CAPA College’s virtual alumni event reunites Performing Arts stars from across the UK
On Friday 29th May, CAPA College (Creative and Performing Arts College) launch their first alumni event to reunite their graduates living nationwide with the Wakefield based College. As Wakefield’s first DfE-funded Free School, CAPA College provides specialist education and training in various aspects of media and the theatrical arts for students aged 16–19. Students receive professional Arts training alongside rigorous academic study. But while the studios of the College’s multi-site campus are usually alive with a sea of leotards and ballet shoes, recently it has been a different story.
Like schools, colleges and universities up and down the country, CAPA College closed its doors on Friday 20th March. The College successfully faced lockdown head on, now offering a full remote learning timetable with live streamed classes, active participation dance, drama and singing workshops, collaborative digital projects and face to face tutorials for ongoing pastoral support. Covering everything from ensemble singing and devising to ballet, Fosse and jazz, these interactive lessons ensure students can continue with their artistic studies in these uncertain times.
The success of College’s online campus caught the attention of their alumni. CAPA College graduates took to social media to express their enthusiasm to join in with the classes that they missed so dearly. One past student said:
“Would love a good insanity workout right about now!! Miss CAPA College so much!”
CAPA College alumni have gone on to study at the best Arts universities and conservatoires in the UK. Their graduates’ impressive careers have led them to star on the West End stage, appear in Hollywood movies and become the next generation of directors, designers and technicians. Most recently alumni have stared in Saturday Night Fever UK & International Tour, along with West End shows Waitress and City of Angels. These alumni located across the UK will now be reunited as the Wakefield based College that kickstarted their success has planned a virtual alumni reunion, allowing CAPA College graduates a chance to take a step back in time from the comfort of their own homes.
Claire Nicholson, Principal of CAPA College says: “We are so proud of the impressive careers that our graduates have gone on to achieve and we’re excited that our virtual event will reunite us with all of our talented past students. We’re so pleased that our alumni look back so fondly on their time at CAPA College – it shows we’re giving them the best start.”
The online event will be so much more than your standard meet & greet reunion as CAPA College have timetabled a jam-packed ‘step back in time’ programme for their graduates. Along with catching up with staff members and other graduates, alumni will have the opportunity to participate in their favourite classes from their time at CAPA College. From commercial dance classes to physical CORE and jazz workshops, they will re-live some great memories and put their stamina to the test.
CAPA College plan for this to be the first of many alumni events as they open their new state-of-the-art facilities next year. CAPA College’s permanent home on Mulberry Way (opposite Wakefield Westgate train station) will house dance, drama and singing studios as well as industry-standard production facilities and media suites, a 150-seat theatre, a public café and an amphitheatre. As the ‘Gateway to Wakefield’ this facility will not only be open to current CAPA College students, but graduates and the wider community alike.
See the highlights from the virtual event:
