EDUCATION: Corelli Academic School of the Arts
Corelli School
Young arts students stage Glee-style flash mob at Britomart
Auckland’s youngest flash mob has set its sights on our biggest city, and it is seeing a brighter future in it for the good cause of children’s arts education.
More than 55 children as young as nine from the Corelli Academic School of the Arts formed and performed hit show Glee’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ in front of a surprised audience last week in Britomart Square. Facing the rush-hour traffic crowds, the students danced, played instruments and sang for the Corelli Foundation, a charity which aims to give all children access to the arts education needed to fulfill their dreams.
The show-stopping number is only one of a series of events the Corelli School will be showcasing within the next year to support the Corelli Foundation. The Foundation is New Zealand’s only charity set up to support children’s arts education in four key areas: dance, music, visual art and drama. Supporting the only school for academic arts education in the country, the Corelli Academic School of the Arts, the Foundation’s focus is to provide the best resources as possible for arts education.
The Corelli School arts principal David Selfe attests to the importance of a new profile for arts education in New Zealand.
“Somehow arts education has managed to slip under the radar for many New Zealanders. Overseas, where many arts institutions flourish, successes like Josh Groban and Johnny Depp have been supporting rising schools through spot performances on location. These overseas celebrities know that a good arts education is vital to the culture of any society. This is a prime chance for New Zealand stars to show the world what we’re made of. We’re doing it with a world-class Rugby World Cup; why would we not do it with our children’s arts education?”.
Public space performing is only one step towards the success the Corelli School knows its students will achieve. Having already helped stars such as Hayley Westenra (who recorded her first album at the Corelli School), Corelli has served as a springboard for a generation of past students who have gone on to achieve success overseas in several artistic fields.
The Corelli flash mob provides a different angle on New Zealand’s culture, following the appearance of a crowd-pleasing haka flash mob during Rugby World Cup opening weekend.
“We want visitors to our city to enjoy their rugby, but also to see that there’s more to Auckland and New Zealand,” Corelli School Principal David Selfe reiterates. “And what a lot more to see there is”.
Visit: www.corelli.school.nz. – Article by Danielle Whitburn.
Education: Kristin School
