LIGHTS. CAMERA. TEACH

Not only has it been an exciting week for new and returning students, it’s also been a memorable one for us. We are so excited to tell you about our two new wonderful teachers on staff! 

With great pleasure we would like to introduce Anna Greenfield and Inandi Vosloo. 

They are well qualified, energetic and full of charisma. They both completed a BA and honours degree in Drama and Theatre Arts. 

Anna Greenfield enjoying the enthusiasm of the group at Bellville Christian Academy

As with all of our teachers, they completed specialist training in the Helen O’Grady Drama System and will continue to receive ongoing training and supervision.  Our principal, Mari Crafford, visited their first classes this week and so far has shared her immense confidence in their abilities and dedication to excellence. 

Helen O’ Grady teachers from around the region getting practical during the first term training

They’ve already enjoyed a great start to this new chapter and we are so excited to see them and the students soar to new heights.

You will, of course, read all about that and more right here on our blog so keep your eyes on this page!

A little Hebron in our Hearts

It’s amazing how teaching children can pull on every heart string. And not because we’re being dramatic, us, never. We simply cannot walk away from a class without leaving a bit of ourselves behind.

The principal of Helen O’ Grady Northern Suburbs and Winelands also teaches. Every Thursday afternoon for the last few years sees Mari drive through the gates of Hebron Christian Academy where she is met with enthusiastic, energetic, animated and lively students ready to end their school day on a dramatic high.

Despite the class growing in numbers each term and each year Mari has kept the class personal and each interaction special backed up by world-renowned teaching methods and a stellar curriculum. 

We believe the relationship between Helen O’ Grady and Hebron Christian School will continue to grow from strength to strength.

If you are in the Durbanville area...

Our Durbanville classes rock!
Well, all of our classes do but today we celebrate Durbanville.

Our teacher, Lize, is inspired and inspiring and the ever-growing class is testament to that.



Classes take place at the All Saints Church (across Durbanville Primary School) every Wednesday:

15:00 - 16:00  Lower Primary
16:00 - 17:00  Upper Primary
17:00 - 18:00  Youth Theatre

A Mime is Worth a Thousand Words

At Helen O’ Grady we love miming and teaching our students the art of miming.

What is mime and why do we teach it?

Mime is not simply mimicking, it’s recreation

When we mime we get to create illusions.

Mime challenges us to imagine a new world and create a new world for us as the performer as well as for our audience.

During mime students are learning to use their bodies and facial expressions.

They learn to communicate effectively without using sounds and words.

A Mime to Music is a sequence of miming to create and tell a story. It’s one of the favourite activities for our students to do and for teachers to show.

Paarl students performing The Marionettes

Rainbow Montessori students performing The Marionettes

Last week our students enjoyed a Mime to Music called The Marionettes. During this item students are paired together as operators and their beloved marionettes. This gave students a further challenge to move together as partners WITHOUT SPEAKING! Oh what a challenge, but oh what fun.

They rose to the occasion and we might just have to save this one for Parent Day ;)

Helen O' Grady: A global movement

Our Parent Days have allowed us to introduce Helen O’ Grady to the parents, friends and families of our students. At the presentations friends and families hear more about what we do at the academy and they also learn about our presence around the world.

It is with much enthusiasm and great pride that we can link what we do here in Cape Town Northern Suburbs and Winelands to what happens in Cape Town Southern suburbs, the rest of South Africa and all around the world.

Helen O’ Grady Drama Academy has touched the world, teaching students in different corners of the world, various cultures and a great variety of faces and personalities.

Join the global movement today!

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more.

Be anyone we choose...

“A swirling skirt, a pirate’s hat,

Some baggy pants and things like that.

With a jacket, bow tie or high-heeled shoes

We can be anyone we choose.”

This short poem is performed at the end of the Lower Primary’s Whole Class Improv last week. This improv will be a favourite for the students and teachers as it reminds us of one of the great allowances of drama: to be anyone we choose.

Drama allows our students to, for a moment, put aside worries of home and school and dig into themselves for creativity, dreams and ideas. This space is an opportunity for each student to be their best and see themselves at their best. This is key to building their confidence and self-esteem and it is also key to their understanding of themselves and the wonderful things they are able to reach for and achieve.

Paarl Lower Primary class perform their
Whole Class Improv: What a Find!

What a privilege it is for us as teachers to be a part of these journeys and what each student grow.

If you would like to get involved please do get in touch with us:

Visit our website

Take a look at our Facebook page

Contact the office directly: 021 913 3635

One more speech

We recently shared with you our excitement as we prepare for the Speech elements of our Parent Day presentations. Speech is a very important part of what we do at Helen O‘Grady Drama Academy.

