Top 10 Performing Arts Schools in Singapore

By: Jul. 01, 2016
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The theatre scene in Singapore is growing substantially and it all begins in the schools! Below, BroadwayWorld rounds up the top 10 performing arts schools in Singapore. Check out the list below!

Are you a performing arts student who is interested in blogging about your school productions and the theatre scene in Singapore? Contact christina@broadwayworld.com for more information!

1. PACE ACADEMY / Singapore Polytechnic (School of Communications, Arts and Social Sciences). Offered to most students in SP, the Certificate in Theatre Performance and Production (CTPP) is a full-time Diploma-Plus Programme consisting of three modules on acting, behind-the-scenes production responsibilities and a final full-length theatre production:

Understanding drama - on- and offstage. Whether you have a passion for stage acting or you're in your element behind-the-scenes, our CTPP course supplements and deepens your diploma interests, giving you valuable experience in drama, performance and production.

With the course, you will:

  • Develop your stage acting skills. Learn using real scripts and plays from a range of genres and historical eras. Discover how to use your voice, body and group dynamics in acting and creating character.
  • Sharpen your production skills. Learn what it takes to direct, produce and manage a play, from set, prop, costume, lighting and sound design to stage management, finance, marketing and publicity.
  • Gain valuable hands-on experience managing people, obstacles and even money from your involvement in the final project - a full-length theatre production that showcases your talent and learning.

The Certificate in Theatre Performance and Production (CTPP) Diploma-Plus Programme is a starting point for gauging your interest and talent in the field of drama, as an actor, a director or a designer. You'll get first-hand experience for a range of work options in the theatre and entertainment industry.

For more information, visit: http://www.sp.edu.sg/

2. PSB Academy. Established as a wholly-owned entity of the Australian university in 2006, UON Singapore has delivered a world-leading education throughout the past decade, expanding its full-time and part-time degrees to provide a vibrant higher education portfolio for a diverse international cohort. Despite its youth, UON Singapore boasts strong partnerships with both local and national industries, allowing it to present each student with access to a broad variety of professional networks that they will benefit from after they graduate.

As UON Singapore celebrates its tenth year as one of Singapore's most esteemed providers of higher education, the school is located in one of the world's Top 20 Student Cities.

For more information, visit: http://www.psb-academy.edu.sg/

3. SOTA (School of the Arts).

The School of the Arts (SOTA) is Singapore's first national pre-tertiary specialised arts school with a six-year integrated arts and academic curriculum, leading to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or Career-related Programme, for youths aged 13 -18 years old.

Under the ambit of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), SOTA offers a dedicated development path for those who have interest and show early talent in the arts, providing a learning environment where both the artistic and academic potential can best be realised.

With a vision to shape and impact society through an education in the arts, SOTA aims to identify and groom future generations of artists, creative professionals to be leaders in all fields, and to be patrons and supporters of the arts.

A school of the future, SOTA embraces a holistic educational philosophy that celebrates experimentation, expression and discovery.

For more information, visit: https://www.sota.edu.sg

4. National University of Singapore (NUS). The National University of Singapore (NUS) mission comprises three mutually reinforcing thrusts: quality education, high impact research and service to the country and society. NUS strives to provide a balanced, high quality education that nurtures the spirit of inquiry and initiative, and which allows students to realize their aspirations and potential. The core strategy is to attract the best students, who are academically strong, and who have passion, commitment, leadership potential and come from diverse backgrounds.

Apart from having several other faculties and departments dealing with Business, Law, Medicine, Social Sciences and other subjects, the NUS also consists of two departments, which specialize in fine and performing arts.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) has been ranked amongst the World's Top 20 and Top 3 universities in Asia. This is the university's biggest and greatest achievement. The NUS has 11 faculties including Arts & Social Sciences, Business, Computing, Dentistry, Design & Environment, Engineering, Public policy and others. Its graduate schools are the NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering and the Duke NUS Graduate Medical School.

For more information, visit: www.nus.edu.sg

5. LASALLE-SIA College of Arts. Asia Pacific's leading art institution, LASALLE-SIA, has a unique philosophy that emphasizes creativity. Offering comprehensive high-quality education in Singapore with a complete academic-creative path, LASALLE-SIA currently serves 1,500 students with the widest range of arts programmes in Singapore from Foundation to Master's Degree in practice-based arts.

High-level research is also an important Academic and Creative activity at the College, making LASALLE-SIA the pioneer in many research initiatives with outcomes that include exhibitions, performances and publications. PhD programmes are planned to commence in the near future. Students are taught by experienced educators who are also practicing professionals, and are allowed to work with invited International Artists and performers, as well as to participate in a dynamic programme of high-level exhibitions and performances.

For more information, visit: http://www.lasalle.edu.sg/

6. Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) was set up in the year 1938 and started off with only 14 Fine Art students. From then onwards, it has gradually established itself as one of the pre-eminent, full-fledged arts institution in Singapore producing a large number of excellent artists, designers, performers and illustrious alumni.

For more information, visit: http://www.nafa.edu.sg/

7. ACTFA School of Dance and Performing Arts. ACTFA School of Dance and Performing Arts, Singapore is involved in training its students for social dancing, competitions and performances in Salsa, Bachata, Afro-Cuban Rumba, Zouk, Rueda, Merengue, Argentine Tango, West Coast Swing, Hip Hop, Pock & Lock, Break, Belly Dance, Stilettos Dance, Jazz, Ballet, Latin Ballroom, Modern, Broadway, etc and also offers Makeup, Face-care, Modeling and Costume seminars.

