Singing and Acting Grades 7-12, NIDA Kensington
Practical, skill based learning led by industry experts across a range of performing arts disciplines. NIDA courses for Grade 7-12 students are designed to support and inspire young people at any stage of their creative development.
Learning framework
Each term we focus on a specific area of performance practice to ensure students have a varied experience and learn a range of essential creative skills.
Students are able to join us at the start of any term during the year.
NIDA Open Drama courses are designed across a four term structure within the following learning framework:
Term one Improvisation and Performance Craft
Term two Voice and Movement
Term three Devising and Contemporary Performance
Term four Script Work and Staging
Practical skill-based learning in musical theatre performance led by industry experts, designed to support and inspire young people at any stage of their creative development.
Term 1, 2024: Twisted Tales
Step into the enchanted realm of twisted tales! Inspired by classic fairytales and the songs of 'Hex', ‘Into The Woods’ and 'Once Upon a Mattress', harness the power of improvisation techniques to create original characters. Develop your singing, creative expression and performance skills to bring well-loved stories and characters to the stage, like they’ve never been seen before!
Course components
- Freeing the Imagination: Grow confidence through exercises that promote spontaneity and creative expression.
Voice and Song: Explore vocal range and dexterity with singing techniques and performance.
Storytelling: Explore stories, ideas, and adventures through group and individual improvisation.
Term 2, 2024: Swing & Jive, Sing it Live!
Hot-step your way into the swing, jive and twist! Drawing inspiration from hits such as 'Hairspray', 'Bye Bye Birdie' and 'Swing!' extend your performance skills in singing & stylised movement. Develop a short choreographed musical presentation for your family and friends at the end of the course.
Course components
- Voice and Song: Apply singing technique to develop confidence in front of a live audience.
- Physical awareness - Practice movement and musicality through physical games, exercises and movement training.
- Staging: Consider staging techniques and learn musical performance stagecraft.
Term 3, 2024: Born Wicked
Picture the pandemonium of all your beloved musical theatre villains under one roof. Explore skills in devising & storytelling techniques to create an original musical story. Featuring mischievous characters from stage and screen musicals - discover the villain within!
Course components
- Performance Practice: Apply acting and singing practice to a short devised musical presentation.
- Creative Expression: Take a variety of roles in a creative development process to generate ideas and concepts for a new live presentation.
- Performance skill: Experiment with specific physical choices to influence character, vocal quality and performance.
Term 4, 2024: Make 'Em Laugh!
It’s time to seize the rich comedy of famed musicals from Broadway and the West End! Elevate your performance skills with NIDA acting techniques to develop uproariously funny characters. Explore the scenes and songs from classic comedic masterpieces such as 'Singin' in the Rain', 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’, ’The Drowsy Chaperone'. Get ready to make ’em laugh!
Course components
- Acting Technique: Explore characterisation and build technical skills through improvisation and the application of NIDA acting technique to a musical theatre performance.
- Text Interpretation: Bring to life a short written musical text for live performance.
- Staging: Consider staging techniques, learn and apply performance craft.
Important information
- Please read our Cancellation and Transfer Policy.
- Flights and Accommodation: From time to time we may need to cancel an advertised course. Before booking flights and accommodation for travel to attend a NIDA Open course, please contact the NIDA Open office to confirm if your course will proceed as planned. NIDA does not accept liability for any associated costs of attendance or cancellation.
- Please wear comfortable clothing you can move in for all drama and performance related courses. Clothing that restricts movement is inappropriate.
- Please wear closed-in shoes. Shoes may be removed in the rehearsal room on the direction of the class tutor.
- Please bring along a pen, notebook and bottle of water to all classes.
- If you are running late to collect your child, please call NIDA reception on 02 9697 7600. NIDA will only provide supervision during advertised course times.
- NIDA staff will supervise students in courses for Grades 3 to 10 during breaks. These students will not be permitted to leave the advertised venue without parental permission.
- Students in courses for Grades 11 and 12 will not be supervised during breaks and are free to leave the venue at designated break times should they wish.
Enrol for the full year in advance to receive a 15% discount off the full price!
- Discount is only applicable when booking all four terms within the same calendar year.
- Discount is not available online. Please book over the phone by calling the office on 1300 450 417 to receive the discount.
- If students do not attend all four terms, the discount is no longer valid.
This course has no current classes. Please join the waiting list