Although for years Asheville’s economy was dominated by tourism, many companies have started or relocated to the area. With new businesses come excellent new careers. Thousands of families have moved to Buncombe County in the last few decades. In addition to pursuing jobs, there are many reasons families are choosing Asheville, including:

• The city is surrounded by the tallest mountains east of the Mississippi River. 
• There are many miles of trails to hike for children and adults. 
• Families have access to fun watersports like whitewater rafting, tubing, and fishing. 
• There are numerous museums and educational sites to explore, including a pinball museum. 
• There is an emphasis on the arts and theater that inspires children to be creative and imaginative.

Engaging in theater helps children avoid losing their natural curiosity and imagination. Parents in the Asheville area are fortunate to have opportunities to make sure their little ones can participate in drama, dance, and acting. If you would like to instill a passion for performing arts in your children, you should consider enrolling them in the Asheville Performing Arts Academy. Here are a few of the ways your child will benefit from our programs. 

Asheville Children's Theater | Asheville Performing Arts Academy

Asheville Performing Arts Academy seeks to build awareness about the arts within our city and community. We help instill a passion for dance and theater in our students and for their parents. Reasons children's theater is important include:

• Children’s theater helps children think creatively. 
• Children’s theater helps children become better writers. 
• Children’s theater helps children work together with a team. 
• Children’s theater helps children foster imagination. 
• Children’s theater helps children appreciate dance and increase their coordination. 

The mission of Asheville Performing Arts Academy is to provide unlimited opportunities for students to explore their interests in music, dance, and drama. We foster a love and appreciation for the arts through student-teacher relationships, which encourage and help children to excel at their dreams. We have several programs from which to choose:

The Prep Program: The Prep Program is a pre-conservatory style program for students from first through eighth grade who are excited to dive deeper into musical theatre. 

The Company: The Company is an individualized pre-professional performing arts conservatory for intermediate/advanced artists in Middle and High School who are committed to deepening their performing arts education in American Musical Theatre.

The Carpenter Academy of Irish Dance: APAA partners with CAID to provide Irish dance classes for skill levels ranging from beginner to champion dancers.

Summer Camps: From June through August, Asheville Performing Arts Academy offers several summer camps for children of all ages. 

If you would like to know more about our programs and how your child will benefit from gaining a deeper appreciation for theater and performing arts, we would love to answer your questions. Contact Asheville Performing Arts Academy for more information.