Performing Arts Academy

The performing arts embraces a diverse range of performance environments and an endless number of styles and ideas. Freeing the imagination is at the heart of all we do.

Creativity is manifestly important to SPAA. It is the core component of every course, of every class and rehearsal. From creativity comes performance and to perform well requires the highest level of skill and craft to interpret creativity imaginatively and effectively. However, performance cannot exist in isolation and requires of the practitioner a deep and insightful understanding of cultural context, political and social conditions and the human condition in all its guises. SPAA equips its graduates with the means to be credible contenders for work in the professional performing arts. We will produce graduates with a competitive edge in an international market, with all the necessary skills to develop a lasting career within this expanding creative industry. The reputation of the faculty and visiting teachers, the unrivalled quality of the facilities, the unbeatable location of the Academy and the determination to succeed provide the strongest platform in achieving these aims.

SPAA is different.

Our graduates will be successful but it is not why we exist. SPAA focusses on input not output.

Why does SPAA exist?

SPAA exists because we fundamentally believe that the performing arts has the capacity to affect and benefit every single person. Creativity and imagination are the heart and soul of the human condition. Creativity and imagination develop empathy and understanding. Without empathy and understanding, human beings burn books, torture, murder and maim in the name of order. Without creativity and imagination, human beings lose sight of the world we live in and become afraid of the diverse and endless differences between cultures and societies.

SPAA exists to celebrate, challenge, inform, educate, question, discover and share diversity in a safe environment where everyone strives for excellence and the best means of storytelling by embracing all cultures and all styles.

SPAA is a centre of excellence. We strive to find answers and are never satisfied with now. Students and staff have to work hard, never assume anything, rethink and challenge each other’s ideas and constantly recognize that innovation and new practice will mean better bodies and stronger voices will be needed to achieve excellence.

SPAA graduates will be strong, confident, independent individuals with life skills that enable them to make a significant contribution to society. Our graduates will be enterprising, creative and entrepreneurial, socially mobile and generous human beings. They will be world wise and capable of social mobility in all environments.

Sharjah Performing Arts Academy will provide a complete education for the professional performing artist. The Performing Arts are practice based and our courses will reflect this. The central component of the Academy will be people coming together to create and develop performance. There will be some elements that require delivery through lectures and seminars and in depth research; however these elements will always support practice.

Every activity, class, rehearsal will be led by distinguished professors, practitioners and experts. They will work with the students to take them on a journey of discovery. A journey that will meet failure and success in equal measure and a journey where failure is celebrated as an excellent learning strategy.

The Academy will be a vibrant hive of active participation and imagination; a typical day will see;

• Classes in the craft of acting – students working on physical and vocal skills to extend their capabilities as a performer
• A musical theatre student working with a singing teacher on musical theatre repertoire or technical singing
• Dancers in a pas de deux class working with an eminent classical ballet teacher learning how to master the techniques of dancing together
• Production students running a technical rehearsal for the next public production of a major musical
• A small group of acting students working on their contribution to the fringe theatre season in the studio theatre
• A TV director making a commercial in the green screen studio
• Students and teachers meeting in the library to find and discuss possible plays for the next theatre festival
• Musical theatre students working with a professional choreographer and MD on musical theatre dance styles; learning songs and choreography that reflects the history of musical theatre
• Production students making model boxes for their design project, under the guidance of a top set designer.
• SPAA will audition candidates from all over the world. We are looking for individuals who have the potential to be confident, independent learners who are willing to embrace diversity, work with imagination and commit to rigorous work and long hours of practice and study.