students are developing public speaking skills, strengthening teamwork, or stepping outside of their comfort zones, the benefits of theater extend far beyond the stage. The performing arts enrich learning beyond the classroom, and they remain a meaningful and prioritized part of our curriculum.
The Arts as a Pathway to Learning: Building Social-Emotional, Cognitive, Academic, and Life Skills Through Performance
At the French American Academy, we are dedicated to nurturing a holistic educational experience, one that supports academic growth while also encouraging students to discover and develop their unique interests.
We believe that true learning extends beyond the core subjects of reading, writing, and mathematics, and we bring this vision to life by integrating the performing arts into everyday learning, viewing them as far more than an extracurricular activity. Rather than existing solely as an elective, the arts are intentionally woven into our curriculum and everyday instruction. Through these experiences, we cultivate multilingual, multicultural, and well-rounded students who are confident, curious, and deeply engaged with the world around them.
Through theater, students learn the language in a natural and meaningful context, using performance as a pedagogical tool to strengthen fluency, comprehension, and expression while simultaneously developing other essential skills. In this way, the performing arts become a powerful vehicle for learning, cultivating abilities that cannot be developed through traditional academic instruction alone. Rather than being viewed as separate from (or less important than) core subjects, the performing arts reinforce and extend academic learning while fostering critical cognitive, emotional, and social competencies (Maldon, 2024; Petillo, 2023; “The Role of Performing Arts in Enhancing Academic Achievement,” 2024):
- Socially and emotionally, the performing arts nurture self-confidence, self-esteem, and authentic self-expression. They provide students with a meaningful space to explore their identities and talents, share their thoughts and emotions, and embrace their individuality. For many students, the stage becomes a place where they feel seen, heard, and valued, experiences that naturally strengthen confidence and resilience.
- Cognitively and academically, the performing arts promote critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. Students are challenged to interpret, analyze, collaborate, and think outside of the box. Whether rehearsing a scene, composing music, or choreographing a dance, they learn to approach challenges from multiple perspectives and develop innovative solutions, skills that directly transfer to the classroom and beyond. Additionally, when learning and rehearsing performance pieces, students activate multiple areas of the brain, strengthening their ability to process, retain, and apply information. These cognitive benefits naturally transfer to the academic setting, supporting deeper understanding, focus and attention, and improved learning outcomes.
- The performing arts also play a vital role in developing linguistic and communication skills. Participating in performances strengthens public speaking abilities, enhances memory and retention, and refines both verbal and nonverbal communication. When creating a piece of art, whether through dance, theater, vocal performance, orchestra, or even backstage production, students must collaborate closely, communicate clearly, and problem-solve effectively to bring their artistic vision to life. Each production relies on a variety of roles, props, and instruments working in harmony. This collective effort fosters teamwork, responsibility, communication, and a strong sense of collaboration.
- Finally, the performing arts play a critical role in developing students’ executive functioning skills and essential life competencies. They require students to manage their time effectively, follow multi-step directions, adhere to routines, meet expectations, and stay organized, whether that be through memorizing lines, keeping track of materials, or preparing for rehearsals and performances. Students learn responsibility and accountability, understanding that their preparation directly impacts the success of the group. These structured yet creative environments strengthen planning, focus, self-regulation, and perseverance.
In this way, the performing arts play an integral role in shaping well-rounded, thoughtful, and adaptable learners. Beyond enriching the academic experience, they cultivate essential life skills and executive functioning abilities that students carry with them long after their schooling years. At the same time, the arts challenge conventional norms and encourage healthy risk-taking. They create space for students to share ideas, step outside their comfort zones, and embrace vulnerability. By dismantling stereotypes, such as the notion that certain art forms are “for girls” or “for boys,” the performing arts empower students to pursue their interests authentically and confidently.
Integrating the Arts into the Curriculum: The Echo Project
The FAA treats the performing arts as an integral part of the regular school curriculum and intentionally weaves the arts into everyday learning experiences to enrich academic achievement. For instance, the middle schoolers performances at the Première Scène were both created and rehearsed during French class. Another meaningful example of this is the Echo Project, a three-month collaborative experience led by our third and fifth graders in Jersey City.
Throughout the Echo Project, fifth graders guided third graders in research, writing, and self-expression. The culminating goal was to produce a live dialogue between historical and contemporary figures who pursued their passions despite significant barriers, including discrimination based on gender, race, and physical ability. Their research and final performance were ultimately presented to parents. This project required students to craft thoughtful and historically grounded conversations, collaborate across grade levels, and build meaningful mentor–mentee relationships. Through role-playing and expressive dialogue in both French and English, students deepened their understanding of history while strengthening their language and communication skills. Importantly, this project was not separate from their academics; rather, it was embedded directly into their daily curriculum.
Experiences like the Echo Project, alongside many other arts-integrated initiatives, not only foster creativity and strengthen essential skills, but also provide students with a meaningful break from traditional instructional formats. By making the school day more dynamic and engaging, the performing arts offer students authentic opportunities to demonstrate their learning in interactive and expressive ways, transforming education into an active, memorable, and joyful experience.
