Australian Academy of Dramatic Art???

Hi,

Anyone know much about the Australian Academy of Dramatic Art? Its in Sydney (Surry Hills)

Does anyone here have any personal experiences with AADA? How reputable is it? How does it compare with NIDA/WAAPA/VCA?

Their website is OK, but what I'm really after is the inside knowledge

Thanks for that,
F.

Hey Fran,

I used to work for them as a teacher...email me back and I can post answers to your questions more responsibly.

JFK

oops...sorry bout that, thought you were talking about the Australian Academy of Performing Arts...

Fran

What answers did you get back in regards to this as I'm interested to hear.

Thanks
MARK

I am moving to sydney and have been looking around for good drama academys to go to also.. I found the aada on the internet. So i have an interview with them for the course.

I also would be interested to hear what JFK has to say about it...if any of you could email me back that would be greatly appreciated.

Fran,

Did you get any information, I also would be interested to hear what you found out

Fran

Hey Fran!
I would be really interested any info you find on it too. Would you mind emailing me any info you find?
Thanks a bunch,
Steph. :)

wats the websites for the australian academy of performing arts and dramatic arts? cheers

Hi,

I am actually a student at the Australian Academy of Dramatic Art.
If anyone has questions email me and I'll respond.

S.

Hi, my name is Karina Green
I'm a 25 year old actress who has been performing since the age of 17. I have done both amature and mainstream (paid) productions. I am a member of the Pilgrim Theatre Company Sydney and, Actors equity - NSW. I have representation contract with Masque Talent Agency, Castle Hill.

My main goal is to persue a career musical theatre acting... but to do so i need an acting diploma.

I've enrolled a couple of times for the three year full time acting course with AADA but have be unsuccessfull! Just wanting to know what else do i need to do the course?
Please Help.

Yours Sincelry
Karina

Fran,

You've probably been bombarded with questions yourself about this topic since your intial query, but i too am searching for some answers about these drama schools around australia.

So far in my research i've found that some of the most successfull actors in the industry have studied at NIDA, so that has to be gong for them. But that may be changing over the years..

If you did find out some information that could help me in this quest could you please email me or post to this message board? I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who are asking the same questions.

Hope to hear from you.

H.

hi i really want to go there and if you could tell me what its like to go there i would really appreciate it and if you could give me any more info thanks so much

I have had a bit to do with them and I would suggest NIDA, Waapa, VCA are all stronger bets.

hey,

in the midst of enrolling with AADA. was wondering if its any good? Honestly....
What would you suggest if not? I want to work in television acting. I have an agent however need to go to an academy, i want to learn at the same time. Just left school last year. I need to hurry though bcoz time is running out in terms of making sure my application form and interview are prepared so i have a chance of getting in?

cheers

Hi Buzz,

I'm the Assistant Director of The Academy & obviously I'm not about to say anything derogatory about the school but what I can tell you in all honesty is that we have the finest teachers in the industry,we have a safe & warm environment for you to work within & there is a sense of community here that I have not experienced anywhere else.

I suggest for technical information you visit our website austaada.com.au

Our Mid year intake will close in a couple of days so if you want to apply you'd better do so quickly.

Hope I've helped you in some way .

I'm happy to supply the email addresses of a couple of our students so that any of you can have your questions answered. Alternatively you can always contact me.

regards

Vicki

hi fran,
I actually just graduated from AADA in May 2004. If you want any information from me than write and let me know.

Yours sincerely

Mike Cotton-Stapleton

Hi Mike, was just wondering if you could e-mail me some info on the AADA course. I have applied for next year and would love to know what you honestly thought of it, tips for the interview etc. Thank you, Clare

Mike

Would appreciate some honest feedback on AADA.

Is the 3yr qualification industry recognised.?

Is there real value in the course?

Does it rank alongside NIDA WAPA etc?

