NAPA News - Week 6, Term 3, 2026
FROM THE DIRECTOR
As we head into another busy few weeks at NAPA, we just wanted to take a moment to check in with our wonderful NAPA families.
With productions, classes, rehearsals, events and plenty happening behind the scenes, there is always a lot going on! We know our families have busy lives too, so we really appreciate you taking the time to read our newsletter and stay connected with everything happening across NAPA.
A gentle reminder to please keep an eye on your emails, parent portal and other NAPA correspondence. There are often important dates, reminders, opportunities and information shared throughout the term, and staying on top of these communications helps everything run as smoothly as possible for everyone.
As always, thank you for your continued support of NAPA and, most importantly, for supporting your young performers. We are incredibly proud of what our students are achieving and love being able to share their successes, experiences and milestones with you.
So, grab a cuppa and have a read through this week's newsletter … there is plenty to celebrate!
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
CONGRATULATIONS SO MUCH TO TELL YOU CAST
What a wonderful weekend for our Pre-Senior Tread the Boards students, who took to the stage to present this raw, challenging and incredibly moving piece.
This was a production that asked a lot of our young performers, and they rose to the challenge beautifully. From the emotional depth of the material to the commitment required to tell these stories authentically, the students demonstrated tremendous maturity, courage and dedication.
We are so incredibly proud of the entire cast and the way they embraced the challenge, supported one another and delivered such a powerful performance. A special shout-out to Zarah, Mia, Baylee and Alex from our Junior Tread the Boards class for their work on the flashback scenes.
A huge congratulations to Miss Amy and her assistant Kate for guiding the students through this challenging work and helping them bring the production to life.
And a very special thank you to Arwen and Angelique for their invaluable help and support throughout the production. We couldn't have done it without you!
Congratulations to our Tread the Boards students … what a fantastic achievement! ❤️🎭
A NOTE FROM THE P&F
P&F Meeting tomorrow 6pm - all welcome!
The P&F Exec have planned to meet tomorrow night at 6pm, and I'd like to open it up to others to come along because we have a big few weeks left at NAPA right through and including school holidays. If you were keen to take on a role helping out with any of the following, then please come along:
Father's Day Raffle
Bring It On (3-6 Sept)
The Jungle Book (17-19 Sept)
Charlottes Web (26 Sept - 4 Oct)
Our courtyard makeover
If you aren't available to attend but did want to get involved, or had some ideas, just shoot me a message!
Hope to see a few of you there.
Thanks everyone
Emma - P&F President
REMINDER*
Broadway extension and broadway kids
tickets and t-shirts!
CAST T-SHIRTS
Cast t-shirts are now available for our Broadway Extension and Broadway Kids classes. These are not compulsory, but are a nice souvenir for the students and perfect to wear to classes and performances. T-shirts are for sale in your parent portal in the online shop.
Please note the cut-off dates for ordering are:
BRING IT ON: AUGUST 21ST
THE JUNGLE BOOK: SEPTEMBER 4TH
Once orders are closed we cannot order more, so please ensure you get your order in by the cut-off date.
TICKET INFORMATION
Please see your emails for important ticket information.
Wellbeing
The Power of Positive Self-Talk
As performers, we spend a lot of time listening to feedback from teachers, choreographers, directors and other people around us. But there is one voice we hear more than any other — our own.
The way we speak to ourselves can have a huge impact on how we feel, how we perform and how much we enjoy our training.
Your inner voice matters
Negative self-talk can sound like:
“I’m terrible at this.”
“I always get things wrong.”
“Everyone else is better than me.”
“I’m never going to get this.”
“I’m not good enough to get that role.”
It might feel like these thoughts are simply observations, but when we repeat them regularly, our brains can start to treat them as facts. This can affect confidence, motivation and even the way we approach a performance or audition.
For performers, this can become a tricky cycle. You make a mistake → you criticise yourself → your confidence drops → you become nervous about making another mistake → you stop taking risks → and suddenly you're not performing with the freedom and confidence you are capable of.
Try changing the conversation
Positive self-talk doesn't mean pretending everything is perfect or telling yourself you're the best at everything. It's about speaking to yourself with the same kindness, patience and encouragement that you would give to a friend.
Instead of:
“I can't do this.”
Try: “I can't do this yet, but I'm learning.”
“I messed that up.”
Try: “That didn't go how I wanted. What can I learn from it?”
“Everyone is better than me.”
Try: “Everyone has different strengths. I can focus on my own progress.”
“I'm going to fail this audition.”
Try: “I'm going to prepare, do my best and give myself the chance to perform.”
