Gold Medal Training

Gold Medal Training

Howick is home to East Auckland Performing Arts (EAPA), a small tertiary Private Training Establishment that is punching well above its weight in the dance world on several levels.

During the prestigious Genée International Ballet Competition held in Wellington in December 2012, former EAPA student Aurelian Child-de-Brocas was awarded a Gold Medal.

Often described as the “Olympics of Dance”, the competition can open doors for successful contestants in many parts of the world. Child-de-Brocas, who is currently training in Sydney at the Alegria Dance Studio will undoubtedly enjoy an international career as a dancer in the future.

EAPA has often attracted world-class tutors to teach on its courses - including currently, the former Senior Principal dancer of London’s Royal Ballet Company, Carl Myers - who danced with Rudolph Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn. EAPA Director, Elizabeth Harvey herself enjoyed a twenty-year international career as a dancer, performing in London, Paris, Las Vegas and many other cities.

EAPA is now the only tertiary establishment in New Zealand to be offering formal training for teachers of dance, since AUT closed their Dance Teacher Training programme last year. Students can gain their Associate Examination in the ISTD syllabus through training at the school. “This qualification is recognised all over the world” say Ms Harvey.

The school which starts its rigorous training schedule in February is still auditioning prospective students for the coming year. There will be two courses on offer in 2013 – the Diploma in Dance and Theatre Arts (Level 5) and the Diploma in Teaching of Dance (Level 6). Both courses are NZQA approved and students have access to student loans and allowances through Studylink.
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