NAPA News - Week 4, Term 1, 2026
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Week 4 is upon us! As usual the year is flying by and we are nearing the middle of term. It’s been a wonderful start to the year so far, and I have loved seeing everyone enjoying their classes and making new friends. There is such a positive vibe around the studio!
This week we open A Midsummer Night’s Dream, our NAPA Ensemble production. For those of you who don’t know what NAPA Ensemble is, it is our adult theatre company that offers opportunities for our adult community to work on productions often in association with our NAPA Youth program. This production features our NAPA College Cert III and IV students in as the Faerie Ensemble, which also gives them the opportunity to work in an environment with experienced adults. This production is an adapted Shakespeare play, and uses music to enhance the magic, deepen the emotion, and bring a fresh, spellbinding energy to this timeless tale.
If this is your first Shakespeare production we have a special message for you from our Director, Amy Elkin -
For those lucky audience members about to experience their first Shakespearean play, a word of advice: let go of the idea that you need to understand every word. Instead, focus on the emotion of the scene and trust that our actors will use their expressions, movements and delivery to safely guide you through the adventure. Our show begins and ends in the royal palace in Athens, but most of it will be spent over one wild night in an enchanted forest full of mischievous fairies. Enjoy the chaos and the magic of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Wishing all of our families a wonderful week ahead … we can’t wait to see everyone in the studio!
QUICK REMINDERS
Lost property - Please be sure to check this regularly throughout the year.
Jewellery - a quick reminder that excessive jewellery is not to be worn to any NAPA classes and that any earrings worn in dance class should be small studs or sleepers only. No other jewellery should be worn in dance classes, as this creates a safety hazard for dancers and their peers. PLEASE LEAVE AT HOME to avoid losing anything precious.
Footwear - please note that there will be strict guidelines around footwear at NAPA this year. This is for the safety of our young dancers - Jazz, Combo, Technique and Performance Team students must wear jazz shoes - Hip Hop, Tread the Boards and Broadway students must wear sneakers or jazz shoes - Ballet students must wear ballet shoes and Tap students must wear tap shoes. The only class where bare feet will be allowed is lyrical/contemporary, and we recommend students wear black dance or NAPA socks to these classes. Students will not be able to participate in class if they do not have the appropriate footwear.
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
IMPORTANT CALENDAR CHANGE - DANCE CONCERT UPDATE!
I have just been informed by HOTA that they have given away our dates that were booked last year. After many years of performing at HOTA, we have decided to make the move to The Star Theatre for our end-of-year concert. We are excited to experience a new space, however it does mean a date change. At this stage we have a tentative booking for late November. We are aiming for a weekend, so we can rehearse and perform over one day, which will have so many more benefits for our rehearsal structure. Please PENCIL this change in your calendar for now, and I will update everyone as soon as I have confirmation on our new date.
In exciting news, we have confirmed our concert theme and will be casting the production over the next few weeks. Casting for our dance concert is based on class work and our lead roles are chosen from our Performance Team classes. Our other dance students will have the opportunity to audition for Narrator roles later in the year, however all classes are involved in the concert. If you are new to NAPA, our dance concert follows a story line, told by our narrators and woven together with items from each dance class. It is a highlight of the year and I’m so excited for this year’s production!
FROM THE P&F
Parents + Friends, we need you!
The P+F team is gearing up for an exciting year ahead and we’d love to know how you might like to be involved, from helping at events and productions to sharing skills or supporting fundraising. There’s no obligation at all; this just helps us reach out to the right people at the right time (and save the Facebook scramble).
New change rooms - REQUEST
Can I please ask all parents of our younger students to have a chat with them about our new change rooms. These have become a “playground” for some of our younger students, especially on Saturdays. Please ask that they do not use that space for games and give them a gentle reminder that that space backs onto our staffroom where our teachers are often doing admin or taking a well-deserved break. That area should be a quiet zone and used only for its purpose of changing, chilling out or storing bags, not for play-time.
Thank you!
NEW STAFF MEMBER ALERT!
We are thrilled to welcome Emily Monsma to our staff for 2026. Emily will soon return to Australia after spending the past two and a half years touring Australia and Asia with WICKED as a Glinda understudy and ensemble member. A proud NAPA graduate, Emily went on to study Musical Theatre at The Con (now QAEMT), continuing to build an impressive professional career in the performing arts.
An experienced teacher, Emily brings both passion and dedication to every student she works with. She will be available for private vocal tuition and will also join our NAPA College teaching staff in 2026. We are so excited to welcome you home, Miss Emily!
PRIVATE LESSONS
A reminder that private lessons are filling up and minimal places remain for all of our staff. If you’re interested in private tuition for Dance, Drama, Singing or Trinity Guildhall Exams (Musical Theatre or Speech & Drama) please contact the following teachers -
Private Tuition -
Dance:
Mandy Morrison - [email protected]
Suzanne Lewis - [email protected]
Sam Hindmarsh - [email protected]
Michael Hughes - [email protected]
Alana Andrews - [email protected]
Jaeda Power - [email protected]
Jasmine Andrews - [email protected]
Vocal:
Emily Monsma - [email protected]
Jordan Koulos - [email protected]
Jonathan Whitlow - [email protected]
David Valks - [email protected]
Jackie Turner - [email protected]
Melissa Lukin-Stripp - [email protected]
Acting/Trinity Exams:
Amy Elkin - [email protected]
Cilla Scott - [email protected]
Wellbeing
Healthy Competition in the Performing Arts
Finding Growth, Confidence and Joy on the Stage
Competition has long been a part of dance and musical theatre training, and when approached in a healthy way, it can be an incredibly valuable experience for young performers. At NAPA, we believe competitions have an important place in a student’s development … not as a measure of worth or talent, but as an opportunity for growth, learning and performance experience.
