The group at Melbourne Airport ready depart for New York
New York was truly amazing, I loved every second of the trip.Mitch Agee, Year 12 student
Accompanied by two St Michael’s teachers, students spent 10 days immersed in a range of activities including performance workshops, behind-the-scenes theatre tours and learning about the performing arts industry at its professional best.
Students also had the opportunity to visit iconic New York landmarks and were captivated by Broadway shows including Frozen the Musical, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, To Kill a Mocking Bird and The Rockettes at Radio City.
St Michael’s Dance Coordinator and coordinator of the Tour, Miss Amelia Jones, said the trip was an opportunity for students to be absorbed in professional experiences in the Performing Arts and for students to develop cohesive relationships with industry professionals.
“It was an incredible experience to watch each student expand their knowledge of practices in Drama, Music and Dance through workshops, Q&As with industry professionals, performances and auditions,” said Miss Jones.
“This experience was invaluable to the student’s goals and aspirations of their future paths in the Performing Arts and overall personal growth.”
A highlight of the Tour for current Year 12 students Mitch Agee and Sam Deshayes was the focus on careers in Performing Arts.
“The Q&A sessions with industry professionals were fantastic,” said Sam. “We met with Alicia Albright who is performing in Frozen the Musical and then saw her on stage the next night. It was great!”
“The trip reassured me that I want to pursue a career working in Performing Arts and helped me to gain a better understanding of what a career in this industry involves,” said Sam.
Sam Deshayes performing and Mitch Agee behind the camera during a workshop
Another highlight for the group was witnessing first-hand the talented street performers in New York.
“There were performances happening everywhere we went,” said Mitch. “We were catching the subway and we came across a duo singing Opera. As a group, without even speaking to each other, we delayed catching the subway so we could soak up the experience.”
The students made the most of every opportunity available to them on the Tour and left a positive impression on the industry professionals who worked with them.
Hip Hop workshop with Alvin Ailey
The group visited the prestigious American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) during the tour and AMDA was so impressed with the students, that last week, they contacted the School and offered St Michael’s students the opportunity to participate in an exclusive workshop during the AMDA International Tour in March this year.
The workshop will take place at St Michael’s on Thursday 7 March, and is available to students in Years 10-12 who are interested in Dance, Musical Theatre, Acting or a potential career in the industry.
Students who wish to participate in the workshops must apply online by Wednesday 13 February. Click here to submit an application.
