ABSTRACT
The International Schools Theatre Association, hereon referred to as ISTA, is a non-profit international arts organization that provides theatre and drama experiences for elementary and secondary age students around the world. Because of the popularity of the ISTA secondary school festivals, Anne Drouet, a British born Chinese educator and musician, worked with ISTA to set up two local Performing Arts Academies following the ISTA model and mission. The Performing Arts Academies in Shanghai and Hong Kong follow devising methodologies, making use of processes whereby a creative team, or ensemble, work together to create an original piece of theatre rather than working with material that has already been scripted. Academy teaching seeks to create a dynamic learning environment that differentiates between learning styles, embraces diverse cultures and provides for a greater variety of student strengths and needs. Academy experiences range from eight-week courses which meet after school, to weekend festivals, to evening masterclasses.
