Rising Starz offers a range of performing arts lessons for children through to adults.

All children in Musical Theatre / Drama classes will be expected to be part of the choir or Voice Production classes. This will be compulsory when working on a production.

Baby Starz (3-4 year olds)

This class is 30 minutes long with no more than 6 children in a class. It is a fun filled time which encourages children to use their imagination and explore their ideas in a safe environment. Throughout the year, children will be introduced to a range of poetry and stories. Through this they will bring their creativity alive. They will also be part of the junior production and the Kamo Christmas parade. If they show an interest in singing they will be encouraged to join the choir.

Junior Starz (5-6 year olds)

The main focus of this group is to have fun. Lessons are attended once a week for a 45 minute session. Throughout this time, children will be involved in fun-filled learning activities which aim to develop ongoing confidence, self-esteem and skills in verbal communication. Our aim is to motivate and inspire children to become articulate communicators. This is done through enthusiastic participation in a wide range of creative activities including the junior production and the Kamo Christmas parade. These students will be expected to be part of the junior choir.

Middle Starz (7-9 year olds)

Students attend an hour long lesson. In this age group, they will have many opportunities to work from scripts and to create their own drama / plays. They will gain the confidence to trust their ideas and allow them to be developed. Each child will be encouraged and valued in a warm, positive learning environment. Students participate in a wide range of activities covering speech, movement, dance drama, spontaneous improvisation, structured improvisation, mask and mime. They will also have the opportunity to participate in a professional production at the end of the year and the Kamo Christmas Parade. All students are expected to participate in the Northland Performing Arts festival and for those looking for a bigger challenge may sit the NZ Speech Board Speech and Drama exams. These students will be expected to be part of the junior choir.

Intermediate Starz (10-13 year olds)

Senior Starz (13-18 year olds)

The students will attend weekly hour long lessons and will be working towards their Speech New Zealand; Speech and Drama Exams. The aim of these exams is to learn to communicate with people on a formal and informal level, explore poetry and the expression of written verse, learn to read aloud and interpret ideas and develop improvisation skills. These skills will be the focus of the lessons and will be developed throughout the year. They will also be expected to participate in the Northland Performing Arts Festival. Students in this age group will have many opportunities to work from scripts and to create their own drama / plays. The older students will be challenged with more difficult scripts and poems. They will gain the confidence to trust their ideas and allow them to be developed. Each child will be encouraged and valued in a warm, positive learning environment. Students participate in a wide range of activities covering speech, movement, dance drama, spontaneous improvisation, structured improvisation, mask and mime. They will also have the opportunity to participate in the Rising Starz One Act play Festival and perform in a professional production. These Students will be expected to attend the Voice Production Class.

Adults (18 +)

These weekly sessions give the opportunity for a wide range of people to make theatre together, assisted by experienced theatre practitioners and other specialists. These classes are open to everyone. There is no audition process – we just need you to be enthusiastic and committed. The group will explore a wide variety of theatre and storytelling techniques, as well as movement, voice work and improvisation. Occasionally, we use scripts, sometimes we devise and retell our own stories – so whatever your interest, there’s something to suit. Whether you’ve never performed before and want to develop your skills, or whether you’re looking to build on existing experience – Rising Starz offers a friendly environment in which individual and collective creativity can flourish.

Junior Choir (10 and under)

The Rising Starz Junior Choir is for children aged 3 - 10 years. We sing many different styles of songs from Early Music through to the Twentieth Century (including songs from movies and musicals). We aim to introduce the children to a variety of styles while helping them to learn correct singing and breathing techniques. The choir perform many times throughout the year as they develop together as a group. From small concerts in simple venues through to a professional production, each child in the choir has the opportunity to perform in many different environments. Rehearsals will be every Friday and will be broken down into intensive sectionals, voice matching, singing techniques, breathing techniques, sight singing, basic musical knowledge and ensemble awareness. With Mary’s knowledge of teaching and music, she combines all these skills into a fun and enjoyable atmosphere.

Senior Voice Production (10 and over)

The aim of the Voice production class is to help develop the voices of our young actors. The sessions will focus on warming up the voice, developing it and how to use it effectively on stage as an instrument (singing, choral poetry). This session will run on a Friday afternoon. Throughout the hour, students will learn how to use their voices effectively for acting and singing. They will understand proper posture, breathing, tonal placement, diction and vocal development. Students will learn how to exercise the voice with proper vocalizes that will strengthen their breathing and their ability to project their voice with freedom and self-expression.

Rising Starz Choir

Entry into this select choir will be by audition. This choir will sing a range of music and participate in festivals around the country. Specific goals of the Rising Starz choir include: • To teach children to sing using healthy vocal technique and posture • To provide an opportunity to rehearse and perform age-appropriate music of numerous styles, cultures, and languages • To help children learn to read and understand music.

Junior Musical Theatre (10 and under)

Senior Musical Theatre (10 and over)

These classes will focus specifically on the Musical Theatre genre. The aim of the lesson is to provide our students with the opportunity to explore and combine acting, singing and dancing into one performance. Students will learn songs and movement from current and classic musicals. They will perform these as part of the Trinity Musical Theatre exam and in the Northland Performing Arts Festival.