Aboriginal students wishing to enter other Academy courses must meet the appropriate entry criteria, however Aboriginal entry is a priority and the Academy can offer extraordinary entry to applicants who can demonstrate outstanding artistic potential but fail to meet prior education requirements. The students undertake training in traditional Aboriginal dance styles, Western contemporary styles and tap. The acting program includes voice and stage movement classes, improvisation and acting classes and text studies. The music component includes singing and basic music theory and practice skills. The performance program includes a self devised Cabaret Show, scene work using extant Aboriginal and non Aboriginal drama and a major graduation musical.
Students also gain audition skills.
To ensure the cultural appropriateness of the course the students study traditional Aboriginal arts with tribal elders. Graduates and Employment Graduates from all Academy courses are well received by the Arts and Entertainment Industry, opportunities for Aboriginal arts practitioners in Australia are excellent with the rapid development of Aboriginal Arts companies and organizations the growth in tourism and the international interest in Aboriginal Arts and Culture. The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts is grateful to Epic Energy as the principal sponsor for this programme. The Academy is indebted to a wide variety of sessional staff who also contribute their skills, energy and experience to this programme.