Asheville, North Carolina, has a vibrant performing arts scene that celebrates creativity while encompassing everything from the classical to the avant-garde. Asheville Performing Arts Academy provides a one-of-a-kind, immersive learning experience for children of all ages who want to explore music, dance, and theater. 

Children can discover their love of the arts and learn new ways of thinking through performing arts. Here are six compelling reasons your child should participate in extracurricular performing arts activities.

The Benefits of Extracurriculars

1. Communication and Storytelling

Acting teaches children how to hold an audience’s attention and tell a compelling story. Improv is especially beneficial for communication because it encourages children to think on their feet. 

Improvisers can conjure up witty remarks and intelligent responses to questions from thin air. It’s a valuable skill to have in the future for speeches, job interviews, and even everyday conversations.

2. Creative and Self-Expression

Creating an engaging character prompts out-of-the-box creativity and tenacity. The technical aspects of putting on a production, such as costuming and set design, require innovation and new ideas. Finally, theater can help students develop their artistic and whimsical side, which is just as important as school curriculums such as algebra or grammar.

3. Finding Your Self-Confidence

The most important thing a child can gain from the theater is self-confidence. Acting involves being vulnerable and stepping outside your comfort zone in front of hundreds of strangers. No future endeavor is out of reach once you learn to feel comfortable taking that risk.

4. Learning Responsibility

If you take on a role in a play, the rest of the cast counts on you to perform well. Only you can ensure that you know your lines and how to block. 

You have control over whether or not you arrive on time for rehearsals and bring your script. Theater students learn the value of commitment and accountability by completing these tasks.

5. Cognition

Performers learn important memorization tips and tricks while learning lines applicable to any memory-related task. This can help with academic assignments such as writing a book report or studying for an exam. 

Furthermore, when performing, actors must focus on various things, making them excellent multitaskers. Many acting coaches and directors will also do focus exercises with their cast to help them improve their concentration.

6. Teamwork and Collaboration

Being a team player is essential when putting on a show. To create convincing chemistry on stage, performers must learn to collaborate with their scene partners. 

Moreover, there is much collaboration between the cast members, the techies, and the director. It would be impossible to put on a show without teamwork and cooperation.

Extracurricular Activities at Asheville Performing Arts Academy

Asheville Performing Arts Academy provides classes for students of all ages to explore their music, drama, or dance passions. Our mission is to provide high-quality education and experiences while also providing a safe environment for our students to express themselves. 

Our students benefit from the performing arts subjects because they gain exposure, discover their talents, and have the opportunity to perform and demonstrate their abilities in a variety of settings. Please visit our registration page for more information on our programs and how to sign up.