Founded in 1998, the Canadian College of Performing Arts offers three unique conservatory style post-secondary training programs, where emerging artists receive intensified skill-based alternatives to academically oriented university programs.
Classes are rigorous and offered at the highest professional standards from expert instructors, mentors and guest artists. In addition to classes, workshops and rehearsals, students must complete Professional Development Credits to expand their experience beyond the classroom.
All our programs offer dynamic performance opportunities, professional collaborations, and a higher number of program hours compared to our competitors.
Our two-year conservatory style program is designed to train students in acting, voice and dance. The technical training is complemented by maximized performance opportunities and career management courses, both starting in the first term, with direct links to opportunities in the theatre, recording and film industries.
This career requires the discipline to continually refine your personal craft while simultaneously maintaining accountability to others during a production or project. There is an evolving need for artists to manage their career with flexibility, strategy, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Our students develop a robust work ethic and a diversified skillset that serve will them in all their future endeavours.
Upon completion of this program the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:
Acting, voice and dance placements occur during the first week to provide you with the classes that challenge you alongside students who are at the same level in their development.
Acting
Dance
Voice
Career Management
Creative Mentorship (Year II only)
Performance Opportunities
This program is designed for working professionals or those that have completed a relevant post-secondary program and want a one year intensive program tailored to their experience and needs.
The certificate program offers 31 weeks of intensive training in acting, singing, dance, and career management, customized for each student according to their previous experience and skill level. Applicants to this program require a special application, including references from industry professionals and/or successful completion of a post-secondary qualification in a related field.
The program offers advanced instruction in the performing arts (acting, singing, dancing) and a focus on career development with direct links to opportunities in the theatre, recording and film industries.
Upon completion of this program the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:
Acting, voice and dance placements occur during the first week to provide you with the classes that challenge you alongside students who are at the same level in their development.
Acting
Dance
Voice
Career Management
Creative Mentorship
Performance Opportunities
Long hours of the most challenging, fulfilling, satisfying work on your craft that I’ve ever experienced.
The Applied Performing Arts Diploma is an intensive and malleable program that offers workshops, weekly dance classes, and one-on-one mentorships in tandem with rehearsal and production schedules.
Workshops change year-to-year, and the program directors ensure the high standards of the program are maintained annually.
Administrative / Academic Workshops
Production / Theatre Administration Workshops
Acting Workshops
Dance
Individual Voice Training & Masterclasses
Production Mentorships
Sound Design, Lighting Design, Set Design, Wardrobe Design, Props, Arts Administration, Finance, Marketing, Box Office, Choreography, and Directing
Career Management Workshops
Three Stage Productions (two plays and one musical)
Performance Opportunities
*This program has been approved by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills & Training.
The dance program at CCPA is designed to teach, maintain and further your love of dance. Focus will be placed on correct technique and placement as well as execution of style and choreography. Our faculty places high importance on creating a curated program of study for each individual that will lead to the highest level of success. You will train in the following styles: ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, and Musical Theatre styles. Across all the genres taught, you will not only develop a strong technique, but also stamina and skills to maintain a long and healthy career. The goal is that every student leaves CCPA with a passion and comprehensive knowledge of the world of dance, and ability to apply their dance skills to their artistic practice.
The acting program will prepare you with the fundamental skills and professionalism required to work as a professional actor in theatre, television and film. The core acting curriculum offers training in three key areas: acting, movement, and voice/speech. These core components utilize techniques and practices from a range of contemporary theatrical pedagogies, exercises, and practices. They include: Konstantin Stanislavski, Stanford Meisner, Michael Chekhov, Jerzy Grotowski, Kristin Linklater, Jacques LeCoq, Rudolf Laban, and Anne Bogart/Tina Landau. Courses focus on embodiment of your voice and movement in character and text work, imagination, connection of emotional and physical impulse, responsiveness and action, and ensemble building.
Over two years of intensive training you will learn text analysis, contemporary and classical scene studies, clowning, commedia dell’arte, viewpoints, contact improvisation, voice and speech skills, accents, acting for camera, and audition preparation. Additional classes include devised theatre, stage combat, theatre history, and career management.
CCPA’s music department offers individual singing instruction and vocal coaching for various levels of ability, allowing you to focus on your personal vocal development. Using a wide variety of teaching approaches, the curriculum integrates the study of singing technique with acting skills, and interpretation of musical theatre song in the context of performance.
You will explore a wide variety of repertoire chosen to expand their range of technique and styles from classical, contemporary, jazz, blues, and pop. Along with private instruction, you will also take part in large and small vocal ensembles where you will work with multiple conductors, clinicians and instructors.
Over the two-year diploma program you will study piano, sight singing, and music theory to establish a strong music foundation as well as embark on a thorough overview of the history and origins of musical theatre. Students have the opportunity to study vocal anatomy, practicing tips, vocal care, auditioning strategies, microphone techniques, diction, and improvisation and much more.
The Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA) and Yorkville University (YU) have an exciting agreement between both institutions, opening up academic pathways for aspiring artists. This partnership offers a pathway from CCPA’s diploma to a degree completion at YU, available to both past and future graduates.
For more information, reach out to danielle@ccpacanada.com
Numerous in-house performance sharings throughout the diploma offer you the opportunity to apply techniques and test out new material in a safe performance environment as emerging actors, dancers, and singers.
Public performance activities such as a dedicated Year 2 play project, the Festival of New Works, and the yearly Musical provide opportunities for you to rehearse and study with prominent professional directors, music directors, and choreographers, as well as explore production skills.
In addition to full scale productions, you will have the opportunity to receive one to one guidance on a proposed creative project through a professional mentorship initiative – something which sets CCPA apart from other training programs. These mentorships culminate in the public New Works Festival.
Experiential learning that occurs over two years of training is a strong feature at CCPA, especially if you are seeking a conservatory-style performing arts curriculum. All faculty at CCPA are passionate practitioners and creative artists working in the industry who keep your training practice current with emerging industry trends.
All morning classes cancelled. Production roles will continue as permitted and safe to do so. We will advise on afternoon/evening classes and auditions around noon today.