The newly opened National Center for the Performance Arts, formerly named the Chinese National Grand Theatre, is the largest performing art center in the world. It is shaped like a massive, silvery dome in the heart of China’s capital that offers Chinese and international art performances of the highest standards. It hosts opera, ballet, musicals, dance, dramas and traditional Chinese performances.
Situated west of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the National Center for Performance Art occupies an area of over 149,500 square meters. There are three gigantic halls located inside: a 2,416-seat opera house, a 2,017-seat concert hall and a 1,040-seat theater. Its goal is to become the center of Chinese performance art culture. The National Center for the Performing Arts took nearly five years to build at a cost of over 2.69million RMB.
Designed by the famous French architect Paul Andreu, this imposing building is a fine example of modern architecture. It has been thought of as resembling an eggshell, a baozi (Chinese steamed bread), or even a giant bubble. The National Center for Performance Arts has been listed among the top ten architectural miracles by the USA, for its energy-saving and environmentally-sound design. The center has three firsts: it is the largest sky dome in the world, the deepest building in Beijing, and is home to the largest pine organ in Asia. As its prompters have said, the National Center for Performance Arts has a lush dazzling interior, sophisticated acoustics and a design that that is superior to most of Europe’s or America’s performing arts centers. This building is so unique that it stands out amongst the nearby government buildings in central Beijing and the imperial grandeur of the centuries-old Forbidden City.
The interior design of National Center for Performance Arts, it is quite spectacular. The dome’s interior is paneled with long Brazilian mahogany spans, giving the expanse an amazingly warm feeling. While the walls of the theater, the smallest of the performance spaces, are covered in thick padded silk which is divided into red, purple and tangerine strips. The ceiling of the grey-white color-schemed concert hall consists of undulating waves of acoustical panels that resemble abstract art. On the exterior shell of the center, there are over 500 lights that shine like the stars in the sky, making the National Center for Performance Arts looks like a visitor from the outer space.
Even though the exterior appearance of National Centre for Performance Arts is futuristic in design, it does not clash with nearby buildings. Surrounded on one side by a large pool of water, the reflections in the water form an impressive sight day or night. For this reason, National Centre for Performance Arts is said to appear like a “bright pearl resting in a lake.
Most visitors to the National Center for Performance Arts, come for the performances, but there is much more to this beautiful building than just the three gigantic halls. There are also many smaller places located inside the National Center for Performance Arts such as: an underwater hallway, an exhibition hall, olive hall, library center, Press-release hall, souvenir shop, and a coffee house. In these locations, visitors or audience members can enjoy other aspects of this amazing building other than just performances.
The Center’s management has hired the best performers from throughout China to perform. Musicians such as pianist Yundi Li, and Lang Lang are regulars to the National Center for Performance Arts’stage. Many foreign troupes are vying for a chance to perform during the center’s opening season. The first foreign troupe to perform on the stage of the National Center for Performance Art was the Mariinsky Ballet Troup of St. Petersburg(still marketed in the U.S. under its Soviet-era name, the Kirov Opera and Ballet). Although the center’s musical groups,ballets, symphony orchestras, and Chinese opera have received far less attention, they are also performed by some of the best artists in China.
To allow each audience to fully and comfortably appreciate each performance, the National Center for Performance Arts has makes great effort in its design of the opera house, concert hall and theater. The materials used in the construction of the opera house were chosen for their ability to control sound. The ceiling of the concert hall is designed so that each audience member will enjoy an unforgettable experience. The theatre, the place with the most distinctive Chinese characteristic, has the most advanced stage facilities and the largest auditorium. Each seat in the National Center for Performance Arts is placed over an air vent which will allow each audience member to enjoy perfectly controlled temperatures, and each seat is designed with a muffling devise so that no sound will be made when audience members stand up,or sit down. These many different features of the center has been put in place to insure each audience member will receive the most from each performance they see.
Even if visitors to Beijing have no interest in watching a performance at the National Centre for Performance Arts, a visit to the center will leave a deep impression on them. It is one of the most brilliant architectural designs in the world, and worth a visit.
Many organizations and individuals have contributed and created a name for themselves across the world in performing arts. Most of these people have honed their skills and talents from the very start as they seek for professional training and studies from various performance arts schools all over the world.
