Educational Insights - Performing Arts at NAIS Pudong

The world is rapidly changing, and with it, the skills and competencies required for success in the 21st century are evolving. In this era of globalisation and technological advancement, education must adapt to prepare students for a future filled with challenges and opportunities. Collaboration between renowned institutions is a powerful means of enriching the educational experience and equipping students with the tools they need to excel. One such collaboration that holds immense promise is the partnership between The Juilliard School, a world-famous institution for the performing arts, and the Nord Anglia Education (NAE) family of schools, which includes NAIS Pudong.

The Juilliard School, located in New York City, is a legendary institution renowned for its dedication to excellence in the performing arts. Since its establishment in 1905, Juilliard has consistently produced some of the world's most talented musicians, actors, and dancers. Its distinguished faculty and rigorous programs have earned it a reputation as a global leader in arts education.

Our family – NAE - is a prestigious network of 87 world-class schools with a global presence. With a commitment to providing high-quality education to students worldwide, NAE schools offer a well-rounded curriculum that fosters academic achievement, personal development, and global awareness. The network's schools are known for their innovative teaching approaches and commitment to preparing students for success in a rapidly changing world.

• Enhancing Academic Excellence

The integration of Juilliard's expertise in the performing arts into the NAIS Pudong curriculum is significantly enhancing academic excellence. Research has consistently shown that students exposed to the arts perform better academically across various subjects. Through music, dance, and drama, students are developing critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills that are transferable to all areas of their education. Additionally, collaboration with Juilliard can help NAIS Pudong attract and retain top-tier educators in the arts, further elevating the quality of instruction across the board. 

• Nurturing Creativity and Innovation

In a world driven by innovation and creativity, the ability to think outside the box and approach problems from different angles is invaluable. Collaboration between Juilliard and NAIS Pudong fosters creativity in students by exposing them to the arts and encouraging them to express themselves through music, dance, and drama.

Within the past month we’ve welcomed dance and drama specialists from Juilliard to our Pudong campus, where they worked closely with students and staff to not only impart their love of performing arts to the students, but also supported our teaching staff with professional development and curriculum support.  We will also welcome a Juilliard music specialist to the school in January 2024 to conduct very similar work with our community.  These opportunities are only available to the NAE network and thus offers unique experiences to our students that can’t be found in other schools.

By integrating the performing arts into the curriculum, students can discover their passions, develop their unique voices, and gain the confidence to innovate and create. Especially, when they perform, trying to make things feels effortless, or we could say building a sense of fearlessness. They learn to interact with others convincingly. Everything has a certain power, even a ‘wrong’ note in music brings with it a certain expression. There is no right or wrong.

This nurturing of creativity aligns perfectly with the goals of 21st-century education, which aims to produce well-rounded individuals who can adapt to an ever-changing world. In our increasingly interconnected world, it is vital for students to develop a deep understanding of different cultures and perspectives. The collaboration between Juilliard and NAE schools, including NAIS Pudong, can facilitate cultural exchange and appreciation through the arts. Students exposed to diverse forms of artistic expression from around the world are more likely to develop empathy and a sense of global citizenship. This not only enriches their personal lives but also equips them with the skills and attitudes needed to thrive in a globalised society.

Access to world-class resources is a key benefit of collaboration between Juilliard and NAE. Juilliard's extensive library of music, dance, and drama resources on their creative classroom website, as well as its network of renowned artists and educators, can provide NAIS Pudong students with unparalleled opportunities for learning and growth.

On top of that, through Global Campus performing arts activities workshops, masterclasses, and performances by Juilliard artists, our students can gain insights and inspiration that extend far beyond the classroom. This exposure to excellence can ignite a lifelong passion for the arts and open doors to future educational and career opportunities.

Such opportunities within our campus include through the performing arts elements of the curriculum itself, but also in our school productions, choirs, orchestra, private music lessons, after school activities and much, much more.  We create these opportunities with our Performing Arts Centre, our music classrooms, 1-on-1 tuition rooms, dance studio and other spaces around school, ensuring that students have both high quality instruction and excellent teaching & learning spaces to function within.

Beyond academic achievement, education should aim to foster personal development and well-being. The arts have long been recognised as a means of promoting mental and emotional health. Engaging in creative activities like music, dance, and drama can reduce stress, boost self-esteem, and enhance overall well-being.

By integrating the performing arts into the curriculum, NAIS Pudong can provide students with a holistic education that addresses not only their intellectual needs but also their emotional and psychological ones. This approach to education aligns with the growing recognition of the importance of mental health in academic success and overall life satisfaction, something we work on incredibly carefully in school with our structured well-being provision.

The collaboration between The Juilliard School and NAIS Pudong represents a powerful alliance between excellence in the performing arts and a commitment to providing high-quality international education. The potential to reshape the educational landscape by enhancing academic excellence, nurturing creativity and innovation, encouraging cultural understanding, providing access to world-class resources, and fostering personal development and well-being.

As we prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, it is imperative that we provide them with a well-rounded education that equips them with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to thrive in an ever-changing world. Our work with Juilliard offers a compelling vision for the future of education, one that places the arts at the centre of the educational experience and empowers students to reach their full potential as scholars, artists, and global citizens. It is a partnership worth advocating for, as it holds the promise of transforming the lives of students and enriching the broader education community.