With more than 15 years of experience in teaching dance, the dance school has sent of its many students and teachers to perform, compete and teach both locally and internationally. Actfa has trained many students in dance performance, teaching dance classes and competitions. Its teachers and students are known in Asia and around the world, and have been invited to teach and perform in Singapore, Los Angeles, Germany, London, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Taiwan, India, Maldives, etc and featured on many international TV and newspapers. Many dance students in Singapore and overseas have been through Actfa dance school's training system to become popular dance teachers and top competitiors today.

ACTFA Dance Performance Team have performed in many parts of Singapore, including performing over 14 different shows each for Esplanade Da:ns Festival 2009 & 10's Latin Fever Night and in Asia's First Salsa Musical Comedy that was premiered at the Summer Dancefit 2006 with a revise performance at Kallang Theatre later that year, Salsa for Beginners (Theatre and Reality Movie) in the Singapore Salsa Congress 2006, Hokkien Salsa in the Singapore Salsa Festival 2007 and Christmas Salsa in Victoria Theatre in December 2007.

One of the biggest dance studios in singapore, Actfa teaches over 50 different types of dance classes, and provides dance courses for social dancers with its beginners and intermediate dance classes, and also has dance courses for those aspiring to be professionals with the diploma, certification & instructor courses (offered by its sister school, Absna).

For more information, visit: http://actfa.com/

8. Junyuan Secondary School. Junyuan Secondary School drama club adopted the name Crescendo Theatre in 2010 to differentiate itself and build its own unique identity.

Members mostly have very little theatre experience and many join to better their communication skills. At the end of their four years, many have definitely become more confident as an individual.

In line with Junyuan's vision of 'champions for the community', Crescendo Theatre is looking to actively be involved with working with the community at different levels to bring the Arts to the community. In 2013, as part of the Values in Action programme, Crescendo Theatre went to Kheng Chiu Loke Tin Kee Home. Our objective was to build connections with members of the community through Arts. It was indeed a memorable experience for the students and the elderly as they bonded.

Training sessions are conducted twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday) from 2.45 to 5.45 pm and increases in frequency whenever the club is preparing for a major competition like Singapore Youth Festival. During the holidays, trainings are usually conducted in the first week of holidays.

They have their very own Drama room which is big enough to house all members and some of their props and costumes.

For more information, visit: http://www.junyuansec.moe.edu.sg/

9. Celine Jessandra School of Music & Dance. Celine Jessandra School of Music & Dance is well known for pioneering the Korean Vocal and Dance 'K-Pop Hallyu' wave in Singapore. It was founded in 2006 by director, Celine Jessandra Lim.

Staying at the forefront of the arts, Celine JessanDra Leads and inspires individuals to embark upon their first foray into the arts, as well as provide stage and performance opportunities to those who show potential.

Many of the young talents who attend the school, were handpicked, or discovered by Celine, who then took them under her tutelage, leading to the formation of the CJ Crew.

The CJ Crew has been featured across numerous media publications and programs, even being showcased in countries such as Korea and Germany. They have performed for and alongside regional and local artistes [Korea's B2ST, BtoB, Jolin Tsai and Derrick Hoh to name a few].

They have headlined campaigns from TV commercials to print adverts, as well as entertained audience across local and international shores, with hundreds of performances to their name.

Their expertise and recognition have led to involvement with landmark events such as Esplanade's annual Da:ns Festival, where they have been involved in both teaching and performing capacities.

Featuring an unrivalled Vocal and Dance curriculum for students, Celine Jessandra immerses itself in the Performing Arts. With its focus on the elements of creativity and passion, students enjoy the autonomy of learning while experiencing breakthroughs and achievements over the course of their learning journey.

With its aim to empower their students and provide them with the most excellent learning platforms, Celine Jessandra seeks to stay relevant, differentiated and influential in the ever changing climate of the arts.

For more information, visit: http://www.celinejessandraschool.com/

10. Kids Performing™ Academy of the Arts. Established since 2004, by founder and Artistic Director, Kuo Po, KIDS PERFORMING™ ACADEMY OF THE ARTS is Singapore's premier school developing children and youths in the art of performing.

With a vision to establish an internationally recognised performing arts academy, Kids Performing™ Academy's mission is to offer world class quality program to nurture and develop our students.

There are courses for students from 18 months to 18 years old in music, dance, theater and communications. From the basic certification classes to the grooming of superstars,
Kids Performing™ has the curriculum to cater to students of different needs and talents.
Kids Performing™ aims to bring the benefits of performing arts to every child helping them develop their confidence and unique personalities.

Kids Performing™ prepares students in music, dance, theater and communications using syllabi from internationally recognised boards.

Kids Performing™ provides "performance training" courses for various age groups known as TwinkleStars, PopStars, JazzKids™, UrbanKids™, BroadwayKids™ and TeenStars™ and Kids Talk Live. Performance training nurtures star performers for the stage.

Kids Performing™ Academy also conducts a successful program in preparing primary school students towards Direct School Admission auditions and interviews. We are proud that more than 90% of our students are successful in their applications.

Kids Performing™'s talents have performed before an international audience:

• World Leaders at the APEC Summit (2009)

• Marina Bay Sands official opening (2010),

• Inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore (2010)

• National Day Parade 2012

• American Protege 2014; 2015

Kids Performing™ Academy of the Arts is a Ministry of Education registered performing arts school.

For more information, visit: http://www.kidsperforming.com/



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