Adam Slee, D-E’s new Dean of the Performing Arts, joined the School earlier this year. He brings with him more than 16 years of experience in teaching arts education and being a leader in theater pedagogy. He’s already making his mark on D-E Performing Arts, which encompasses a wide variety of music and choral ensembles, stage drama, musicals, and technical theatre. Mr. Slee is working closely with our talented performing arts faculty, most of whom are working professionals on Broadway and active in the New York music and arts scene.

We asked Mr. Slee to give us insight into his background and the unique perspective that he endeavors to impart on the D-E arts community and beyond.

Q: Please tell us about what sparked your interest in the performing arts.

Mr. Slee: I struggled in school due to dyslexia and was convinced by members of my school community to drop out of high school at the end of my freshman year. To complete the process, I had to get each of my teachers’ signatures on a withdrawal form. Most of them signed and wished me good luck in the future. The last two teachers that needed to sign the form happened to be in the hall outside of the auditorium when I approached them for their signatures. They refused to sign and brought me into the auditorium, where they sat me down and told me about all the potential they saw in me and convinced me to stay in school. These teachers were the ones who directed the choir and after-school theater programs, which I actively participated in until I graduated.

Q: Why did you choose to join the D-E community?

Mr. Slee: I fell in love with D-E when I visited campus and met with the wonderful students, faculty, and staff. The supportive nature of these individuals and their commitment to the growth of the arts made coming to D-E a natural choice. The instruction taking place in the classrooms, the quality of the teachers, and the eagerness of the students was also inspiring and made me want to assist in the development of facilities worthy of the great things happening on campus.

Q: Is there a philosophy or specific perspective about the arts that is especially meaningful to you? 

Mr. Slee: The arts have been an integral part of my life and were central in providing me with the tools I needed to climb out of generational poverty to find success as an adult. I have a firm belief that everyone can apply the skills learned in the arts to whichever field of study they pursue. It’s my hope that I can help the D-E community to see the universality and transformative power of the arts.

Q: What do you believe is the central goal or goals of D-E Performing Arts? And how do you personally work toward this goal in your role as Dean of the Performing Arts? 

Mr. Slee: Creativity, Communication, Collaboration, and Confidence are the four C’s of the performing arts and what we hope students attain through participation in programs. Whether it’s a discovery program or an advanced ensemble, longstanding or yet-to-come courses, they will all be guided by these principle goals. It’s essential that we have the personnel, facilities, and programming in place to ensure these goals can be met. My work is to guide our faculty, support our students, and act as the representative of the performing arts for the D-E community. I also look forward to being a central partner in potential future renovations and/or the building of facilities and securing additional support of our performing arts programming in general.

Q: What is your vision for the near-term and the future of our programming?

Mr. Slee: In the short term, we are evaluating our programming and performance schedule, as well as the processes leading up to performances, to ensure that our methods align with best practices in the performing arts. Looking ahead, I hope to see more cross-listed courses that enable students to expand their knowledge in core subjects through the lens of the arts.

Facilities renovations and/or improvements would benefit the entire school community by providing dedicated gallery and performance spaces. Whatever the future holds in terms of these types of initiatives, the Performing Arts Department aims to continue offering the best resources and training possible so that our students stand out among their peers.

Q: In addition to the upcoming Winter Musical, Mean Girls, what should the D-E community look forward to for the remainder of this academic year?

Mr. Slee: I really look forward to the events that feature talent from all three divisions in one performance space. These events showcase the range of talent we have, while celebrating the D-E family!