When Vasty Pelayo was a shy freshman at James Lick High School in San Jose, she tried out for a school play.
She walked into the audition hoping for a minor role, if anything at all. She walked out with the lead and a love for drama that kept her in drama classes for three more years.
The experience boosted her confidence, brought her out of shell and made her more outgoing, she said.
That is, until the class was axed because the school couldn’t afford to rehire the drama teacher, who had left.
The drama teacher at Silver Creek High School in San Jose left as well. There was not enough money to replace him either.
Situations like the ones at James Lick and Silver Creek are common throughout the state, as schools from elementary to collegiate levels feel a budget crunch. During tough budget times, art, music and drama classes are some of the first programs to be cut.
It even happens in wealthier school districts such as Palo Alto, where the school district cut arts programs in the past three years as part of a $6.5 million budget reduction, according to the district’s Web site. A parcel tax that passed recently may help reinstate some of those programs.
Palo Alto Unified board member Mandy Lowell said arts education is crucial to learning.
It relieves stress and helps students get excited about learning and working with others, she said. It also promotes creative thinking, which is essential for innovation in other fields such as math, science and technology.
“One of the best ways to work on a team or cope with failure is through performing arts and athletics,” Lowell said.
Pelayo auditioned for the school play because a friend didn’t want to try out alone. Pelayo had never acted before, but she said her friend bugged her almost every day to try out. She finally gave in.
She played Charlie in Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” As she read through her lines and practiced them at home, she grew to love Charlie’s character. She related to his quiet, innocent personality.
When she started rehearsals, she was terrified. Most of the other actors in the play were juniors and seniors. As she performed her solo on opening night, her nervous energy transformed to excitement as she felt the audience’s energy. She said she got the feeling people really understood Charlie’s character. “It was pretty thrilling,” she said.
After more than two months of rehearsals and performances, Pelayo said she could feel the difference in her confidence level. She volunteered for more class presentations, introduced herself at more school functions and made a lot of new friends.
By her senior year, Pelayo choreographed dances for school rallies, was a cheerleader and was voted by her class “most talented.”
“Acting really boosted my confidence,” Pelayo said. “Without drama, I would not have had the chance to become outgoing.”
That’s why she was so disappointed when drama was no longer offered last year, her senior year.
“They broke a part of a James Lick bond,” she said.