Performing arts students to shine in Los Angeles
Arts students from Upstage Concepts Performing Arts Studio have won big to earn their place in championships abroad.
Students from Upstage Concepts Performing Arts Studio have put in blood, sweat and tears to perfect their craft and it has paid off. The students were competing for the South African Championships of Performing Arts in Rustenburg; they came back home with an award under the category, of overall top studio in South Africa.
“We had a team of 33 kids ranging from five years to 17 years and they are all residents of Fourways. They competed in acting, singing and modelling and all have now qualified to represent South Africa at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles in July next year,” said their proud head coach, Jill Avis.
She added: “The students attend weekly lessons and then during our competition season they attend an additional five to ten hours a week to prepare. We are a high-performance centre and the students work really hard on their acting, singing and modelling but as you can see it all paid off for them. We were at the finals event in Rustenburg for nine days for the competition and on the night, we received the results and awards we had a big pool party at the hotel to celebrate.”
This is not the first time that the students have returned home with the same award. “We have won this award three times in the past but this year was especially significant for us as a studio as the Covid-19 season was devastating to our industry and business. We have worked hard to return to full capacity and participate in everything again fully, so it was the culmination of all the hard work during the past few tough years, and now we are stronger than ever.”
“Remaining at the cutting edge of my field for 18 years and being able to assist so many students to achieve and enter the performing arts industry continually for so many years is a personal achievement I am very proud of. Many South African artists started their journeys at the SA Championships and have gone on to achieve great success in the industry.”
The art students will be going to Los Angeles for the South African Championships in July, next year. Their coach was asked about their chances of winning. She said: “In 2015 and again in 2022, a student of Upstage Concepts won the overall world championship award for acting; beating contestants from 62 different countries so we are certainly aiming to achieve that again.”
She said what they look forward to as they compete at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles in July next year, is simply growth.
“We have recently moved to the G1 Hub and now have three studio spaces, so we are excited to have so many new students joining us to grow their talent and they’ll represent their province and then their country in the arts.”
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