Dance, Music and Performing Arts

Vocational

Dance, Music and PerFORmINg ARts

The School of Creative, Visual and Performing Arts offers full-time courses in Art and Design, Media Production and Performing Arts based at the Neath and Afan Colleges.

Classes are taught in a creative environment, using cuttingedge industry standard equipment within purpose-built specialist facilities including our purpose-built theatre, Nidum Arts Centre.

We will give you the opportunity to extend your learning and skills in our music academy and theatre and dance companies. Extensive one-to-one support is provided with applications to conservatoires and top dance and performing arts universities and we ensure that you will be ‘audition ready’. Our students do progress and importantly become really employable – we aim to help you be career ready!

We also offer extensive extra-curricular programmes including the College choir, Funk Band and LIFT Dance Company, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and much more.

What will I do?

Our courses provide exciting and challenging opportunities through specialist training in music, composition, dance, drama, singing and musical theatre. You will be given the opportunity to be involved in a wide range of performance activities as part of the College’s theatre, dance and music companies, making use of our professional studios and fully equipped Nidum Arts Centre.

Career opportunities

q Actor q Arts administrator q Choreographer q Dancer q Music - or drama - therapist q Musical theatre performer q Musician q Pilates/Yoga instructor q Screenwriter q Teacher q Theatre director.

Average annual earnings

Choreographer £50k+ Screenwriter £30k+ Musician £35k+ Dancer £37k+ Teacher £50k+ Theatre Director £60k+

CoursES

A Levels

Dance Drama Music

Level Entry Requirements

3 6 GCSEs A*-C 3 6 GCSEs A*-C 3 6 GCSEs A*-C. You should be a confident performer, with the MINIMUM ability of grade 5 on your instrument/voice for AS and a MINIMUM ability of grade 6 for A2 Level. An ability to read staff notation is desirable, or at least a desire to do so. Grade 5 theory (ABRSM) is an ideal preparation for the course, although not essential. 2 Years Neath

Duration Location

2 Years Neath 2 Years Neath

Career-Focused Courses

GCSE Dance

Grass Roots Theatre Company OCR Diploma in Performing Arts Impact Theatre Company Extended Diploma in Performing Arts with WBQ One Vision Dance Company/BTEC Extended Diploma in Dance

Students can choose to study a Level 3 qualification alongside A Level Dance and/or Welsh Baccalaureate.

BTEC Technical Diploma in Music

BTEC Extended Diploma in Music

Students can choose to study a Level 3 qualification alongside an A Level. For example, BTEC Extended Diploma in Music with A Level Music.

Level Entry Requirements 2 No formal qualifications required. Dance experience is desired.

2 2 GCSEs A*-C or an appropriate Level 1 qualification.

3

5 GCSEs at A*-C including English. A relevant Level 2 qualification. Previous performance experience is desirable. 3 5 GCSEs A*-C including English/A relevant Level 2 qualification. Previous dance experience is not essential, but students should have an interest in training across multiple dance styles. Students are able to study A Level Dance alongside this course. 2 Years Neath

2 2 GCSEs at grade C or above. Successful applicants will be selected via interview and audition. The criterion will include being judged on their interest and experience in music plus an audition on an instrument or voice at around grade 3 standard. 1 Year Neath

3

5 GCSEs A*-C including English. A relevant Level 2 qualification and successful applicants will be selected via interview and audition. This will include being judged on their interest and experience in music plus an audition on an instrument or voice at around grade 5 standard.

Duration Location

1 Year Neath

1 Year Neath

2 Years Neath

2 Years Neath

Vocational

Student Success

The following students have achieved EXCELLENT Dance results in both BTEC Level 3 Dance with A Level Dance. They are going on to train at the UK's leading higher education courses for professional dance and performance. Carlie Harris - D*D*D* A progressing to study at London Studio Centre.

Amelia Coombs - D*D*D* B progressing to study at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. Molly Lewis - D*DD progressing to study at the Addict Dance Academy. Molly Richards - DDD B progressing to study at the Addict Dance Academy. Ellie Whiles - DDD A progressing to study at Performers College. Nadia Brayley - DDM B progressing to study at Middlesex University. Ruby Bennett - DDD A progressing to higher education and training in 2023. Sarah Hopkins - D progressing to Performers College.

Carlie Harris

Ellie Whiles Amelia Coombs

Nadia Brayley Molly Lewis

Ruby Bennett

Molly Richards

Sarah Hopkins

Be expressive wITh a cAReer IN dance, tatre and music

Student Success

Lauren Drew NPTC Group Of Colleges alumna and West End star Lauren Drew blew the country away by reaching the semi-finals of The Voice. Her ground-shaking rendition of Jessie J’s song ‘Mama Knows Best’ as her blind audition debut was an incredible performance, and got all four judges to hit their buttons and turn around, making it the first four-judge turn of the season. Judge Tom Jones, who was born in Pontypridd, was so impressed by her, he tagged Jessie J in a tweet so she could watch Lauren sing her song. Lauren is no stranger to the stage and has a number of critically acclaimed performances under her belt. She has performed in many theatre shows such as Six, Evita, Sweet Charity, Heathers The Musical, Kinky Boots, and Ghost. As a graduate of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (2016), Lauren is constantly pushing herself and developing her professional career. Hailing from Port Talbot, Lauren began her journey to the stage by pursuing Drama and Music GCSEs. She chose to attend NPTC Group of Colleges to study for a BTEC Diploma in Performing Arts which set her on the right path to win a place at Mountview Academy. The Head of School for Creative, Visual, and Performing Arts, Victoria Burroughs, had this to say about Lauren: “When Lauren studied BTEC Level 3 Performing Arts at Neath College, the lecturing team saw how much potential, raw talent, and commitment that Lauren had in her. It was clear back then that Lauren had a fantastic future ahead of her in the performing arts industry. It has been a pleasure to see Lauren’s professional performance career go from strength to strength."

Student of The Year - Thomas Howell A Level Music student Thomas Howell sat his ABRSM Piano Diploma and Grade 8 Voice a few days before lockdown. Tom achieved an incredible 48/50 in his Piano Diploma and a Distinction in his Grade 8 Voice. During lockdown, Tom has continued to work hard to achieve further qualifications, including an Honours in a Composition Diploma, and he sat his Grade 8 theory exam in the July.

Tom, who moved to Chichester in August to take his place as the Organ Scholar at Chichester Cathedral, commented: “To say I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Music Academy is an understatement. Neath College also provides instrumental and vocal tuition with visiting tutors who are experts in their field. Through this scheme, I’ve attained distinctions in both ABRSM Grade 8 Voice and ARSM Diploma on Piano. Students are encouraged to work independently and acquiring this skill is relevant for working in the wider industry. Participating in a plethora of extra-curricular activities is what has made my time spent here so valuable.”

This is a position that is normally offered to older and more experienced students but Thomas’s sheer excellence as a musician and dedication to his studies has earned him this place.

He continued: “Collaborative music-making is a central aspect of college life including big band, small ensembles, choir and chamber choir to name but a few. I’ve also had the opportunity to develop my conducting skills by conducting the chamber choir in the national Music for Youth Festival in Birmingham Town Hall. We presented a varied programme of choral excellence. Opportunities such as working in pit orchestras and even performing Handel’s organ concerto in F and Mozart’s Symphony in G minor first movement. I cannot endorse the Music Academy more strongly – it is impossible to mention all the experiences that I’ve gained from my two years at Neath College. I know for certain that I’ve gained lifelong friends and the necessary armour to face the exciting life of professional music-making”.