We’ve found that over the years, this part of the curriculum returns great results in our students’ overall development.

One may think that speech can be taught in isolation and this is true. Speech lessons will be effective in teaching students to communicate and they can take this skill into all aspects of their lives. However, when speech is combined with drama, they will not only learn effective communication, they will also be learning how to communicate in a creative and confident way.

Speech, as part of our drama classes explores the importance of projection, forward placing, effective use of lip, tongue and jaw as well as annunciation and other principles.

If you would like to know more please get in touch with us. Trial lessons are free and there is a class for every age group meaning your child could fit in immediately without a wait.

Visit our website or Facebook page for more.

We can’t wait to hear from you.

Speak Out!

As we build up to our Parent Day presentations our Lower and Upper Primary classes have been working hard towards their speech showcases.

For the Lower Primary groups this will take the form of a group poem. Our students in grades 1 through to 3 have been learning and will be performing a new poem specially written to show the skills they have acquired throughout their speech activities this term and this year.

In the Upper Primary classes students have enthusiastically been learning and rehearsing a Verbal Dynamics piece. This work uses poetry and drama to bring to life group speech activities.

Either group will do their best to show their parents the skills they have been taught throughout their time with Helen O’ Grady. These skills include projection, exclamation, volume control, resonance, to name a few.

We cannot wait to host our ever supportive parents at this term’s Parent Day.

Be sure to check out our Facebook page to make sure you don’t miss out.

Bring A Friend

Every term Helen O' Grady offers our students the opportunity to bring a friend to class and share in the drama and fun. This is a great way for those who do not know about the programme to get a hands on introduction to the curriculum and dynamic teaching. Friends are welcomed as part of the class and are included in all activities throughout the lesson.

This is also a unique opportunity for students to share with their friends what they do at their weekly drama classes and what they have learnt.

When students join us for a Bring a Friend day they often return to enrol in the programme. Once they are exposed to the high energy, the warmth and the skills taught they simply cannot stay away.

If you are at one of our studios, ask your teacher for your Bring a Friend day voucher and invite your friends to join you at drama. If you would like to visit one of our studios, remember, trial lessons are free and in the same way we welcome the friends invited by our students, we cannot wait to welcome you!

Fresh start for young drama kings and queens

The new term began last week and what an enthusiastic start we had.

Term 2 brings our Primary groups new and exciting additions to the curriculum. Our students are always keen to learn new skills as our teachers continue to equip them with the best of drama education and development.

This term is extra special as we also prepare for our mid-year Parent Day Presentations. At the Parent Days our students have the opportunity to show their parents and friends what they've learnt throughout the year. The Parent Day is a showcase of the skills our students have acquired as they perform their term favourites.

Lower Primary classes have started to work on Scene-Starters 

and continue to enjoy Whole Class Improvs

This term will see new exercises of well known activities as well as new activities for new and returning students. The curriculum is set in a way that will extend the abilities of all students and increase their knowledge and skills.

If you have children between the ages of 3 and 18 there is something for each child. Find a studio near you and sign up for a free trial lesson.

Go to our website, Facebook page or Twitter to find out more and be part of the action.

Welcome to Term 2!

We hope you've had a great break and you are ready to take on the very exciting Term 2.

All our new and returning students have so much to look forward to this term. We continue our trademark, internationally renowned curriculum which, this term, includes new activities. These new activities will not only further prepare students for the stage, it will also expand their learning and grow their skills.

Our drama programme is critical in the development of students' creativity, communication and confidence.

Creativity is a key aspect of our programme and of students' learning as this assists with their ability to produce new ideas and also use what is familiar in new and exciting ways. This will prove invaluable at later stages in their careers regardless of the fields within which they find themselves.

Nurturing their communication skills allows them to express themselves verbally and non-verbally. Drama is also a great instrument to develop their listening skills. Again, this will be of great benefit in their immediate future. Not only in classrooms or in the work place but all interpersonal relationships as well.

We see our students grow in confidence as they learn to trust in their own abilities and through performance conquer their fear of performing for an audience. This confidence is built into their personalities and carried throughout their adult lives.

At Helen O' Grady we are happy to be part of our students' growth and development in these key areas. Our teachers look forward to every class and interacting with every student.

Image by ccplwritersblock.wordpress.com

Join the world's leading drama school today and be part of the action.
You can find more on the benefits of drama here: http://www.dramaed.net/benefits.pdf

Visit our website, Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter.

We can't wait to meet you!

Helen O' Grady students earn gold

At Helen O' Grady we look to reward students as often as possible.

Our drama classes are full of energy and fun, and not only this, we acknowledge students who have faithfully attended and participated in our programme.

