Spring is Coming

Spring is coming

And oh how we love newness.

A new term, a new season, new faces, new curriculum, new scenes, new skills to teach and new skills to learn, new opportunities for growth and new opportunities for fun!

And so far, this term has brought so much of it and we simply cannot wait for more.

Drama is a place of newness. New ideas come to life, new emotions are experienced throughout, new friends are made while it all happens and new layers of creativity are peeled back. 

We walk in others' shoes and learn empathy and compassion. We see the world through new eyes and see people with open hearts.

This is the magic of drama. This is why we do what we do. We are so happy to have you as a part of it all.

It's Great To Be Back!

We got off to an immense start this week with new classes, regular classes, familiar faces and new smiles.

We're Back!

This week we shook off our holiday dust and got right down to business. 

Kindy classes started a new theme which teaches us about our bodies and how to use them at school, at home and on stage.

The Lower Primary group got to put together an improv using some holiday inspiration while the Upper Primary got stuck into new speech techniques. In movement both groups got to explore rhythm patterns proving to be loads of fun all-round! And don’t forget the Youth Theatre groups. These students upped their cool factors and started learning about building character collages.

So far it’s been a fun, learning, inspiring, dramatic week. A great start to the term and the new year.

If you missed out, don’t worry, there’s still time to get to a studio near you and enrol.

Monday:

Bellville                               Collective Arts Theatre                  CP 3:30-4:30 and YT 4:30-5:30

Stellenbosch                      Christchurch                                       CP 4-5 and YT 5-6

Tuesday:

Kenridge                              Kenridge Scouts Hall                       K 2-3, LP 3-4, UP 4-5

Paarl                                      Old Mill Theatre                               LP 3-4, UP 4-5, YT 5-6

Wednesday:

Durbanville                         All Saints Church                               LP 3-4, UP 4-5, YT 5-6

Somerset West                   HH Dutch Reformed Church        CP 3:30-4:30, YT 4:30-5:30

Thursday:

Kuils River                           Van Riebeeck Hall                            LP 3-4, UP 4-5, YT 5-6

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.

Build your confidence with Helen O' Grady

We've often heard and seen the expression: Outside your comfort zone is where the magic happens. Here at Helen O' Grady Drama Academy we couldn't agree more. And that is why our drama programme is key in the development of students' Creativity, Communication and building their Confidence.

Today we'd like to put a spotlight on the development of CONFIDENCE.

How does drama contribute to building the confidence of our students?

While students focus on reading, writing and calculating during the school day, they are encouraged and taught to speak and communicate with ease and expression during drama lessons. They are taken out of their comfortable spaces and taught to interact with others working towards the same goals and sharing and building ideas together. During drama they are also practising responding to daunting challenges and asked to present resolutions. These are but a few instances where drama allows students to exercise and build confidence in individual and group settings.

If your child is between the ages of 3 and 18 find a studio near you and join us for a free trial lesson.

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.

For now, find out more at our website, on Facebook or Twitter. 

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

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.

Term 1 opens with a roar

Helen O Grady Drama Academy in the Northern Suburbs and Winelands opened their doors last week to welcome the new year, and the new term as well as 100s of returning and new learners.

The first week saw the opening of the Kenridge Kindy class where our youngest stars took their first small steps to success. And oh what fun we had!

The Kenridge studio welcomed back learners who have been with us for a number of years and they, along with their teacher, Nastassja gave new learners a treat setting them up for a dramatic 2015.

Our Durbanville studio enjoyed a full house of new and old faces throughout the age groups. The High Impact Activity in the image below shows the Lower Primary girls enjoying an improvisation session taking domesticated house cats living in the lap of luxury to the mean, dark alleys and streets. This class wasting no time in getting the year off to roaring start.

Reports from other teachers active in Bellville, Kuils River, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington and Somerset West showed that students, old and new, were eager to get into character, learn and grow.

Movement, Mime, Speech and Improv, the year ahead promises to be one filled with learning and laughter. Be sure to keep your eyes on this page for weekly updates, news and images.

For more see our website www.helenogrady.co.za

Like us on Facebook: Helen O'Grady - Cape Town North & Winelands

Follow us on Twitter: @HOG_CT_North

We're excited to share this year with you.

The North Cape Town and Winelands Blog is now up and running

Helen O'Grady Students in action!

Hi everyone! I am Mari Crafford and the Principal of the North Cape Town and Winelands Helen O'Grady Drama Academy. I will be keeping this blog for parents, children and anyone else interested in seeing what happens in our famous Academy.