Montreal, January 1, 2008 - The Segal Centre for Performing Arts at The Saidye is proud to announce the launch of its Academy of Performing Arts. Beginning February 4th, courses are being offered to the public at large in Theatre Performance, Theatre Production, Music Education, Circus Arts and Video Production. In its inaugural Winter 08 semester, most of the Academy’s bilingual courses will cater to teens, with others for children. There are also courses which are geared towards adults and parents with their young children. Courses will take place in newly renovated classrooms featuring state of the art equipment and instruments.

“The Academy is one of the pillars of the Segal Centre,” said Bryna Wasserman, the Centre’s Artistic Director and head of the Academy’s Theatre Performance department. “Its mission is not only to produce the next generation of performing artists but to nurture future patrons of the arts as well.”

Joining Wasserman as departmental directors are George Doxas (Music), Norbert Muncs (Theatre Production), Yves Neveu (Circus Arts) and Harlie Dover (MediaWorkshop). “The breadth of knowledge and experience that my colleagues posses is truly inspirational,” Wasserman continued. “They have reached into their considerable networks, handpicking outstanding instructors and award winning professionals who are each just as excited about the Academy’s launch as we are.”

A total of twenty courses will be offered in the Academy’s Winter ’08 session ranging from circus arts for parents and children to lunch and learn music appreciation for adults; from teen oriented classes in guitar, bass guitar, saxophone, drums, vocal ensemble and video production to theatre performance workshops aimed at teens and tots. A complete brochure is available online at www.segalcentre.org.

Underlining Wasserman’s emphasis on promoting arts to the next generation was Leanor Segal, Vice-President of the Centre’s board. “With the Academy we intend to reach out to young people by offering them both educational support and an outlet for their creativity. They are our future and it is for us to provide them a solid foundation to build upon.”

For more information, please contact:
Kasia Leskiewicz, Academy Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator
KLeskiewicz@segalcentre.org
(514) 739-2301