News & Info
Participating in musical theatre is one of the most memorable experiences a person can have. Working as part of a group to overcome challenges and put on a show anchors the experience in memory. Ask your friends! I bet they can easily recall the first musical they participated in. We love musical theatre because it…
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We learned a lot this summer about how to hold in-person classes with students during a pandemic. Things like, how to prevent exposure between classes by assigning dedicated teaching artists for that class only. How limiting the total number of students on campus at one time prevents students from unnecessary quarantine. How the combination of…
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What a summer it’s been! First and foremost we want to thank every parent and student for their flexibility and understanding with all of the program rescheduling. We know it was extremely inconvenient and that several of the changes we made prevented some students from participating in the final show, and that truly makes our…
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NEW this fall! We’ve extended our semester from a 10 week semester to a full 16 week semester, in order to more closely align with school calendars. This means MORE time to dance! MORE time to sing! MORE time to learn. Also new this Fall, PAA is introducing Performance Classes, in lieu of large scale…
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Running a performing arts summer camp program during a pandemic is no easy feat, and this week we got to put our CoronaVirus response protocols to the test. This week, a student’s family member tested positive for CronaVirus. Based on the information we have from the family, the student was out of town with family…
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Happy 14th Anniversary, PAA!!!!!! The first PAA camp occurred June 26-30, 2006. Time flies when you’re positively impacting thousands of kids! Thank you to all of the teaching artists, staff members, families, and students who have made the past fourteen years possible.
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We are heartbroken about the racial violence and systemic injustice against people of color in America. It has long been a guiding principal in PAA curriculum to celebrate diversity, while teaching empathy, equality, and awareness. We are committed to learning and embrace that there are always ways for us to improve. To our Black family,…
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We are excited about PAA’s NEW online classes! In the wake of the safer at home restrictions and guidelines we felt we have a really unique ability to help everyone stay positive and have fun while staying safe and healthy at home. For the first time, PAA has created two different types online classes: PAA…
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Social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home orders have changed the way our students connect with each other and with PAA teaching artists. Since one of our main guiding principals at PAA is “building community” our staff and teaching artists came together to create opportunities for our students to connect digitally. The PAA virtual choir is made…
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Dear friends, Our annual spring fundraising campaign, Build the Stage, was scheduled to launch in late April, but because of these trying times, we are starting April 1st (no joke)! Families like yours allow the Performing Arts Academy to continue our mission to transform our community through a generation of students who are confident in…
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We are thrilled to introduce our new Dance Director, Madeline Shaffer! Madeline grew up teaching and performing with her local studio in southern Illinois. She went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Jacksonville University and then began working in NYC. While there, she choreographed the Off Broadway production of By Jupiter,…
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The conditions surrounding the coronavirus continue to rapidly change for our community. We are heartbroken by the affect this is having on our program. There is no good decision that can be made in our current situation and I sincerely apologize for the disruption and disappointment this change may cause you and your family. Due…
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