Arts Courses You Didn’t Know You Could Study at WAAPA

From arts management to costume design.

This article is presented in partnership with the Western Australian Academy of the Performing Arts.

If you’ve got some creative bones in your body, you may have considered the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts as the place to flex ‘em.

Problem is, you might not know what you actually wanna do. Don’t let that hold you back.

We’ve compiled a list of courses you possibly haven’t even heard of—and it might ignite the spark you’ve been looking for.

Plus, there’s the perfect opportunity for a deep-dive at the WAAPA and ECU Virtual Open Day on 10 April, where you can chat to course academics and see virtual demonstrations (including 360-degree tours)! Check it out and register here.

Lighting.

Ever been to a concert or festival that’s blown you away with strobes and colour? Or perhaps admired the way your favourite content creator lights their videos?

@kidantvlogs

 

♬ Night time cruising - Anthony

There’s a whole science and art to the way lighting is designed, and WAAPA is the place to study it. You’ll be trained in lighting tech for theatre, film, television, concerts and more.

What’s better than lighting up people’s lives?

Aboriginal Performance.

If you’re of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, this is your calling for an intensive course in acting and improvisation, dance and stage movement, voice and singing, script analysis and how to nail the audition process.

You’d recognise graduates like Shari Sebbens and Meyne Wyatt, who both starred in The Sapphires, as testament to the doors this course unlocks.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Meyne Wyatt (@meyneg)

Aboriginal Performance graduate Abbie-Lee Lewis says "WAAPA taught me the tricks of the trade that enabled me to pursue my love of theatre.

“The one major thing that I’ve taken from my course is to have faith in myself."

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Abbie-lee Lewis (@abbieleelewis)

Professional Dance.

While there’s courses for classical dance, you don’t have to aspire to be a ballerina to find a place in the WAAPA Dance program.

The Professional Dance course covers skills in ballet, pointe, contemporary techniques, choreography, dance history and even anatomy, nutrition and fitness. It’s everything you could possibly need to know for a career in moving your body.

Plus, it’s a great option if you’re itching to travel. Dance graduate Samuel Maxted says he was “exposed to an exciting and competitive dance scene” after moving to Europe.

Sound.

WAAPA graduates of this discipline have gone on to work on projects for the likes of Florence and The Machine, Kylie Minogue and Hans Zimmer. Yep, they’re in the big leagues.

Sound encompasses more than just music production—you’ll learn sound production for theatre, concerts, film, television, radio, and even museum installations.

There’s plenty more courses where these came from. Check out the WAAPA course list for more, and don’t forget to register for the free Virtual Open Day on 10 April!