Academy: Arts
2026-27
Introduction
Academy: Arts is designed to provide a personalised and enriching pathway for children who demonstrate particular strengths, commitment and enthusiasm within the arts. Complementing our wider co-curricular programme, it offers students the opportunity to deepen their creativity, technical skills and artistic understanding within a more focused and ambitious environment. Through high-quality experiences in Dance, Drama and Art, Academy: Arts aims to nurture talent, encourage collaboration and inspire students to grow as confident young artists, performers and creators.
For the 2026 - 2027 academic year, Academy: Arts will once again be offered to selected students in Years 5 and 6 and will run across Terms 1, 2 and 3. We kindly ask families considering this opportunity to note that participation requires a commitment for the full academic year, enabling students to fully benefit from the programme and make sustained progress.
The Academy: Arts sessions take place in weekly two-hour sessions:
Proposed schedule:
Drama: Tuesday, 3pm–5pm
Dance: Thursday, 3pm–5pm
Art: Thursday, 3pm–5pm
We are incredibly proud of the success and growth of Academy: Arts during its first year and are excited to continue developing this important part of our Junior School co-curricular provision. We look forward to welcoming many of our young dancers, performers and artists to audition for the programme.
Kind regards,
TJ Taylor Head of Drama
Peter Hinckley Head of Art
Amy Gilroy Specialist Dance Teacher
Benjamin Walker Assistant Head of Junior School
Academy:
Dance
Academy: Dance is a specialised pathway designed for students who demonstrate exceptional enthusiasm, commitment and potential within dance. Building upon our extensive co-curricular provision, the Academy offers a personalised and enriching experience that allows students to develop both technically and artistically within a positive, inspiring and ambitious environment.
Based within the state-of-the-art Dance Studio in the Junior Arts Centre, students explore a wide range of dance genres and styles whilst developing creativity, performance quality and technical confidence. Alongside their artistic growth, students are encouraged to build important transferable skills including resilience, collaboration, discipline and communication. The programme nurtures not only strong dancers, but confident and expressive young performers.
Academy: Dance also places a strong emphasis on artistic appreciation and cultural understanding, helping students to see dance as both a creative and
expressive art form. Through performance opportunities, workshops and collaborative projects, students gain valuable experience that supports both their personal growth and artistic development.
Students are also given opportunities to attend professional dance performances and theatre visits, enabling them to experience high-quality productions firsthand and draw inspiration from leading artists and companies within the industry. These experiences deepen students’ understanding of performance and creativity whilst further enriching their passion and enjoyment of dance.
Joining Academy: Dance has really been the joy of each week. It has boosted my skills to the limit and made me go above and beyond. I have bonded with new people and made new friendships. It really has been the best experience.
Selection Method: Audition
Requirement:
Students are asked to prepare a 1-minute 30-second solo in a dance style of their choice. It may be a solo previously performed, taught in a lesson, or choreographed independently. Students will be evaluated on their physical, expressive and technical skills rather than the choreography itself or choice of style. They may perform with or without accompanying music. Following their performance, children will be invited to share why they would like to be part of Academy: Dance.
Academy: Drama
Academy: Drama offers young performers who demonstrate both a genuine enthusiasm for drama and particular strengths within performance the opportunity to explore theatre in greater depth within a creative, collaborative and highly supportive environment. The programme encourages students to develop confidence, imagination and expressive performance skills whilst working alongside other like-minded students who share a love of storytelling and performance.
Within the Drama spaces of the Junior Arts Centre, students engage in a wide range of practical and creative experiences including improvisation, scripted performance, physical theatre, character development and ensemble work. Sessions are designed to be energetic, engaging and appropriately challenging, giving students the opportunity to experiment, refine their technique and grow in confidence both individually and as part of a group.
Beyond performance skills, Academy: Drama supports students in developing a deeper understanding of character,
emotion, communication and storytelling. Through collaborative workshops and rehearsal processes, students build resilience, teamwork, empathy and creative independence, while strengthening their overall stagecraft and performance quality over time.
Students also benefit from opportunities to experience live theatre and visiting workshops, helping them gain inspiration from professional productions and practitioners. These experiences enrich their understanding of drama as an expressive art form and further nurture their confidence, enjoyment and passion for performance.
Academy: Drama has let me challenge myself and improve my performance skills. My main highlight was the BFG theatre trip as well as preparing for our showcases.
Selection Method: Audition
Requirement:
Students are asked to prepare a 1–2 minute solo monologue of their own choice from any dramatic text. The monologue may also be selected from our example monologue folder. Students will be given directions and suggestions during the audition process to demonstrate their skills and understanding. Following their performance, students will be asked why they would like to take part in the programme and to discuss a show or performance that has inspired them.
Academy: Art
Academy: Art has been created for Junior students who demonstrate both a genuine passion for art and strong artistic potential for their age. It offers a unique opportunity for young artists to develop their creativity within a calm, focused and inspiring studio environment alongside other like-minded students. More than simply an additional art class, Academy: Art encourages students to begin thinking and working as artists: exploring ideas, refining techniques and building confidence through observation, experimentation and creative independence. It is continually rewarding to see students thrive within this purposeful and selfmotivated atmosphere, where curiosity, imagination and enjoyment of the creative process remain at the heart of every session.
Based within a dedicated Junior Art Studio designed especially for younger artists, Academy: Art combines high-quality resources with an engaging and enriching learning experience. The bright, open studio space encourages students to sketch, develop ideas and work thoughtfully over extended periods of time. Through the structured two-hour weekly programme,
students learn to value art as a creative journey as much as a finished outcome. The studio is also equipped with excellent technology, including a ceiling-mounted demonstration camera linked to a projection wall, enabling students to closely observe artistic techniques and practical details. Over time, the studio develops into a vibrant creative community where patience, confidence and artistic ambition are nurtured and celebrated.
I really enjoyed how Mr Hinckley taught us and gave us many opportunities. Inking was really fun!
I love Academy: Art because it’s fun and exciting to learn and explore different styles and mediums.
Selection Method: Art Creative Task
Requirement:
Children are invited to participate in a 1-hour painting session based on a prepared still life. This is an opportunity for children to demonstrate their sketching, painting, observational skills, creativity and personal artistic style. During the session, students will also be invited to share their thoughts about art, including what they most enjoy creating and why they would like to be part of Academy: Art.
Selection Process
To ensure a fair and thoughtful selection process, each Academy pathway has its own approach to identifying children best suited to take part. Selection takes place at the end of the academic year, in preparation for the year ahead.
We remain committed to ensuring that all children continue to have rich opportunities to experience and enjoy the arts through our wider co-curricular programme. Academy: Arts simply offers an additional pathway for those ready to further develop their particular interests, strengths and talents.
For more information please contact cocurriculum@tts.edu.sg