Preparing for Parent Day!

All our students are rehearsing for our parent days coming up over the next three weeks. All 600 students attending the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy Jo'burg North East will be show casing some aspects of our internationally  acclaimed programme to parents, friends and family.

Our Lower & Upper Primary Bedfordview classes , held at the Jeppe Quandom Centre, had their dress rehearsals on Saturday . The Lower Primary class had fun being " A School Orchestra"  whilst our Upper Primary classes dressed up for  a short scripted scene  called "Ulysses and The Sirens"- a piece set in the times of Greek Mythology

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Ready Steady Cook!

Our Lower primary classes have had great fun this week, dressing up as little chefs and having a cooking competition with imaginary food!! Kensington Lower Primary classes held at the Kensington Tennis and  Bowling Club on Thursdays pulled out all the stops with fantastic chef's hats, aprons and cooking utensils. The kids are encouraged to use props in preparation for their end of year production. The drama  programme helps develop self confidence as well as social and communication skills . Above all , it's great fun!!!

Corporate Drama : Adding a Magic Ingredient To how You Present!

The strategic director of  SMV South Africa, a global  media company approached the Academy  to present  a workshop which could help bridge the gap between business and drama.The company have many fantastic presenters but the idea was to push the boundaries and make them " sparkle". A two hour workshop involved  group bonding exercises, relaxation and vocal training, lateral thinking, bringing to life a power point presentation and dealing with the unexpected ! Besides teaching them new skills , great fun was had by all!

Our workshops  can be tailored  to suit the needs of the client and can vary from a two hour workshop to an 8 week course (one hour a week ).

Helen O'Grady drama student finalist at IMTA Awards in July 2012

Well done to Katleho Mallela (age 17 years) who has reached the finals of the IMTA awards in July 2012. Katleho has been attending the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy in Kempton Park for the last 5 years. Our Youth Theatre  programme which focuses on performance has certainly helped her to become such a wonderful performer.
 The  IMTA holds a number of competitions for  Actors, singers and dancers to demonstrate their potential .The agents, personal managers and casting directors who are judging are not only scoring the participants, they're also scouting for new talent to represent or cast.
Katleho, as are all the kids who are with the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy Johannesburg North East belong to our casting agency Take10. Katleho was recently featured in a PSA  advert  for Aids. The casting directors were very impressed with her.
Lets keep our fingers crossed for Katleho at the Awards!

Kensington Upper Primary make it to Youtube!

At  the end of last term our Lower (5-8yrs) and Upper Primary kids (9-12yrs) had great fun performing "The Marionettes" mime to Music-The story of Cinderella at the ball.The kids had to move like Marionettes (puppets).  Kensington Upper primary class were so excited at the prospect that they all dressed up and two of our boys - Bohale and Ryan decided the week before to be the ugly sisters and turned up in dresses and wigs!!And then just to compliment them , Dominic quite happily put on a wig and became the step mother! They had such fun that we decided to put it on video- check it out on Youtube!!
http://www.youtube.com/embed/KdGdN5wJfSU

Boksburg Upper Primary class having a ball!

 The Boksburg Lower and Upper primary classes,held at The Boksburg Methodist Church, had great fun  performing a " Mime to Music" called "The Marionettes" . The students acted out the ballroom scene of Cinderella but had to move like puppets. The students could only communicate the story through their body and facial expressions. Lindsey Fyfe their wonderful teacher had taught them the movement skills required over the previous two weeks. We even had the two ugly sisters and the horrible step mother dancing together in order to get Prince Charming's attention!

Some of our other Lower Primary  classes really dressed up and the ugly sisters really took on their characters with gusto !

 

And then there is Prince Charming and Cinderella

Youth Theatre in Action !

The Kensington Youth theatre class held on Thursdays from 5.30-6.30pm at the Kensington Tennis and Bowling club have a wail of a time . Many of the students in this group have been attending The Helen O'Grady Drama Academy in excess of 5 years and it shows!! They are extremely talented and their enthusiasm never waivers. The international youth theatre programme helps in public speaking, communication skills and it is fantastic for anyone who want to follow a career in acting. The programme compliments the drama matriculation course and puts into practice the theory that is covered at school!