Competition as a Learning Tool
Performing in competitions gives students something meaningful to work towards. Preparing for an eisteddfod or performance opportunity helps develop discipline, goal-setting skills, resilience and confidence. Students learn how to rehearse with intention, manage nerves and present their work in a performance environment beyond the classroom.
Most importantly, competitions provide valuable feedback from industry professionals. Adjudications can offer new perspectives, highlight strengths and identify areas for improvement … insights that help performers continue to grow artistically and technically.
When viewed through this lens, competition becomes part of the learning process rather than the end goal.
The Difference Between Healthy and Unhealthy Competition
Healthy competition focuses on personal progress, not comparison.
A healthy mindset sounds like:
“Did I improve from last time?”
“What did I learn from this experience?”
“How can I grow from this feedback?”
An unhealthy mindset shifts the focus outward:
Comparing results with others
Measuring success only through placements or trophies
Feeling discouraged when outcomes don’t match expectations
In the performing arts, success cannot always be measured objectively. Every adjudicator brings different preferences, and every performance day is different. A result reflects one moment in time, not a performer’s potential or value.
Performance Over Placement
Competitions should first and foremost be seen as a chance to perform. Performing regularly builds confidence, stage presence and storytelling skills in ways that rehearsals alone cannot replicate.
Trophies and awards can be exciting, but they should never become the sole reason for participation. When winning becomes the focus, students may lose sight of the joy of performing, the courage it takes to step on stage, and the personal growth happening along the way.
The true achievements often look like:
Performing with greater confidence than before
Applying corrections successfully
Showing resilience after challenges
Supporting peers and celebrating others’ successes
These are the qualities that build strong artists and healthy performers.
Supporting Wellbeing Through Competition
Parents, teachers and students all play a role in maintaining a positive competitive environment. We encourage students to:
Set personal goals rather than outcome-based goals
Celebrate effort and improvement
Respect and support fellow performers
View feedback as guidance, not judgment
Remember that one performance does not define them
When competition is framed around growth, students learn perseverance, emotional resilience and self-awareness … skills that extend far beyond the stage.
Our Studio Philosophy
At NAPA, competitions are one part of a much bigger journey. They provide opportunities to perform, receive feedback and work towards meaningful goals, but they do not define success. Our priority will always be developing confident, adaptable and emotionally healthy performers who love what they do.
Because ultimately, the goal is not to win at all costs … it is to grow, to learn and to find joy in the art of performance. 🎭✨
CHERUB OF THE WEEK
CONGRATULATIONS, TASMAN!
This week we are celebrating Tasman. Tasman or “Tassie” as he is affectionately known, is a NAPA College student who is currently in his final year studying his Diploma of Musical Theatre.
Tassie is such a positive light at the studio and all his teachers agree that he has started 2026 with a strong sense of focus, determination and drive.
Thank you for being you, cherub! We are proud to be a part of your Performing Arts journey.
Congratulations, Tassie … we’re so proud of you! ✨
PERFORMANCE TIPS
Class Etiquette: Making Every Lesson Count
Why every class is an opportunity to grow
In the performing arts, progress doesn’t only happen on stage … it happens in the studio, every single day. The habits students build in class shape not only their technical development, but also their professionalism, confidence and reputation as performers.
A phrase often heard in the industry is: “Every class is an audition.” While this doesn’t mean students should feel pressure, it does highlight an important truth … teachers, choreographers and directors notice attitude, effort and respect just as much as talent.
Every Class Is an Opportunity
Whether learning new choreography, revising technique or participating in a warm-up, there is always something to learn in every class. Some lessons will feel exciting and inspiring, others may feel challenging or repetitive. Both are equally important.
Growth often happens in the moments that feel hardest … when refining basics, applying corrections or pushing through frustration. The students who improve the most are not always the most naturally gifted, but the ones who remain curious, focused and willing to try.
You Get Out What You Put In
Effort matters. The energy, focus and mindset students bring into the studio directly influence what they take away from the experience.
Strong class habits include:
Arriving on time and prepared
Listening when teachers or classmates are speaking
Giving full effort, even during exercises or warm-ups
Practising corrections consistently
Staying engaged from start to finish
When students commit fully to the process, improvement becomes inevitable.
Respect for the Space and Each Other
Performing arts training is collaborative. A respectful studio environment allows everyone to learn safely and confidently.
Good etiquette means:
Supporting classmates rather than comparing or competing negatively
Giving others space and attention during turns across the floor
Avoiding side conversations while instruction is being given
Showing gratitude to teachers and assistants
Taking responsibility for personal belongings and studio cleanliness
Professional behaviour in class builds the foundation for professional opportunities later.
Being Teachable
One of the most valuable qualities a performer can develop is being teachable. This means welcoming feedback, applying corrections and maintaining a positive attitude even when challenged.
Corrections are not criticism … they are signs that teachers see potential and are investing in a student’s growth. The performers who progress fastest are those who listen, adapt and try again.
Building Future Professionals
The studio is where professional habits begin. Reliability, focus, kindness and work ethic are noticed long before auditions or performances arise. By treating every class as an opportunity, and every moment as a chance to learn, students build skills that extend far beyond dance or musical theatre.
