Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
This qualification is banded at Level 6, which equates to a First Degree. Italia Conti House also offers lecture rooms, academic school rooms, specialist classrooms, an art room, a video studio and editing suite, an IT suite, a resource library, first aid and treatment room, dressing room, student common room and a canteen. The Italia Conti Arts Centre is situated in Guildford and houses the Performing Arts with Dance Teacher Training Course, as well as part time associate courses.The course aims to produce confident, artistic and multi-skilled performers who are equipped to deal with the fast paced industry. The I.S.T.D CED Level 4 Units 1-8 are taken this year, along with working towards the PGCE qualification.
Italia Conti, who was already an established actress and had a reputation for her success working with young people, was asked to take over the job of training the cast. This course is essential for those who teach or aspire to teach in further education colleges, sixth form colleges, adult education centres, art colleges, health care or community organisations, the public services and a wide range of commercial and voluntary organisations. Similarly to the Performing Arts Course, the first year students work to achieve strong basic techniques in the core skills of acting, dancing and singing as well as developing necessary performance skills.
The course is designed to demonstrate the main areas in performing arts and, similarly to the diploma course, this course focuses on the three core skills of singing, acting and dancing. The impressive Edwardian building was the home of all courses before the Academy moved to Goswell Road and now hosts the acting courses.
Students are also given the chance to participate in many in-house student productions. Examinations at I.S.T.D FDI Level 3 is expected in this year.
Students who achieve the necessary skills are also given the opportunity throughout the course to take external examinations in theatre disciplines which are recognised by outside boards. Moving into the second year, students develop their presentation skills and focus on artistry and performance skills.
This may include qualifications in I.S.T.D Classical Ballet Major Syllabi, I.S.T.D Modern Dance Major Syllabi, I.S.T.D Tap Major Syllabi, L.A.M.D.A Acting Syllabi, L.A.M.D.A Voice and Prose Syllabi and Level Drama and Theatre Studies. Aspects of this course include: Dance - classical ballet (freestyle and syllabi), jazz dance, modern dance, tap dance, musical theatre and production and a variety of dance workshops. Acting - drama practical, drama theory, improvisation, physical theatre, play reading, scene study, performance, audition preparation and a variety of acting workshops. Singing - choral, ensemble, harmony, repertoire and a variety of singing workshops. Contextual Studies - anatomy, nutrition, fitness, health and safety and a history of musical theatre. Additional Content - video production and music. The Performing Arts with Dance Teacher Training is a 3 year full time course for students aged 16+ and takes place at the Italia Conti Arts Centre. Other facilities at the Arts Centre include a dancewear shop, a recording and video studio with editing suite, IT facilities, a class room, lounge and cafeteria area, student common rooms and changing rooms.
This allows students to become qualified dance teachers to teach up to grade 5 in the I.S.T.D syllabus. Students who successfully complete the course graduate with the Academy s diploma and the National Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre, which is awarded through Trinity College, London.
This course is designed to train students to become performers and dance teachers by providing performing arts training and dance teaching qualifications. Students also take additional external examinations in theatre disciplines which are recognised by outside boards, including qualifications in I.S.T.D Classical Ballet Major Syllabi, I.S.T.D Modern Major Syllabi, I.S.T.D Tap Major Syllabi, L.A.M.D.A Acting Syllabi and L.A.M.D.A Voice and Prose Syllabi. Aspects of this course include: Dance - classical ballet (freestyle, syllabi and Pas-de-Deux), jazz dance (techniques and choreography), contemporary dance, commercial/hip-hop, modern dance, tap dance, musical theatre and production and a variety of dance workshops. Acting - drama practical, drama theory, classical and modern text, devising, improvising, LAMDA, physical theatre, play reading, performance, scene study, acting for the camera, voice (speech and dialect) and a variety of acting workshops. Singing - choral, ensemble, harmony, microphone technique, recording repertoire, solo coaching and a variety of singing workshops. Contextual Studies - anatomy, nutrition, fitness, health and safety and a history of musical theatre. Additional Content - I.S.T.D examinations, PGCE work, latin dance, music, performance, pilates, presentation and professional skills, stage combat, video production and theatre in education production. The Academy is constantly growing and has expanded to three different sites to accommodate the variety of courses they offer: The main centre Italia Conti House , commonly referred to as mainschool , is based in Goswell Road, Barbican, London and is home to the Performing Arts Course, Intensive Performing Arts Course, Singing Course and Theatre Arts School.
