Do you love the performing arts? Do you want to pursue a career in the production and theatre scene in South Africa? South Africa has several thriving performing arts institutions with esteemed alumni working on Broadway, in touring theatre, local theatre, TV and film.
If you’re looking for a place to study drama, film, dance or music, check out the list below and unleash your creativity. Join the next generation of South African actors and theatre-makers!
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Best Drama Schools in South Africa
Going to drama school enables anyone to explore intellectual, social, physical, emotional and moral domains. Drama teaches self discipline, confidence and team work and develops skills in interpreting, researching, negotiating, problem solving and decision making. Check out our list of best places to study drama in South Africa.Â
The School of Arts’ programme at the University of Pretoria (TUKS) includes acting, voice, movement & physical theatre, directing & theatre-making, applied theatre, radio & TV presenting and writing for stage & film.
In the three-year BDram programme, students encounter modules in screen dance, radio, drama, and other multimedia, augmented and hybrid performance genres. Course fees start at R46 000 per year.
Stellenbosch University offers one programme at an undergraduate level for prospective students, namely BA in Drama and Theatre Studies. This three-year selection programme aims primarily to train well-informed, creative and well-equipped theatre students who can make a meaningful contribution to the theatre industry and related fields.
In the first two years, the programme focuses primarily on drama and theatre in the traditional sense of theatre as an art devoted exclusively to the stage. In the third year, the training also focuses on the performing arts and the entertainment industry in the broader sense.Â
Fees to study a BA in Drama and Theatre Studies at Stellenbosch University start at +-R52 910 per year.
The Helen O’Grady Drama Academy is Africa’s largest drama school. Globally, there are over 100 000 students attending classes each week.
The Helen O’Grady Drama Academy has become the most significant worldwide drama school of its kind. Each academy has a Principal responsible for overall development ensuring that teaching is high quality and that tuition remains reasonable. According to their specific age group, students attend fast-moving classes one hour per week. Parent days and an annual production allow parents and guardians to see the students’ progress first-hand.
Their fees vary according to the length of class and location, so you’ll need to contact their office for a more accurate quote.
Figment School of Dramatic Arts is a privately owned drama studio providing drama classes as an extra-mural activity. Their lessons are small and intimate to ensure individual attention and ultimate development. Anyone from ages 4 to adults are welcome, and no previous experience is required. Classes are available in Afrikaans and English, and they offer different packages to suit individual needs. They also have an option for online courses.
Their focus is to encompass all the skill sets needed for theatre work, public speaking, film, television, radio, social media, and adverts. Packages range from R180 to R1920 per month.
The drama programme at Rhodes University (RU)Â is one of the best institutions for studying theatre and performance in South Africa. The department integrates drama studies, incorporating various disciplines: acting, directing, movement, physical theatre, choreography, applied theatre, theatre design, writing, theatre technology and arts administration.
The Rhodes Drama department is the only South African performing arts school with two affiliated professional theatre companies – the First Physical Theatre Company and UBOM! Eastern Cape Theatre Company.Â
Check out Rhodes University’s Feed Booklet for information about their course fees.
Byron Bure Academy of Theatre Arts is a boutique school in the heart of Cape Town, offering classes to people of all ages and skills. Extra-mural scholar drama and musical theatre classes are provided for different school grades. Giving students opportunities to work with other students from different schools and backgrounds, a necessary skill for the entertainment industry. Internationally recognised individual tutorials are offered in drama, musical theatre and dance genres.Â
Packages and fees can be found on the Byron Bure Academy of Theatre Arts website.
Theatre Arts and Drama Academy (TA-DA!) offer students the opportunity to make their dreams a reality, boosting confidence and self-esteem, giving students a step ahead.
They offer weekly classes specialising in theatre dance, theatre acting, camera acting, radio training, voice acting, confidence enhancement, presenting, miming and public speaking.Â
The full-time Performing Arts Certificate is +-R77,800 per annum.
Best Film Schools in South Africa
Are you looking to become a director, cinematographer, producer or camera operator in South Africa? Check out our list of best places to study film making.
