Confused - WAAPA or Brent Street

Hey there Guys. Im a bit upset with this girl who just got into Brent Street. She went to the audition but got in anyways cos of the contacts she knew. She said anyone auditioning for WAAPA is mad cos its too far away and all the paid work is in Sydney, which she is close to. She has contacts who will get her jobs anywhere.

I didnt want to say anything but my sisters friend has just come back from Brent Street and she left because not even the professionals there were getting work let alone new grads. Well I think its a 1 year Diploma Course.

Hey is it better to go to Sydney to do that course and be near paid work or try out for WAAPA, what are the benefits. I have my heart set on WAAPA.

All i can say is brent street is going downhill...and waapa ... isnt

brent street is more for dance, Waapa music theatre is an all round course... it's up to you! In regards to being "near" paid work when your studying do yourself a favor, focus on that study! don't go running off to auditions trying to get away from where your learning! ( don't turn down an opertunity! ) but make a commitment to study for 1 year, 3 years, how ever but focus on it! u will be a better performer in the end! And i dont care who your friend is, if they dont have the talent, they wont get the work! doesn't matter who there friends are. (assuming they are professional) Noone who is has a professional rep is going to be someone in a show just because they are friends.

Very True Pan, I think you will find that the two courses are very different. Brent St is aiming to turn out professional, commercial dancers, they do a little acting and singing, but it is definately the dance that takes precedence. Waapa is set up to try and produce fully rounded performers, so you do less dance but more of the other skills.

Also you may be interested to know that they actually set Waapa up in Perth so it was away from a lot of the professional work. There for the students don't get poached by agents and pro shows halfway through the course, and have the chance to experiment and fail with out having agents at each show. Which can be a problem at NIDA because there is so much interest from the profession in the students from day 1 of first year.

What a good point Janty! god u must be a sexy beast!!! I'm thinking 3pm?



Thou roguish fen-sucked clack-dish!

he he the insult button is funny!!

hey can n e 1 tell me what boiler house theatre is about cause i wanna join but i wanna no a bit about it............ wat kinda stuff do ya do?

Wow.. I just got informed about this website and i have to say, alot of talk and no action goes on in here. As a student and now a teacher of 'Brent Street', and as a working profesional, i have to say, I teach and have taught previous years Full-timers at the street and never have i come across such talent and dedication from teachers and the students. The team of 'Current Profesionals' that teach at Brent street have all and more of the best expeirence and knowlage to pass on to there studnets. As does WAPPA, as does NIDA, as does alot of other institutions. i kinda take personal offence to people slagging an institution where dreams become reality and talented body's blossom. As to the comment of 'Going down hill'...dude, what hill are you watchin?? The course is for the student who wants to study all aspects...we dont guarantee you'll come out as Anthony Warlow or Marina Prior with Moves like kelley abbey and an Oscar winning performance in the next Feature. We do the best to bring out the students natural talent... and the ones who complain are the bitter ones who end up back in there home towns on websites just as this. The 2006 Students of the Course are having a Blast. Just ask them... People, Think before you speak.. I encourage people to study at WAPPA, NIDA, and Brent Street... we're all here for the same purpose. Matt**

Point taken Grant, but i did read more than just one thread. Cheers.

Matt Lee, I dont know whats happened here, maybe because the Theatre Aust. forum site has changed but this topic was covered and cleared up by Denise Love from BRENT STREET on the 1/2/06. If you are indeed a teacher at Brent Street, I suggest you speak to Denise Love about this topic. She answered everyones queries and addressed the 'bagging' PROFESSIONALLY and this whole topic was cleared up some time ago. Please do we have to go through it all over again with the slagging of Brent Street, Sing Over King, WAAPA and NIDA etc etc Darren Mapes from the Sing Over King and Denise Love from Brent Street both put this topic to rest with very accommodating and professional answers. Your attack here is obviously from the heart but very unprofessional. Please Speak to Denise before you write any more and dredge up further unrest. I am sure she wouldn't be happy.

Hey Janine... Thanks for your comments, have been in alot of discussions about this topic with denise on how to remedy this and seeing as its still happening thought i'd give my 2 cents worth...was only pullin up on the slagging posts...everyone else should really ignore...hey its just a message board, freedom of speech?... Please feel free to Email me on my 'PROFESSIONAL APPROACH' to the topic. fella101@hotmail.com would love to hear from you. Light and Love

If the Boy From Oz Auditions are anything to go by go to Brent St where Kelly Abbey's students all got in at the expense of far more experienced and better actors/dancers and singers. That was a really disappointing result and a sad comment on the production values of that show

lets remember, it was Kenny Ortega that Cast the show. Kelley is co-Choreographer. now you tellin Me Kenny Ortega got it wrong?? Have you read his biog?? lets be happy for the People who did get the show...and not such a bad sport.

I don't know the show very well, but from clips I've seen, I would've thought Boy from Oz would be looking for strong dancers, and Brent St turns out good dancers. Much is we'd all love to be tripple threats, the fact is most performers have their strengths and weaknesses, and Brent St performers tend to be very strong dancers. Don't base your decision on the best school based on this one example, the very same people from Brent St might have a much harder time getting into a production of Avenue Q or The Last 5 Years. Look at what your strengths are and what you realistically think your strengths can be, and what sort of shows you'd like to do, and then start making decisions on what course is best for you. Also, the person who made the point about location is absolutely right - when studying you shouldn't be auditioning for shows, so it doesn't matter where you study because you can always move when you're done, and WAAPA holds showcases in Sydney anyway, so you'll be right around the corner from Brent St.

hey i am just wondering on how you can get into Brent street? i have been told that you have to have a year 12 certificate and that you have to be 21 years of age? is this correct? I have been dancing for 13 years and would love to try go to Brent street, and do you have to audition to get in? and also i dont know anything about WAAPA and would like to know more infomation on what kind of things they do there etc. thankyou, tia!

I am wondering if anyone can tell me what level of dance you have to have already to get into Brent Street? I would love to go there to train in dance however I am not a "dancer" already. I am a singer/actor who can "move" !!!

brent street take all levels of dancers from begginers to advanced, to do the full time perfm arts course i belive you have to have obtained a school cert, so year 10 certificate not a hsc and you have to be 17+ i think... But if u call/ email brent street they will give u all the info u need. Go to their website.www.brentstreet.com.au. bUT REMEBER there are plenty of other places out there just as good as brent street so i suggest u look around before deciding on the course!