Students who successfully complete the course graduate with the Academy Diploma. Moving into the second year, student timetables are individually adjusted to focus on personal strengths and needs and specialist classes may be introduced, such as stage combat.
This may include qualifications in I.S.T.D Classical Ballet Major Syllabi, I.S.T.D Modern Major Syllabi, I.S.T.D Tap Major Syllabi, L.A.M.D.A Acting Syllabi and L.A.M.D.A Voice and Prose Syllabi. Aspects of this course include: Dance - classical ballet (freestyle, syllabi and Pas-de-Deux), jazz dance (techniques and choreography) contemporary dance, modern dance, tap dance, musical theatre and production and a variety of dance workshops. Acting - drama practical, drama theory, classical and modern text, devising, improvising, LAMDA, physical theatre, play reading, performance, scene study, acting for the camera, voice (speech and dialect) and a variety of acting workshops. Singing - choral, ensemble, harmony, microphone technique, recording repertoire, solo coaching and a variety of singing workshops. Contextual Studies - anatomy, nutrition, fitness, health and safety and a history of musical theatre. Additional Content - music, performance, pilates, presentation and professional skills, stage combat, video production and theatre in education production. The intensive Course is a full time one year course for students 16+ and takes place at Italia Conti House. Specialist subjects are added to timetables and advanced teacher training techniques are introduced.
The play was a triumph and the school was born in basement studios in London’s Great Portland Street. The Academy s principle has always been to provide a thorough education and training. The third and final year focuses on preaparing students for the professional world of work as performers and teachers.
Artistry and presentation is required in order to greatly develop performance skills, whilst continuing to add to their technical skills. The theatre has fully retractable seating which can be moved to offer one of London s largest rehearsal spaces.
The main focus is to combine technical, theoretical and artistic concepts to develop depth and style in performances. The Italia Conti Academy is Britain s oldest independent theatre arts training school.
Emphasis is on training in the three main art forms; acting, singing and dancing. Students in their first year of this course are taught strong basic technical skills in all areas and look at academic related content in contextual studies. The building features the Avondale Theatre, which can be adapted for a variety of productions and seats an audience of up to 152.
Contextual studies are also applicable to the teaching qualification element of the course. The course is run by Chris White who has brought in many notable staff and directors such as Kate Williams, Karen Henthorn, Dugald Bruce-Lockhart, Aoife Smyth, Hannah Kaye and Samuel Oatley. The Performing Arts Course is a 3 year full time course available to students 16+ which takes place at Italia Conti House and is accredited by the C.D.E.T (Council for Dance Education and Training).
It is designed for students who require an all round training in performing arts. The course follows the same path as the Performing Arts Course but also encourporates the teacher training by offering the FDI (Foundation in Dance Instruction) qualifications in Classical Ballet, Tap and Modern.
Students have the opportunity to frequently work with guest teachers and take a number of workshops and master classes. The Academy promotes multi-skilled training, believing the more opportunities offered to students, the wider the choice of options in the work place. The Academy grew out of the first production of the play Where the Rainbow Ends.
A final graduation showcase take place at the end of the year, to which many professional agents and casting directors are invited with the aim of finding students work. In addition, the center is also able to offer a limited number of flats for first year student accommodation which are situated above the Arts Centre itself. The BA (Hons) Acting Course takes place in the Avondale building, in Clapham, London.
There is also the opportunity to convert the Diploma into a BA (Hons) Degree using a distance learning programme with Middlesex University. It is the only theatre school along with Arts Educational to offer full-time in-house courses at secondary, further and higher education levels.
It can be useful for preparation for longer term training in performing arts or for those with pre-existing skills to add a professional edge such as post-graduate students who wish to add technical or performance skills to their theoretical knowledge or gap year students who wish to experience performing arts training before making a definite decision as to which further training path they wish to take. It was founded in 1911 by actress Italia Conti (Italia Emily Stella Conti, 1873–1946).
