How does it benefit my child to attend drama class?

From the age of three when we start with our Kindy classes, children need  social interaction skills, confidence and self-esteem. This is exactly what the fun filled programme offers children. It develops clear speech, fluent delivery, improvisation and dramatisation skills, as well as the all-important social interaction skills. Through role-playing and creative games, we encourage kids to express themselves and their emotions, be inquisitive and share information confidently.

 As the children get older and progress to the Lower Primary (5 – 8 years) and Upper Primary (9 – 12 years), we hone these skills to enable the students to become confident, articulate communicators, and capable and creative performers. We use a wide range of creative activities including speech, creative movement and improvisation for the younger group, and as they get older and more experienced, we include snippets and scene starters.

At the end of each year they utilise all the skills acquired during the year to create a short, scripted production, which is performed, for parents and friends.

 By the time they reach our dynamic, theatre arts Youth Theatre classes (13 – 18 years), our programme starts putting more emphases on performance, although the developmental side of the program still remain very important. Some students join to acquire effective communication skills that could give them the edge in their future careers.

Others join with the hope of pursuing a career in the theatre arts. We start preparing students for a more competitive theatre arts environment covering amongst many other aspects, spontaneous improvisation, voice production, small group improvisation with specific directives, mini scripts, character analysis, open-ended duologues, theatre games, radio plays, quick fire dialogues, monologues and structured scenes.

The Youth Theatre group, as with Lower and Upper Primary, have the opportunity to show their advanced skills at the end-of-year production.

 “If young people are having fun when they are learning, the chances are that the skills taught will remain with them forever. Never has it been as important as it is now to set children up for life and prepare them with the life-skills so needed today and in the future.”   - Juliet Jordaan (Principal, Helen O’Grady Drama Academy Midrand & Pretoria)

40 Years of Helen O’Grady!

   
      Helen O"Grady 40 Year Reunion in Australia - WOW!

The Helen O'Grady Drama Academy was originally founded in 1979 in Australia, when Helen O'Grady, a trained teacher, TV presenter and actress, hired a hall and commenced affordable after school drama classes for young people from 5-18 years of age.

Her aims provide a self-development drama programme encouraging:

•     Enthusiasm, energy and a positive approach to life
•     Ongoing confidence
•      Self esteem
•      Skill in verbal communication
•      Effective social interaction
•       Performance skills

40 years later her legacy continues, and the Helen O'Grady Drama System has now become the largest worldwide drama school of its kind with branches in 40 countries.

In 1996, the first franchise was started in South Africa, 23 years later there are 12 centres and 6,000 students attending lessons each week. Right here in Pretoria, Principal, Juliet Jordaan has been running the academy for 10 years, and going from strength to strength.

     “If young people are having fun when they are learning, the chances are that the skills taught will remain with them forever. Never has it been as important as it is now to set children up for life and prepare them with the life-skills so needed today and in the future.”   - Juliet Jordaan (Principal, Helen O’Grady Drama Academy Midrand & Pretoria)

                                 

To Love or not to Love…

 As Drama teachers, we are not aiming at creating award winning actors, but rather on developing life skills and cultivating a love for theatre and performance. If we are lucky, we might plant the seed that one day will lead to a handful of students pursuing a career in the performing arts. To help a young person find their passion and to witness that discovery is incredibly rewarding.

But for the most part, helping kids to learn to love theatre and the performing arts, understand the hard work and dedication that goes into a theatrical production and respecting those who choose to follow such a path, is a major win in my book.

We have just started rehearsals for our year end plays, and the children are very enthusiastic about putting this show together and performing it.

The excitement and somewhat nervous anticipation of being on stage, with costumes, lights and music is palpable. Watching their faces light up when they remember their lines and get the dance steps right and how proud they are of themselves and each other is a sure sign that this generation might just fall in love with theatre yet and perhaps one day, with any luck, these will be the audiences supporting our local talent and taking their children to the annual Panto, musical or ballet.  

                   

     Click Here to Enrol! 

  And be part of our 2019 Production!

                                                          

                                     

Building Confidence in Beaulieu!

Acting in Beaulieu! Saturday morning classes for all ages are fantastic!

Wonderful friendships are made!

Improvisation is so important and this term we brought in dress up days- the students love to dress up and bring props to enhance their performance!

One of the greatest gifts we can gain is that of natural confidence. When we overcome our fears and anxieties, our perspective of the world changes - we become positive people. 

 The Academy runs programmes for different age-groups of children from 3-18 years and Adults. We use an international curriculum which has been uniquely designed, through group work, to bring out the best in everyone. 
Anyone can learn how to be confident and the shyest of people can overcome their fears by learning about the feelings of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities.





Classes are run in the following areas of Pretoria: Faerie Glen, Brooklyn, Annlin, Erasmia, Midrand, Weirda Park, Irene and Midstream.

The Academy also runs drama programmes for schools in Pretoria as part of their in-school curriculum. If you would like to find out more, visit our website: www.dramaafrica.com

WELCOME TO 2018!

Monday 22 January 2018 is the start of our Term 1 Drama classes!

We are super excited to get our drama classes underway and we have been working hard to ensure that our classes will be fast paced, exciting and educational!

If you would like more information about our award winning curriculum please visit our website www.helenogrady.co.za or contact Pretoria Principal Juliet Jordaan - juliet@helenogrady.co.za / 0829091630.

Book your place NOW!!