Rgds

Mick

I'm getting sick and tired that there's a worry about this institution. I'm a professional actor. I've worked with actors that have come from a number of institutions (NIDA, WAAPA, AADA, VCA) etc.... Even some who have trained overseas (e.g. RADA, Tisch, American Academy, etc...). The bottom line is, once you are out there, no one gives a hoot where you trained from. They might think, 'oh, thats good', but in the end its you they want. There is a common factor between all these acting institutions, and that is, you learn your craft, technique, etc.... You learn how to network, stay in business, etc.... They are similar that way, but also differ in perhaps curriculum, teachers, what is on offer, etc... When you are out there in the professional world, you know that it is only you, and no one else that can determine how good an actor you can become. The Australian Academy is a good college. It offers people a good number of professional tutors, has a theatre space, works in conjunction with the Australian Film and Television School and gives actors a great environment to work in. I would say it is foolish to compare acting schools, because the essential person is yourself. If you feel comfortable in an acting school, then, regardless of its name, go for it. Obviously costs, etc.... are in consideration, but in the end, you are there to learn. Also, in addition, when you come out of acting school, you still learn your craft (when you go into the professional world) - many actors would discard some of the things they may have learnt in acting school, for something they could only have learnt when working with others. Its an unprofessional, childish, and amateurish feeling to compare acting schools. Of course schools are going to say, "we are the best" - because they are also businesses, HELLO! The show of famous alumni, only displays the success of the people. But in reality we all know that that is really the famous person's doing, not the school. The school gave the tools. Mel Gibson is a classic case. He went to NIDA because it was one of the ones he knew about. If history changed its course, Australian Academy could have been there, h could have chosen that, and because of his acting - most likely would have ended up famous, anyway. Use your common sense. Use your logic. Use your gut feeling. Don't be so wrapped up by things that are unrelated to you. You cannot be a Mel Gibson, you cannot be a Cate Blanchett, but you can have the perseverance as they have and the determination, that has nothing to do with the school name. So, trust your gut feeling, is the main place. You dont want to waste three or four years at an acting school that felt uncomfortable to you. Money would be wasted, interest depletes, a sense of negative feeling can take place and can even make you want to quit acting altogether. If you find NIDA is the place, then go to NIDA. If you find WAAPA, AADA, VCA, even your own private acting tutors to be the ones, then travel that way. In the end, it is you and you alone. Many can support, but none can spoon feed. Be wise.

Exactly in the end we all face our own true destinys and shape and mold it with the tools we have... true

Hi! I have applied for AADA for next year and am going for the interview in 2 weeks. I was wondering if you could give me any honest feedback on the coarse and tips for the interview??? Thanks, clare.

Dear Fran,

I used to be a student at AADA.
I donÂ’t know exactly what exactly you want from you acting school but AADA is of selective taste. The teachers are great, however the formality of the school is questionable. The lady who runs the school is a nightmare! Whether you stay in the course is not based on talent but if you are one of her favourites or really anything she feels like dishing out. Most of the teachers live in fear of her! Personally I would go for one of the more highly regarded schools eg NIDA, WAPPA. AADA tends to blow their own horn without reason and from my experience they are not as good as they would like to think.

Hope I can be of help.

Alex

Poor bitter and twisted Alex

I agree with Alex, this school is rubbish. It used to be a good school until the new principal took over and has destroyed it. It is such a shame to see a school with such talented teachers being destroyed singlehandedly by this Dictator storming the corridors trying to gain more power. Normally I would advise that you attend the school if you wish and just put up with her but when it comes to your money you might want to think twice before investing it into this school. You may only get into your 2nd year before she decides to kick you out without reason. You then have to start all over again at another acting school paying again for what you have already learnt so I suggest starting from scratch at a reliable school! She constantly interupts lessons by just barging in and insisting all eyes on on her and enjoys be-littling the teachers infront of the students to show her superiority! She has a short (if even existant) list of achievements to hold to her name and uses scare tactics to keep her students in fear of her.
Some of her relationships with the students are also questionable to say the least. I have heard various rumours of inproper arrangements she has organised with certain students.

Danielle wrote:
> I have heard various rumours
> of inproper arrangements she has organised with certain
> students.



And if they are in proper, are you suggesting that that's improper?


Cheers,
Craig

[%sig%]

Inproper!? Thats unpossible!!!

Hi - I stumbled across this webpage and read the comments re. AADA. I must confess, I am rather surprised at the negative feedback. I work in the film industry where there is a high regard for Academy graduates. I would recommend the school to anyone interested in a film career.

Acting schools all over the country have their faults. You should think long and hard before choosing one. As far as the best, you should rely on your gut feel as all actors learn. As far as NIDA being an option I would question them letting in a football player, Ian Roberts. Having seen him perform I seriously doubt he was selected on his audition. I have worked with actors from all different acting schools and cannot say one is better than the other. You sound very bitter about your experience there and maybe lack the maturity to be an actor.

HEY ALL

My brother and my brother in law both went to AADA and they both did not complete the course for various reasons.

However their feedback for AADA is basically the Academy is great for students with little to no acting experience as they satrt with the basics. Ig you have done any form of Acting in the past, youmay find the first six to eight months quite tedious as they go through ideas and methods that you may already be aware of.

However this can be true of any Acting course. NIDA has the reputation but there are a number of Acting schools on the fringe that are coming into their own. Australian Academy of Dramatic Arts, Australian academy of Performing Arts, Actors College of Theatre and Television etc.

