The arts at DAIS are processed-based learning environments. This means that the emphasis is on the journey, not only on the finished product. Utilizing the National Core Standards in both music and art, students are encouraged to create, perform, present, produce, respond, and connect as they learn to appreciate the arts.   

Through the creative arts, students sing and perform for authentic audiences at assemblies, parent-open classes, or with invited peers. Students compose and arrange music using a variety of instruments, including their own voices. Students also learn more about communication through music, dance, and drama. The focus is on developing confident risk-takers and finding ways to communicate and express themselves through creative means. In addition to weekly classroom instruction, students are invited to participate in theatrical productions, small bands, or individual lessons as available. 

The art program introduces students to a variety of mediums. As the program is limited to afternoons only, there is a two-year curriculum rotation to allow for more in-depth exposure to the mediums. One year is focused on painting and drawing, with the following year focused on more tactile mediums such as textiles, printmaking, clay, and modeling. Art is just one component of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), with a vision to allow students to invent and create when they have a foundational understanding of how to use the tools available to them. At the end of every year, there is an art showcase to show off student work and celebrate with the community.