The Centre for Theatre, Dance & Performance Studies (CTDPS) at the University of Cape Town (UCT) focuses on teaching dance and theatre performance. They view performance as a public platform for contemporary ideas.
The programme includes the entire academic major in Theatre and Dance Studies and requires students to take courses in other departments in the Humanities faculty. Their curriculum ranges from the classics to the contemporary, with Africa as the core theme.Â
An initial payment of R32,500 is required for all courses (or the full fee where this is lower than the initial payment), plus if applicable.
Act Cape Town’s dynamic curriculum uses the techniques developed by master coaches in New York and LA. Classes are experiential, providing students with intensive practical training ensuring they are ready to meet the demands of the entertainment industry.
They have small classes which allow for individual attention and create a safe space for discovery and creative expression. Act Cape Town offers a variety of courses from short courses to three-year-long full-time lessons for all ages.
Africa Film Drama Art (AFDA) has fully equipped campuses in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth. AFDA has produced some of the top filmmakers, performers and creative innovators in South Africa and beyond.
The institution has made a significant contribution to developing a sustainable local entertainment industry. AFDA students learn to conceptualise, create and develop indigenous products and commodities for the local and international markets.Â
Course fees for AFDA undergraduate degrees start at R87,270 per year.
The Wits School of Arts offers Digital Arts, Dramatic Art, Film and Television, Fine Arts, Music and Performing Arts.
At Wits you will have access to a wide range of specialised teaching environments including theatres, music venues, sound recording studios, fine arts studios, digital media laboratories, television studios and multimedia libraries.Â
For a full view of Wits’ course fees, please view their Feed Booklet for 2024.
AACA offers training in film making, screen acting, theatre acting, journalism, advertising, graphic design, interactive media and photography. Their practical courses and mentorship prepare students to easily integrate into the film making, acting and creative media industries.
AACA offers part-time and full-time courses. Their fees vary from R5,829 per month, R17,424 per term, R33 264 per semester or 63,360 once off.
The Market Theatre Laboratory trains actors and theatre-makers. Deeply embedded in the ethos of the Laboratory is its commitment to providing opportunities to talented youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who would not otherwise be able to pursue their passion for the arts. Course fees for The Market Theatre Laboratory can be found in their prospectus.
Creative Arts College has four campuses across Kwazulu-Natal. The institution’s courses have a practical focus, giving students hands-on experience with equipment and production simulations. SME’s (Subject Matter Experts) and celebrity guests visit the students to learn and network. Students are also taken out on subject matter excursions to attend exclusive tours and behind the scenes views and information.Â
Contact Creative Arts College to find out more about their courses and fees.
Oakfields College has campuses in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town. Their classes are small, offering individual attention, and the different faculties integrate to simulate real-life experiences in class. They are registered with the Department of Higher Education offering short and full-time courses.Â
Visit the Oakfields College website to learn more about their courses and inquire about their fees.
Best Dance Schools in South Africa
Do you enjoy dancing and would like to take it a step further? Dancing explores body awareness, cultural dance history, dance techniques and choreography. Â Check out our list of best places to study dance in South Africa.
The Johannesburg Academy for Theatre Arts offers quality tuition for children, teens and young people in all aspects of the performing arts. JATA presents group classes in diverse dance forms, individualised acting,singing coaching and Musical Theatre Holiday Clubs!Â
All JATA instructors are accredited teachers and industry professionals with relevant knowledge and experience in their area of expertise. JATA’s services contain three areas of focus: Early Stage, Centre Stage and Main Stage.
A breakdown of of the college’s fees can be found below:
- JATA Dance: R560 to R4,100
- Drama & Voice: R600 to R6,000
- East Rand: R600 to R6,000
Gauteng Dance Studio has over 20 years of experience in giving dance classes to children from the ages of 3 to 18 years. With 5 studios based in and around Gauteng and Centurion, they offer beginner, intermediate and advanced level classes into a year-round program which include exams, festivals and local and international competitions that students participate in.
