CISDF Middle School Program Inspires Young Performers On and Off the Stage

This year’s CIS Ontario Drama Festival (CISDF) Middle School Program was a celebration of creativity, courage, and connection — an inspiring day that brought grade 6–8 students and their teachers together through movement, music, and storytelling.

For many participants, including 14 students from The Sterling Hall School, the festival offered a chance to take creative risks, step outside their comfort zones, and experience the joy of live performance. From dance to song to scene work, the level of engagement and openness fostered by the artists and facilitators was remarkable.

The festival was beautifully organized, with every artist and educator bringing energy, professionalism, and genuine care to their work with students. For some, it was their first time seeing live theatre — and the production of Annie, featuring lead actor Harper Rae Asch from The York School, left a lasting impression. One Grade 8 student described it best: “It was pure cinema.”

That sense of awe and inspiration is exactly what the festival aims to create: opportunities for students to grow, collaborate, and fall in love with the performing arts. As one teacher shared, “The boys are already asking about next year — a testament to the impact this experience had on them.”

CISDF continues to shine as a space where imagination thrives, confidence builds, and young artists find their voices. 🎭

Matt Burns
Drama Specialist
The Sterling Hall School