It depends on what you are after. NIDA has the repuation of teaching you one acting method throughout the three year course so that basically, you are stripped of any knowledge you had (or thought you had) and are taught from the ground up, all in the same way. This helps you to focus and "perfect" one solid technique throughout the three years which can be very helpful.

We all know however that there are many techniques. ACTT and AADA for example provide you with several techniques, then you can choose which is best for you. This can also be helpful as you will meet actors in the industry who all work in different ways and so you are malleable in this regard (method, mamet, practical aesthetics etc)

WAAPA is most reknowned for its Musical Theatre Course - so if you are looking to be involved in the professional Musical Theatre Industry, this course holds the highest reputation and it is very competetive to get into (but let's face it, to work in the theatre and make a viable living, most actors will make their money from musicals)

VCA (Melbourne) has a great acting course but again, it is most reknowned for its dance course. A lot of people say ACTING = NIDA / DANCE = VCA and SINGING / MUSICAL THEATRE = WAAPA

My advice would also be to look into smaller establishments like The Actors Centre (The Journey is a fantastic one year acting course), ACTT, PACT Theatre etc.

And you will find many of the acting teachers who teach at one school also teach or direct shows at other schools as well. I know of many teachers that work at AADA and ACTT. NIDA directors also direct shows for The Actors Centre etc - as they say, take it where you can find it.

Email me if you woul dlike any more info. As I said two of my relatives have attended AADA (my brother found the tedium of the first year the main reason he left but then again, he was a fairly accomplished actor at the time and had been involved in shows etc before) and I went to ACTT.

Cheers
Jonathon
Anderson & Burdon Productions

has anyone heard of WAADD? (thats the Western Australian Academy of Dance and Drama) Its a quaint little academy run by Tiffany Evans, shes the type of performer thats *been there, done that* and the stories and shows she tell you about is amazing!

The course specialises in Theatre and Musical Theatre, but as every performer knows these days, you cant just be happy settling into a certain art, you need to have knowledge of most/all of the crafts. This school utilises this aspect very well and give's actor some dance and vocal training in all aspects. I myself went into the course as an actor with basic dance training (from when i was about 7), and came out of the course a Musical Theatre major with a dance elective, plus I attained all of my dance certificates! plus, the course allows you to do professional work during the course, as the director says, "theres no experience like real experience". I got tons of paid work throughout the course which made it extremely easy to pay off my tuition fee's. And after the course, i was one of the only actors to have gained a part in the original perth production of "Gabba Gabba Hey!" that had majored from a professional perth college.

for someone who wants a well rounded training in the arts, then i would definately approve of this course! its a lot of work due to the amount of core subjects, but that just comes with the territory. The course goes for 2 years with mid and end of yr performances, plus tons of cabaret shows and drama performances throughout the year.

ok enough of the door to door saleman act :P if anyone has any queries about the course, just gimme a buzz on ere, leave ya email, n i'll be happy to get back to ya.

cheers guys! cya!
~Corey

i can see what you guys mean about the head, but the way i see it, the industrys filled with egotistical or difficult people, and frankly if you can't learn to put up with them, it could be a major set back in your career. you dont alwayse get to choose who you work with and there's no point getting worked up about it.
also the school may be lacking in some facilities compared to waapa or nida, but the teachers are fantastic and to me thats what counts. the atmosphere is much more comfortable then that at nida, and their attitude to teaching is a nurturing one, as apposed to nida that has a reputation of breaking a person before remolding them.
im not saying aada is the best, it just depends on what youre looking for. my advice is to make the most of what youve got to get the job done, because in the end its up to you to make the magic, not the hall you work in.

Vicki's right. I graduated from the academy at the end of 2003 and it was the best 3 years of my life. All comments aside. If you want a drama school that will give you the best bloody teachers in Sydney,this school is it. No other drama school in Sydney has a portfolio of teachers that we do.

It's paved my way in helping me establish my career as an actor and has given me the strong foundations and courage i need to be able to go out there in the industry and compete.

For the record, it pisses me off to hear previous students bag the school out the way they are doing in this greenroom.
Just because you failed and probably quit don't blame your mistakes and misfortunes on someone or something else.

The school's director has a interal saying. She say's it's all based on the "law of the jungle". The weak ones will fall off and the strong ones will survive. Funny enough folks that's the industry!

Obviously some of the people in this greenroom giving people advice are the weak ones that didn't survive. (the fact that they don't even use their real names say's it all).

Now you choose who you want to believe!

So what's AADA really like? Is it on the way out? Or is it still a good school and worth investing 3 years and a lifetime in?
Kerry

Hey guys..

How does enterance work for AADA? is it just interview or both interveiw and audition?

Thanks alot.

Adrian