Visit the Gauteng Dance Studio website for more information about their courses and fees.
Kryptonite Dance Academy is a dance institution aimed at educating, grooming and exposing the youth to all available opportunities within the local and international creative industry through dance and music. They offer a variety of classes ranging from beginners class to competitive training classes!Â
Fees at Kryptonite Dance Academy vary from R650 per month to R1,450 per month.
Table View Dance Academy is a dance studio which offers classical ballet classes for all ages. Class work is based on the Royal Academy of Dance examination curriculum, forming the foundation for developing performance, creativity and artistry in dance. Table View Dance Academy is a learner-centred dance studio which uses international contemporary teaching methods.
For pricing and more information on classes, you can contact Table View Dance Academy.Â
The John Murray Dance Studio specialises in Ballroom and Latin American dancing. Situated in Somerset West, Cape Town, they offer to travel to you upon special request for dance workshops, team building and school educational programmes. They offer private lessons, group classes, short courses, dance workshops, choreography preparation for special dance occasions and many more!
Fees vary from R299 per hour to R1999 per course.
The Art of Movement is a dance and yoga studio in Emmarentia, Johannesburg established in 2012. They boast a busy timetable of dancing and yoga for both children and adults. Their dance classes include ballet, modern, contemporary, hip hop, tap and salsa for children and adults. They follow the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing syllabus and partake in competition, exam and show work offering classes for adults and children from the age of 4.
Fees vary from R440 for 4 classes in 1 month, to R2,900 per term for children.
Many people tend to think that you should only study music if you seem to have an innate gift for it, but the truth is, anyone and everyone can study music. In fact, studying music, regardless of your musical skill level, has a number of mental and psychological benefits to offer.
Everyone loves music – let’s face it. Whatever the preference of genre is, we all listen to music! But what if you wanted to study the art of music? Check out our list of best places to study music in South Africa.
The South African College of Music (SACM) is a department of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Cape Town (UCT). It is located on the University’s Lower Campus in Rondebosch, Cape Town and and is considered to be the leading music school in South Africa. It offers a diverse range of degrees and diplomas in disciplines including African Music, Composition, Jazz, Opera, Western Classical Music and World Music.
An initial payment of R32,500 is required for all courses (or the full fee where this is lower than the initial payment), plus if applicable.
COPA is a contemporary music college that offers courses in Music Performance, Music Production, Music Business and Performing Arts. Each campus boasts fit-for-purpose facilities with a recording studio, a technology centre, a performance venue and facilities to practice for its students.Â
Fees vary from R79,995 to R82,495 per year for full time.
Wits Music offers an integrated Bachelor of Music (BMus) degree at the undergraduate level, providing students with rigorous training in the disciplines of the music profession, and an opportunity to experience and learn from multiple traditions of music.
Fees at Wits Music are between R42,000 and R48,000, depending on your choice of degree and subjects.
Shine School of Music in Johannesburg is a specialised music school offering courses in various instruments as well as singing, music theory and music history. Whether you are a beginner with no previous music experience, a seasoned musician looking for new musical horizons, or just someone just looking to pick up a few new chords, there is a place for you at the school.Â
Fees start at R1,640 for 2 hour lessons per month.
Cape Audio College has always been at the cutting edge of the South African music industry. They offer part-time online courses from the introduction to the music industry, introduction to sound engineering and modern music production. Their Modern Music Production course is a 12-week part-time, practical course aimed at teaching the fundamentals of digital music production, programming, business, and publishing.Â
Fees at Cape Audio College range from R80,350 to R93,015.20 pending on your programme of study and payment plan.
Study the Performing Arts
Each field of performing arts engages a student’s brain, body and emotions in different ways to encourage their confidence and find joy in self-expression. They build upon their social, emotional, physical and even academic skills resulting in enhanced cognitive, motor and social skills. The performing arts encourage anyone who wants to explore their emotions, expand their imagination and help them develop their own, unique voice.
Turn performance from a passion into a profession with any of these courses. If you need assistance with funding, check out our funding options!Â