Be your own biggest supporter
Performing requires vulnerability. You have to be willing to make mistakes, take risks, try new things and sometimes hear that you need to improve. That can be challenging!
Remember that being corrected doesn't mean you're bad at something. It means you're learning.
And making a mistake doesn't make you a bad performer. In fact, some of the most valuable growth happens when things don't go perfectly.
This week, pay attention to the way you talk to yourself. When you catch yourself saying something negative, pause and ask:
“Would I say this to someone I care about?”
If the answer is no, try saying it to yourself in a kinder and more constructive way.
You don't have to believe you're perfect. You just need to believe that you are capable of learning, growing and getting better.
Your inner voice is part of your performance team … so make sure it's cheering you on. 💛
CHERUB OF THE WEEK
CONGRATULATIONS, KIRAN!
This week, we are thrilled to celebrate Kiran as our Cherub of the Week!
Kiran has been nominated for his fantastic work in his featured vocalist role in Bring It On. While he has worked incredibly hard on his vocal lines and solos, it is his intuition and work ethic in rehearsals that have really stood out.
Kiran has shown a wonderful ability to listen, observe and understand what is happening around him in the rehearsal room. He takes direction on board, works independently and consistently arrives ready to give his best.
Taking on a featured role requires more than simply learning your part … it requires preparation, focus, musicality and the ability to contribute positively to the whole production. Kiran has demonstrated all of these qualities throughout the rehearsal process.
Congratulations, Kiran! Your hard work, professionalism and commitment have not gone unnoticed. We can't wait to see you shine on stage! ⭐
PERFORMANCE TIPS
Learn More Than Just Your Role
If you want to build a career in the performing arts, learning your lines, mastering your choreography and developing your performance skills are obviously important. But there is another skill that can set you apart: understanding how the whole theatre works.
Theatre is a team sport. A performer is just one part of a much bigger production, and the more you understand about what happens around you, the more valuable and versatile you can become.
Get involved backstage
Whenever you have the opportunity, offer to help with the other areas of a production.
Assist with props, costumes, hair and makeup, set construction, stage management, lighting, sound, front of house or backstage crew. Watch what the technical team are doing. Ask questions. Learn how a quick change works. Help with a costume rack. See what happens in the wings during a scene change.
You don't have to become an expert in everything. The goal is to learn.
It can make you a better performer
Understanding the different departments of a production can actually improve your performance. When you understand lighting, you become more aware of your positioning on stage and why hitting a particular mark matters. When you understand sound, you develop a greater appreciation for microphones, levels and why vocal technique matters. When you've worked backstage, you understand why being in the right place at the right time is so important, and why a performer who is late to a wing call can affect an entire team. When you've helped with costumes, hair or makeup, you develop a greater appreciation for the incredible amount of work that goes into creating a character and the importance of looking after the people and equipment around you. And when you've worked as part of a backstage crew, you learn something every performer needs to understand: The show is bigger than any one person.
Give yourself more opportunities
There is also a very practical reason to learn these skills: they can open more doors.
The performing arts industry isn't made up exclusively of actors, singers and dancers. There are careers in production, technical theatre, stage management, wardrobe, wigs, makeup, lighting, sound, props, set design, directing, choreography and countless other areas.
You may start by helping backstage on a school production and discover a skill or career path you never knew existed.
And even if performing remains your ultimate goal, having additional skills can make you a more employable and adaptable person within the industry.
Be the person who says, "How can I help?"
One of the best habits you can develop as a young performer is to look beyond yourself.
Don't just ask: “What is my role?”
Ask: “What does the production need?”
If the costume department needs help, volunteer.
If the crew needs an extra pair of hands, step up.
If there's an opportunity to observe a technical rehearsal, take it.
If someone is willing to teach you something, listen and learn.
You never know where those skills, relationships and experiences might lead.
The best performers aren't necessarily the ones who only know how to perform. They are the ones who understand theatre.
As we head into another busy few weeks at NAPA, we just wanted to take a moment to check in with our wonderful NAPA families.
With productions, classes, rehearsals, events and plenty happening behind the scenes, there is always a lot going on! We know our families have busy lives too, so we really appreciate you taking the time to read our newsletter and stay connected with everything happening across NAPA.
A gentle reminder to please keep an eye on your emails, parent portal and other NAPA correspondence. There are often important dates, reminders, opportunities and information shared throughout the term, and staying on top of these communications helps everything run as smoothly as possible for everyone.
As always, thank you for your continued support of NAPA and, most importantly, for supporting your young performers. We are incredibly proud of what our students are achieving and love being able to share their successes, experiences and milestones with you.
So, grab a cuppa and have a read through this week's newsletter … there is plenty to celebrate!