NAPA News - Week 2, Term 3, 2026
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Welcome to Week 2 of Term 3!
What an incredible start to the term it has been! In just one week, we've celebrated our first dance competition of the season and wrapped up our powerful production of Jagged Little Pill. I couldn't be prouder of our students, staff, volunteers, and families, who have all contributed to such a successful and memorable start to the term.
As exciting as these milestones have been, they're only the beginning! Term 3 is always one of our busiest, with dance competitions, productions, examinations, performances, special events, and plenty of exciting opportunities for our students to learn and grow. While the calendar can seem full, it's these experiences that help shape our students into confident, resilient, and well-rounded performers.
With so much happening, I'd encourage all families to regularly check the NAPA Calendar to ensure you're up to date with important dates throughout Terms 3 and 4. It's also important to keep an eye on your emails and any communication from your teachers regarding extra rehearsals, timetable adjustments, costume requirements, or performance information.
Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support. It takes a wonderful community to make everything we do possible, and we're so grateful to have such committed families alongside us.
Wishing everyone a fantastic week ahead. Let's keep the momentum going!
QUICK REMINDERS
please read!
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
STARBOUND DANCE COMPETITION
Our teams had a massive day at their first comp on Saturday. I’m so proud of the way they came together to support each other through multiple reblocks, some right before they hit the stage. Learning about pivoting in these situations is what is truly setting them up to be strong, reliable performers. We are so proud of you all!
Thank you @limelight.video for sharing this video with us. We are so grateful 💙💚
STARBOUND RESULTS
8s S&D Boogie Shoes 3rd
10s Jazz Disco Snails HC
12s MT: Quiet 4th
12s Hip Hop Hollaback HC
15s Contemporary Eve 1st
15s Acro Matilda 1st
15s/opens MT Step in Time 1st (A) Hadestown 2nd (B) Boop HC (A)
Opens Contemp Superstition 2nd Hear Me Now 3rd Down Under HC
Opens Hip Hop Vogue HC
Congratulations teachers and cherubs!! 💙💙
CONGRATULATIONS JAGGED LITTLE PILL TEAM
A huge congratulations to everyone involved in our incredible production of Jagged Little Pill. What an unforgettable season it was! We are immensely proud of every performer, musician, creative, crew member, volunteer, and staff member who helped bring this powerful and important story to life.
A special congratulations goes to our Diploma of Musical Theatre students, who took to the stage with outstanding professionalism, passion, and maturity. Performing in a production of this scale provided invaluable industry experience, and they embraced every challenge with dedication, resilience, and heart. Watching them grow throughout the rehearsal process and deliver such compelling performances was a proud moment for the entire NAPA community.
Productions like these are only possible through the commitment of so many people working behind the scenes. Thank you to our creative team, production crew, volunteers, families, and supporters who generously gave their time, energy, and encouragement throughout the journey. Your contribution played a vital role in making this production such a success.
To our audiences, thank you for your overwhelming support. We hope Jagged Little Pill challenged, inspired, and moved you as much as it did us.
Congratulations once again to everyone involved. We couldn't be prouder of what you achieved together.
NEW THEATRE WALLS!
If you were lucky enough to attend Jagged Little Pill, you may have noticed that our theatre has had a bit of a makeover! Over the school holidays, we installed brand new acoustic sound panels, and the difference has been incredible. Not only do they look fantastic, giving our theatre a polished, professional finish, but they have also taken the sound quality to a whole new level. The improvement has been remarkable, creating an even better experience for both our performers and our audiences.
This exciting project would not have been possible without the incredible support of our NAPA community. A huge thank you to our P&F for generously funding the project and helping us continue to improve the facilities our students get to train and perform in.
To everyone who rolled up their sleeves and helped with the installation, thank you! I may have convinced a few very patient friends and family members to donate their time and muscles, which certainly kept the labour costs down! It was a true community effort, and we are so grateful to everyone who gave up their time to make it happen.
A very special thank you goes to John Taylor from JTap. As always, John's expertise, advice, generosity, and unwavering support of NAPA have been absolutely invaluable. We are incredibly fortunate to have people like John in our corner, always willing to lend a hand and share his knowledge.
Projects like this are a wonderful reminder that NAPA is so much more than a performing arts school. We are surrounded by an incredible extended family of parents, volunteers, supporters, and friends who genuinely believe in what we do and invest in our students' futures. We feel incredibly fortunate to have such a passionate community standing behind us, and we couldn't do it without you.
Thank you for continuing to help make NAPA the very special place that it is.
Gold Coast's Best Dance School – Again!
We are incredibly honoured to announce that NAPA has once again been voted The Gold Coast Bulletin's Best Dance School, making this our second consecutive win and third title overall.
This recognition means so much because it reflects the support of our wonderful community. To every student, family, staff member, volunteer, and supporter who voted for us and continues to believe in our vision, thank you. Your trust and encouragement inspire us every day.