Performing arts centers range from the most classical and conservative settings to the hip and modern-day artistic rendition of different art forms. Knowing the world’s most famous performance arts institutions would give you a thorough peak at how the genre has evolved from then most raw of talent to the most sophisticated performances.
Here are some of the world-renowned performance arts centers to note:
Curtis Institute of Music
Centuries-old music and high-caliber musical performance are what define the Curtis Institute of Music. Filtered by its strict compliance to value and excellence, Curtis Institute of Music has continued to produce world-class geniuses in the field of music and performance arts. Curtis Institute of Music is Philadelphia’s main attractions. It has unsurpassed guidelines for acceptance, which is the key to its high-caliber graduates. It is known to have twice as low acceptance rate as that of Julliard School and thrice of Ivy League institutions. Its conservatory setting is crucial to the expertise and artistry exhibited by the music geniuses it produced.
Juilliard
America’s greatest performance arts school is borne out of Americans’ need for a highly professional performance arts and music school. It has molded Juilliard’s principles and goals in making a name for American actors, actresses, and performers across time. The Juilliard School has become a historical entity in American performance arts industry. Juilliard School made a milestone in performance arts history. It started from the idea that Americans would not be required to travel to Europe if only to study different arts genres. From the first 100 American students, Juilliard has made Americans aware of its need for a serious and highly professional musical training. Right now Juilliard has scattered itself over many areas in the US and continuously produces Hollywood status talents.
Brent Street Studios
Brent Street Studios is the premier performance arts school in Australia, starting place for some of Australia’s finest performers. Located right in the heart of Sydney, Brent Dance Studio has first rate amenities that are valuable aids in honing the best artistry there is in the performance arts field. Australia’s best performance arts school, Brent Dance Studio has produced a number of world-class performers ending into Hollywood fame. More than being famed for its high-quality performances, Brent Dance Studio has made a name for Australia in the international arena for this genre as well. With its ultra large dance studios, many international events such as rehearsals and auditions were held in its walls.
BRIT
A one of a kind combination of arts and technology, BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology brought a new perspective of arts integrating it to an equally significant social aspect: technology. BRIT School has extended noble help to Britain’s youth’s awareness of performance arts, as it in integrated in their curriculum. The school is a fertile breeding ground of future performance artists that have a wide perspective of their art. BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology is a stand-alone performance arts institution, being state funded, with a thrust of integrating arts to technology. It has not only developed arts as a skill-based genre; it managed to incorporate arts in its curriculum, a uniquely designed concept.
NPAS
An ultra-modern performance arts variety is provided by the National Performing Arts School or NPAS. Anyone who believes that performance arts evolved with time and that there are more to consider in the classical genres as dance, drama, and singing can find the best lessons in NPAS. From the dance sports variety to their own salsercise, NPAS has ventured out into art genres that more and more people consider as unique, highly engaging, and enhancing a good cultural preservation. National Performing Arts School or NPAS is a performance arts school that spells out variety, ingenuity, and creativity at its best in all its lessons offered. NPAS has been honing talents for world-class status in its major lessons on drama, singing, and dance to its modern-day genres on musical theatre, salsa, tango, Bollywood, and its latest addition salsercise, a combination of salsa, dance, and exercise.
Stagecoach
Award-winning Stagecoach Theatre Arts has the most number of centers in different parts of the globe. The performance arts center has devoted its excellent training and performance arts awareness throughout varying cultures, enhancing every genre in every way. Stagecoach Theatre Arts is the world record holder for “largest simultaneous performance of one show” given by Guinness World Records. Other than that, Stagecoach also has the most number of performance art centers around the globe, having 600 centers alone in the United Kingdom. Stagecoach made arts reachable for people of all races, without sacrificing its performance quality.
Dance and performance arts centers around the world have made significant milestones in the history of arts. They are the bloodline that continues to strengthen peoples and communities.
I have been interested in performing arts schools since my daughter ann
Earning a degree in performing arts is not an easy task, nor is finding a job after graduating in certain fields. Those who choose to study performing arts have often been participating in their interest since they were very young, and have grown up practicing their art daily. Performing arts degrees allow students to major in performing arts such as dance, music, music education, acting, and design/technology.
