NASDA gets its glow on for a special birthday

The National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA) is lighting up the stage of Christchurch's James Hay Theatre with their 30th birthday show, Luminate.

NASDA Head of Programme Simon Goudie says the celebration season draws on the talents of the entire student cohort and will have its last outing on Monday 18th of November at 7pm.

"Luminate is an old word that doesn’t get used a lot but it’s focus is to shine a light on something in the sense of - to glow, to show, to enhance and uplift and that’s the essence we’ve gone for," Goudie said.

The show includes highlights from many of the performances the students have been involved in throughout the past year plus many more big numbers from across the decades.

"There’s a wide variety with the traditional ‘stand and sings’ but also some big chorus choreographed numbers so something for everybody really," Goudie said.

Goudie said the idea was not to walk through thirty years of the history of the Ara Institute of Canterbury Music Theatre programme but rather mark the milestone with the 75 students enrolled here and now.

Many will get to extend the party with an appearance at Christchurch’s Christmas in The Park, which is also celebrating 30-years in three weeks' time.

Goudie said the ‘close-knit’ NASDA staff are proud provide the top music theatre performing arts degree in the country which brings in students from the breadth of New Zealand.

"NASDA is the most established true performing arts institute for the music theatre industry in New Zealand and has long held this space. If you’re not wanting to leave the country, NASDA has provided that recognised place of learning and it’s our challenge to stop people from wanting to leave the country and ensure we stay on an equal footing with anywhere else."

For some, performing in Luminate will be the culmination of three years of study prior to stepping out into a life in the performing arts with their Bachelor of Music Theatre.

Goudie says it’s nice to stay connected to past graduates but many naturally drift away from their study roots after a time as they go and find their passion. It's often not until a few years later that they truly reflect on what they achieved on campus.

"The learning doesn’t stop when they leave and that is what we set them up for or prepare them for. So often, they’re only just dipping their toes into what they might want to do and it’s a thrill to see our students continue to grow and develop as performers."

Something certainly worth making a song and dance about. Happy Birthday NASDA.