by Nigyl Nissan
Summer performing arts programs, and there are many across the island – including those conducted by Moʻolelo Studios (located on the campus of Sacred Hearts Academy), are more than a leisure distraction; they are a wonderful opportunity for students of all ages to explore and grow. They offer a unique blend of fun and learning, often presenting an ideal environment for young people to discover and unleash their creativity and develop essential life skills. They nurture not just artistic talent but a myriad of life skills, preparing students for the future. Here are the top reasons why creative performing arts summer sessions are an invaluable investment in a child’s development and growth.
Fostering Creativity and Imagination
Summer performing arts classes are basically playgrounds for the imagination. At Moʻolelo Studios, students are free and encouraged to explore the skills of acting, singing, and dancing – while expressing themselves freely and uniquely, nurturing their inherent creative personalities.
Developing Skills
Artistic activities such as acting, singing, and dancing are excellent for developing a unique skill set. These specialized theatrical activities, including the memorization of dialogue, the basic reading of music, and precise body and mind coordination and concentration for the execution of choreography, aid in the development of skills crucial for academic success.
Boosting Self-Confidence and Self-Expression
At Moʻolelo Studios, the focus of performing arts sessions is to be supportive and non-judgmental. This allows students to be free to work on their skills and express their thoughts and emotions. This kind of work environment boosts self-esteem and confidence, as each student’s unique, distinctive voice is celebrated.
Enhancing Social Skills
Summer sessions focused on the performing arts are wonderful social venues where students engage with others who share similar interests. Summer students at Moʻolelo Studios collaborate and share resources and perspectives on scenes, dance numbers, and songs. This involves giving and receiving feedback, which helps develop social skills and forge lasting friendships.
Encouraging Focus and Mindfulness
Working in the performing arts of singing, dancing, and acting requires a level of concentration and collaboration that is reflective and introspective. This can reach the level of being absorbed and meditative. At a Moʻolelo Studio summer musical theatre program, this type of engaging environment becomes a soothing, stress-relieving experience, encouraging students to be mindful and focused, providing a peaceful sanctuary from the fast-paced world.
Learning Problem-Solving Skills
No matter if you’re staging a full musical or working on a two-person scene, the performing arts are about making choices and finding creative solutions. Whether deciding on the theme of an entire play or the true objective of a scene or depicting a flaw in a character trait, students learn to think critically and solve problems, skills that are found invaluable in all walks of life.
Cultural Awareness and Appreciation
Performing arts sessions introduce students to a variety of artistic traditions from around the world, fostering an appreciation for different cultures and broadening their worldviews. By exploring diverse, tradition-based, and contemporary storytelling performance methods, students build confidence, cross-cultural understanding, and critical thinking. It provides a powerful, engaging, and inclusive medium for learners to explore their roots.
Why Performing Arts Programs?
Most students need a break from the heavy basic academic studies they endure during the regular school year. During the summer, they should consider pursuing something that peripherally interests them. Something that they have a passion for that requires learning a set of different skills they are not used to developing and using. A craft that is explored in an entertaining yet rigorously challenging environment that will make memories that will last the rest of their lives.
A summer intensive theatre workshop allows talented students to spend a large chunk of time learning about the performing arts. When students can immerse themselves in the development of acting, singing, and dancing skills as well as their creative faculties, there is an exponential growth in the capabilities and confidence of their physical and mental aptitude, as well as enhancement of social and, many times, spiritual capacities.
These are areas specifically embraced through artistic expression and not necessarily through academic development. Some of the known benefits of immersion in the performing arts are improved mental well-being, emotional stability, and the enormous value of self-discovery. Perhaps one of the biggest draws to summer performing arts programs is the opportunity for the dual combination of one-on-one coaching in artistic skills while maintaining the benefits of group or ensemble dynamics.
The musical theatre summer workshops at Moʻolelo Studios employ teachers who have stage experience to coach their students professionally with practical training. This way, students receive training in the fine arts of acting, singing, dancing, and other forms of self-expression, with a sense of courage to stand before an audience.
Summer Performing Arts Programs
Summer performing arts sessions give students of all ages an immediate outlet for self-expression while requiring the value of teamwork, timing, and listening. These sessions, like those conducted at Moʻolelo Studios, blend professional instruction in a group or “family” atmosphere, allowing students to sharpen their talent while developing core life skills in a nurturing and safe environment.
When these sessions culminate in live shows, they build self-confidence as students learn to execute under the pressure of performing in front of an audience. Whether a student is preparing a monologue, collaborating on an ensemble scene, or learning dance movements in a choreographed musical number, each experience reinforces self-assurance. It is not a surprise that theater students report higher levels of self-esteem and reduced anxiety, especially in group-based settings like those found at summer performing arts programs.