For our students starting out we have Merit Certificates which can be earned within the first year with the Academy. This ensures that even late joiners are recognised as part of the Helen O' Grady family.

The Achievement Certificates are awarded after a full year with the programme.

As the students progress, the prize increases. After 100 lessons students receive their first trophy. 100 lessons is possible after 10 terms or 2½ years. After that, learners are in line to earn trophies after 200 and 300 lessons, these are students who have been part of the family for between 5 and nearly 8 years!

Nerise Malan of Somerset West is one of many students who earned gold. Nerise, like other students around the Northern suburbs and Winelands area have been with us from Primary class days and is now part of the Youth Theatre programme.

Awards are presented to students twice a year. The presentations take place at our Mid-Year Parent Day and at the Year-End Production.

Start winning with Helen O' Grady today.

Take a look at our website, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for all the info you may need and for weekly updates.

Youth Theatre: A stepping stone to University Drama

With the aim of developing confident, articulate communicators, Youth Theatre is our programme open to all secondary school students.

The programme does not only train students for the stage with theatre principles but also consists of components that prepares them for film and radio as well. These skills include voice production, advanced improv, script development, character analysis and production techniques. The programme is not only appealing to those who wish to pursue a career in acting but is invaluable to those who look to develop their public speaking abilities and those who wish to improve their confidence in effective communication.

A trend that runs from the Primary Classes through to Youth Theatre is that all classes have a fun atmosphere led by enthusiastic teachers.

If YOU are in this age group and would like to get involved, tell your parents about us, give us a call and we'll tell you more.

In the mean time, go over to www.helenogrady.co.za for more information.

Like us on Facebook

And follow us on Twitter

You don't want to miss out!

Drama for ALL

Schools all over the world benefit from the wonderful programmed delivered by Helen O' Grady Drama Academy. Students from the age of 3 to 18 are equipped with skills in communication, creativity and performance. Presenting the drama programme at schools enhances school life for all children, it challenges them to think creatively and also encourages them to explore thoughts, dreams and ideas. The programme is not, however, limited to public, private and government schools. We also service Montessori schools.

Rainbow Montessori in Durbanville is new to Helen O' Grady and already students are showing a keen interest in all aspects of the curriculum.

The Rainbow Academy Primary Composite students enjoy all the
activities that form part of the weekly drama lesson.

Chameleons Montessori have been part of the Helen O' Grady family for a few years and the school extends the programme to the youngest learners. Teacher, Lize Goosen enjoys interacting with the young drama kings and queens as they get a head start in their development.

The Kindy students showcase their performance skills during the
Music themed lessons.

Would you like Helen O' Grady to come to your school?

Contact us for a demonstration class: 021 913 3635 or mari@helenogrady.co.za

We can't wait to hear from you.

SO MUCH IN STORE

Like a magician with an endless array of tricks in his hat, a bag full of surprises, a gift with no end, such is the level of surprises in store for the students of Helen O Grady Drama Academy.

The international curriculum builds in students creative thinking and literacy skills while also teaching children positive social skills including effective team interaction, leadership, confidence and public speaking. And all of this, packaged in a fun, interactive and energetic class.

Children can be part of the Helen O Grady family from as young as 3 years old, they form part of the Kindy programme specially designed to give the young ones the confidence and platform they need to express their creativity. Through story telling, dramatic play, language development and song preschoolers are taught to listen, share, follow instruction and vocalise emotions.

The Lower and Upper Primary groups fill up first. The curriculum is structured in a way that meets the needs specific to the age group and needs of the children. With lessons in speech, movement, mime and improvisation students are treated to the highest level of dramatic education. Within a year, they walk away with the tools and equipping to not only perform on multiple stages but also the confidence and skills needed in the world they find themselves.

Students at the Paarl Primary Composite class enjoy an
interactive, high energy lesson in improvisation.

For the older students our Helen O Grady Youth Theatre offers classes that are on the same level as first year University drama classes. Nurturing talent and refining skills of students who have grown with the Academy from a young age as well as new students with a keen interest in the world of drama.

No matter the age, there is something unique and extraordinary for each child.

If your child is between the ages of 3 and 18 find a studio near you. Trial lessons are free.

If YOU are in this age group and would like to get involved, tell your parents about us, give us a call and we'll tell you more.

In the mean time, go over to Helen O Grady's website for more information.

Like us on Facebook

And follow us on Twitter: @HOG_CT_North

Be sure not to miss out.

There's a reason we're the first choice for schools world wide.

What Everyone Needs!

To be happy and successful in today’s highly competitive world, we need to be confident and articulate. Enthusiastic people who learn to speak out clearly and relate confidently, develop skills that make the journey through life successful. Our stimulating programme assists all students to develop in these crucial areas!