At NAPA, we've always believed that success is about so much more than lead roles, trophies or titles. Our mission is to develop confident, kind, resilient young people through the performing arts, and this award is a wonderful reminder that our community values that vision as much as we do.
Thank you for being part of the NAPA family. Here's to continuing to grow, inspire, and create together!
TICKETS TICKETS TICKETS!
Tickets will go on sale tomorrow at 6pm for our Performance Team Concert and our Pre-senior Tread the Boards play - So Much To Tell You. Tickets do tend to sell out quickly, so be sure to jump online and secure yours!
Wellbeing
The Space Between Performances
If you've ever felt a little flat after a performance, you're not alone.
Whether you've just completed a major production, an exam, a competition, or another big milestone, it's completely normal to experience a mix of emotions. There is often immense pride, relief, excitement… and then, unexpectedly, a sense of emptiness. After weeks or even months of working towards one goal, our minds and bodies suddenly find themselves without the structure, adrenaline, and anticipation that have become part of everyday life.
This feeling doesn't mean you didn't enjoy the experience. In fact, it often means the experience meant a great deal to you.
As performers, we can easily become addicted to the excitement of the stage. The applause, the costumes, the lights, and the buzz of performing are all wonderful rewards for our hard work. But it's important to remember that these moments are only a small part of our journey.
The real growth doesn't happen under the spotlight.
It happens back in the studio.
It happens during the classes where you're learning a new skill, repeating an exercise for the tenth time, accepting corrections, encouraging your classmates, and slowly building confidence. It happens on the days that might not seem particularly exciting, but quietly lay the foundation for everything that comes next.
At NAPA, we often remind our students that success isn't built in the moments everyone sees. It's built in the ordinary moments that nobody applauds.
Returning to class after a production isn't "going backwards." It's the next chapter. Every performance gives us new experiences, new confidence, and new lessons that we take back into our training. That's how artists grow… not by constantly chasing the next performance, but by embracing the process that prepares them for it.
So this week, as we return to our regular timetable, take a moment to reflect on everything you've achieved. Be proud of your performance, celebrate your accomplishments, and then turn your focus back to the work that lies ahead.
Because while the stage is where we celebrate our growth, the studio is where it happens.
The standing ovation may only last a few minutes, but the discipline, resilience, friendships, and love of learning you develop during the ordinary days will stay with you for a lifetime.
Here's to embracing the space between performances… because that's where the next chapter begins.
CHERUB OF THE WEEK
CONGRATULATIONS, kasper!
This week's Cherub of the Week is one of our youngest NAPA Cherubs, Kasper!
Kasper is a valued member of our Broadway Class, Dance Program, and our Under 8s Performance Team. This weekend was an exciting milestone in his performing journey as he not only took to the stage with his team but also performed his very first dance solo!
From the moment he steps on stage, Kasper lights up the room with his confidence, enthusiasm, and infectious smile. He has a natural stage presence that captivates audiences, but what makes him truly special is the positive attitude he brings everywhere he goes. Whether he's in class, cheering on his teammates backstage, or giving every rehearsal his very best, Kasper is always a joy to have at NAPA.
We are incredibly proud of the courage and determination he showed in performing his first solo, and we can't wait to watch him continue to grow as both a performer and a young person.
Congratulations, Kasper! Keep shining… we're all so proud of you!✨
PERFORMANCE TIPS
Your Reputation Is Built When Nobody Is Watching
When people think about what makes a successful performer, they often think about talent. Strong technique. A beautiful voice. Powerful acting. The ability to command a stage.
While these qualities are certainly important, they aren't what sustain a career.
In the performing arts industry, your reputation is one of your greatest assets and it's built long before you step into the spotlight.
It's built in the moments when nobody is watching.
It's arriving on time, prepared and ready to work.
It's taking corrections with gratitude instead of defensiveness.
It's treating your teachers, classmates, backstage crew, front of house volunteers, and venue staff with the same respect you show the director.
It's knowing your choreography, your lines, and your music because you've done the work outside of rehearsal.
It's putting your phone away when someone is speaking.
It's helping to pack up the rehearsal space without being asked.
It's congratulating your castmates when they succeed.
It's checking in on someone who's having a difficult day.
These may seem like small things, but together they create something incredibly valuable: trust.
Directors don't just cast talented performers, they cast people they know they can rely on. Teachers remember students who consistently demonstrate a positive attitude. Professional companies want performers who contribute positively to the culture of a production, not just those who can deliver a great performance.
At NAPA, we believe that character and professionalism go hand in hand. We want our students to become exceptional performers, but more importantly, we want them to become exceptional people. Because while talent may open a door, it's integrity, humility, kindness, and a strong work ethic that keep it open.
As you head into your next class, rehearsal, or performance, ask yourself:
Who am I when nobody is watching?
Because your reputation isn't built on opening night.
It's built every single day.
And those daily choices will often speak louder than your performance ever could.
