WAAPA or NIDA (Music Theatre)?

I have been lucky enough to be accepted into the NIDA one year singer, dancer and actor course as well as the BA in Music Theatre WAAPA degree. I now have to choose which one to do. NIDA: Pros: *Closer to home *Only runs for one year Cons: *Upfront cost of $14000 *Inability to work extensively *Not government approved course (NO Centrelink benefits) WAAPA: Pros: *Degree gives greater opportunity to get work *government approved degree (HECS and Centrelink benefits) CONS: *Faraway from home *difficulty of moving If anyone has any further advise or assistance in the matter please reply to this topic. Cheers...

congrats on being accepted to both! first of all let me say that both courses are great and have produced first class graduates. without knowing your personal circumstances, i will give you a few snippets of info and advice that will hopefully help or at least give you some insight into the situation. i'm an SDA graduate (06). i did the course straight out of school and easily regard it as the best year of my life. i had never even considered doing the course and auditioned at the last minute - my expectations were fairly limited in terms of the resources and amount i would learn. to be honest, i looked at the year as time in which to improve for my next waapa audition as i was hellbent on going there! but the year was amazing. i really feel like i have all the knowledge i need to continue in the industry (i'm probably not as polished as some of the waapa grads- but i'm also younger than they are when they graduate too!) a few things you may or may not have thought of in regard to SDA *having to multitask is actually a good thing - you learn straight away how to juggle working, rehearsing, going to class, friends etc. (although friends will probably disappear for awhile :P ) after being at waapa and having a timetable set out for you for three years, im sure some grads find it a bit of a shock to suddenly have to do this themselves. *smaller class- you'll be about 12-14ish *being in sydney and being able to see shows and attend classes(both those organised by nida and those outside) as well as having pretty much all your teachers currently working in the industry - the insight (as well as the gossip :P) is great!. i've been to waapa(to visit a graduating friend) and in terms of facilities(i'm mainly talking theatres, i didn't see too much of the rehearsal facilities) they're about the same. NIDA is prettier and newer to look at(well the new section) but the theatre spaces i saw were fairly similiar and used well. one great thing about nida is that other companies and artists are hiring out the facilities all the time - theres always something new and different to go watch and learn from(as well as get free tickets-make friends with laurence!) one last thing to leave you with - one of my coursemates had the same predicament. waapa was all she'd ever wanted and then after lots of pondering and talking to avigail, she decided to come to nida and hasn't looked back. she's 22, and about to start rocky horror. you're obviously very talented, and if you're willing to apply yourself 250% for a year, its quite possible you could fasttrack your career. but if you feel you need more time than that - waapa might be for you. sorry this was so long, hope it helps in some way!

My best advice is to go with the one that really suits you: some people know straight away which one they'd rather do. Some find it difficult, but if you put aside all the pros and cons, and just go with what you really want, you'll find the decision a lot easier. Of course, not having gone to either of those facilities, take heed of the other responses to your thread first. Sticky Apple Legs www.thepromptcopy.com/sal Puppets in Melbourne www.puppetsinmelbourne.com.au My puppets www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

Come and play with us!! Congrats on getting in to both. David King was telling us how awesome the talent was this year. it's a fun, gruelling 3 years but by the sounds of things you'll have a kick ass bunch of people in your year. If you have any questions about the course, very soon you'll be getting info from the Cabaret Club (social club run by the 2nd years) and all of our emails. feel free to write to all of us and ask things. Hope to see you here next year. andy

Yeah its all a bit incestuous at WAAPA, great porn parties and nudity. You'll love it there. Not much night life in Perth so at waapa you make your own fun.

THANK YOU all so much for your advise! After careful consideration I have chosen to go to WAAPA! To all of u already studying at WAAPA. When will I receive further info on enrolment and info from the "Cabaret Club?" I am excited about progressing within this course! See you all next year!

Enrollment will all be done for you, you just need to rock up in time for Orientation week and it will all be taken care of. Cab club stuff should get to you soon and waapa kids from your city will organise welcome drinks there as well. where are you from? One more thing, it's really important that you come to Perth a couple of weeks before O-week to organise housing and to come to parties. i'm so excited for you... and jealous too. the start of 1st year is freakin mint. enjoy a good break before you start. Andy

wow ur so lucky, I would kill to be in ur spot DEFINATLEYYY go to NIDA are u nuts haha i dont think there is much competition, NIDA is the way to go if you want to be noticed x