There are also many opportunities to perform in public productions at professional levels with the third year graduation show and annual end of year show. The centre also runs a foundation course in acting.
In addition, students can then go on to gain a PGCE (Professional Certificate in Education) in Post Compulsory Education/Lifelong Learning. Staff of professional experts give students that enter the profession with the necessary professional skills, having also been encouraged to develop their social talents and to evolve a set of standards essential for personal and professional fulfilment. The BA Acting course in Clapham is accredited by London South Bank University.
With the introduction of the I.S.T.D (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) qualifications in 2006, the Academy felt it relevant to provide students with the opportunity to take these examinations. The Arts Centre also works with the London campus featuring in the Performing Arts Diploma course graduation and end of year show.
Students can then specify by choosing either Ballet, Tap or Modern and take examinations to gain the CDE (Certificate in Dance Education) qualification which enables them to teach the whole I.S.T.D grade up to advanced level in their chosen dance style. In addition, the Avondale building also have use of the Sheridan Studio Theatre, three acting and movement studios, a fully equipped recording studio, a sound studio, a TV edit studio, green room, IT facilities, a library, property store rooms, dressing rooms and student social spaces. Listed below are the locations of many associate school branches which take place around the country and provide courses in part time performing arts training: The Italia Conti Academy is the inspiration for the drama school in At Freddie s, a novel by Penelope Fitzgerald, who taught at the academy in the 1960s. Italia Conti Current Prospectus (2009) Arts Educational Schools, London · The Hammond School · Sylvia Young Theatre School · Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts · Tring Park School for the Performing Arts · BRIT School · Bird College · Central School of Ballet · Elmhurst School for Dance · English National Ballet School · The Hammond School · Laine Theatre Arts · Laban · London Contemporary Dance School · London Studio Centre · Northern Ballet School · Northern School of Contemporary Dance · Performers College · Royal Ballet School · Scottish School of Contemporary Dance · Tring Park School for the Performing Arts · Academy of Live and Recorded Arts · Arts Educational Schools, London · Birmingham School of Acting · Bristol Old Vic Theatre School · Central School of Speech and Drama · Drama Centre London · Drama Studio London · East 15 Acting School · Guildford School of Acting · Guildhall School of Music & Drama · Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts · Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts · London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art · The Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre · Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts · Oxford School of Drama · Rose Bruford College · Royal Academy of Dramatic Art · Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama · Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama · Tring Park School for the Performing Arts · Arts Educational Schools, London · Bird College · Cambridge Performing Arts · Guildford School of Acting · Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts · Laine Theatre Arts · Leicester Performing Arts · Liverpool Theatre School and College · Masters Performing Arts College · Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts · Performers College · Stella Mann College · SLP College · The Urdang Academy · Tring Park School for the Performing Arts · Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts · .
Practical I.S.T.D dance disciplines are a main focus in preparation for Major Examinations and FDI Units 1, 2, 3 and 6 which students will take in their first year. The course aims to develop technical skills, artistic interpretation and a sense of performance.
Students who achieve the necessary skills are also given the opportunity throughout the course to take external examinations in theatre disciplines which are recognised by outside boards. The building covers nine levels and has 18 dance, acting and singing studios, all fully equipped with sprung floors, full length mirrors, ballet barres and sound systems.
On successful completion of the course, students graduate with a Performing Arts Diploma, I.S.T.D FDI Level 3 qualifications in Ballet, Tap and Modern, I.S.T.D CDE Level 4 qualification in a chosen dance style (Ballet, Tap or Modern) and Level 4 and 5 PGCE qualification in CTTLS (Post-Compulsory Education/Lifelong Learning), validated by the university of Greenwich, which is the equivalent to a 2nd year degree and encourporates the PTLLS (Preparing to Teach), CTLLS (Certificate to Teach) and DTLLS (Diploma in Teaching). The third and final year of the course focuses on preparing the students for professional work.
The Arts Centre is modern and well equipped with 4 spacious, air conditioned studios with sprung floor and mirrors, and an additional studio specifically designed for tap dance classes. There are also many opportunities to perform at in-house productions and public events, including the annual Arts Centre end of year show.
This course works closely with students on the Performing Arts 3 year diploma course and therefore they share many learning and performance experiences together.