Those who choose to work in this industry usually possess the following qualities: outgoing, hard working, detail oriented, ambitious, and passionate. Performers understand the need to have a great stage presence, work very hard to be perfect in their routine, and try to earn the lead role. Even performing art majors who do not choose to dance or perform for a living understand how cutthroat the entertainment business can be. Most individuals are looking to rise to the top of their field/performance status, not stay in a lower position. Employers find these characteristics very appealing because it means these employees will typically work hard, complete detailed tasks quickly, and strive to receive promotions and take on more responsibility.
By majoring in dance, participants are preparing themselves to learn various types of dance, and how to carry out dances while developing performance skills. Students will study dance techniques such as modern, classical, and ballet, among others. In order to be accepted into one of these programs, students will need to audition for faculty. Audition pieces usually require applicants to perform a ballet or contemporary routine.
Students who are interested in becoming an actor will study courses that will prepare them for careers in the theatre and other related areas. Individuals in this major need to be extremely outgoing, dramatic, well-spoken, and creative to become successful in this position. Students will learn about fundamental vocal and physical skills, perform in chamber theatre, cabaret, and community performances, and hone their skills in both solo and group work.
Individuals may also simply earn a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts. This will give them a general understanding of the many skills involved in music, drama, and dance. Sample courses may include musical theatre, dance technique, dramatic literature, music performance, theatre history, and dance and culture. Those who earn this degree can work in positions such as dance performance and choreography, film and theatre direction, talent management, and the entertainment industry business, to name a few.
Some students choose to minor in performing arts and major in business or English. This will give them a fundamental background in a subject area of interest, while establishing skills more suited to a non-performance career. For example, individuals who wish to write screenplays would more likely major in English, and take courses that would show how to create screenplays and how the writing would translate to the stage.
Listening to music, watching someone act on screen, and hearing a speech all stem from the world of performing arts. This broad area can require an education to successfully fulfill the needs of a performance. Online performing arts training schools offer performing arts training through courses and introductory lessons.
The field of performing arts is known for dance, theater, and music. These three factors make up a large part of the professional study but education broadens to include many areas. Students can choose to enter arts administration, stage management, and more. Skills will be acquired that transfer over to areas like:
Dance
Circus
Motion Picture
Comedy
Magic
With training online students can choose how they want to apply their skills depending on their talents and interests. Online education provides a wide range of study options through the use of the Internet and computer based technology. Courses encourage interaction between students by creating chat rooms and e-mail communication for specific courses. Students can choose to learn about the history and business aspects of numerous fields. Examination of topics that include musical performances, theater experiences, and technical components provide a solid base for students to build on.
Online education for the performing arts is predominantly made up of individual courses. Students are able to begin their education online but most likely will have to attend a campus-based college to further their education and obtain degrees. Education paths change according to the concentration students choose. A dance concentration may have students focusing on the history and components from a dance perspective. Music majors will take courses focusing on different aspects of music from history to playing a guitar. Students can also choose to begin their education with general courses online and enter a campus degree program and focus on the technical aspect or the management side of a particular subject.
A basic performing arts course is available to students through online training schools. Courses like this explore the traditional aspects and new developments of the performing arts industry. The historical features and today’s live performance practices are examined by looking at the performance experience and the audience’s point of view. Main subjects may introduce theater, music, dance, and performance. The processes, products, and experiences are discussed in terms of performing live. Within the theater aspect of the course students are able to understand the impact of plot, script, character, performance, exposition, and more. Different musical and dance styles are looked at and online courses break down the different elements like music rhythm and dance style. Further education can be sought out through other online courses or transitioning into a traditional college degree.
Before entering an online degree program students need to pick a concentration in the performing arts that can include dance, theater, music, and film. All programs give students a multi-disciplinary study that allows students to enter careers with their learned skills in performance. Popular coursework involved can be production design, media criticism, acting, and more. Study options are broad, which makes working through training online beneficial. Students can work through some courses online and find their niche or passion.
Accredited online performing arts schools and colleges provide students with time to figure out their skills while learning a variety of subjects. The National Association of Schools of Theatre (http://nast.arts-accredit.org/) accredits programs that meet the criteria for offering quality career training. Obtaining these skills can be applied to continuing online education or fulfilling degree requirements on a college campus.
DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, c