There’s more to Alexandra than what meets the eye. The township is filled with hidden jewels waiting to be discovered.
One such jewel is situated in the heart of Alex at the Alexsan Resource Centre – the Alex Arts Academy (AAA). Its mission is to be the leading performing arts training institution that produces practitioners who will make and change the face of the creative arts industry.
AAA was founded in 2018 by Mpho Molepo, who was born and bred in Alexandra. He is also popularly known for his role on the TV series ‘Generations: The Legacy’.
The establishment of AAA is built on Molepo’s drive to plough back into the community and afford the youth with the same opportunities. AAA is also concerned with creating a centre of excellence, while bridging the gap between formal and informal creative training programmes.
AAA managing director Moses Rasekele said access to performing arts in communities such as Alex is far and few. “Townships like Alex hold more talent than we may ever know. So given the opportunity to work in this township exposes such talents.”
Rasekele said that the AAA is a home and safe place for the Alex community. It has become well-known for keeping young children and the youth occupied and out of trouble.
“The academy is not only a learning institution for its students, it is a place where residents are invited to come and experience what art is about through our performances.”
Rasekele said AAA offers a fulltime and part-time programme. In both programmes, performing arts is offered, which includes dance, acting, music, technical production and arts management. These are further divided into five modules that need to be completed as part of the programme.
”We train our students to compete and feel comfortable enough to audition for any castings they know of, they must not feel disadvantaged because they come from Alex.”
Rasekele said that the AAA’s part-time programme consists of 200 learners, divided into five to 15-year-olds and 16 to 35-year-olds. These students attend the academy on Saturdays between 8am to 5pm. The fulltime programme consists of a more rigorous audition process, with an intake of only 25 students a year.
“We also take students on excursions to the Market Theatre, Soweto Theatre and universities. This allows students to identify the theories and methodologies they are learning in class through these experiences. We also do workshops from people outside the school. We invite other people who are established in the arts to give workshops so that our students are exposed to other voices,” said Rasekele.
AAA does not operate without its challenges, funding and resources being just two of such challenges.
Rasekele said that in 2021 they have had to turn away students who are interested in their programme due to a lack of available resources. “Many students hear about the programmes and the different experiences we offer. If we can change a life through the arts than we succeed.”
Registrations will open in 2022. In terms of funding, the AAA works on project-based funding, which is allocated to specific projects. This is not sustainable as project funding runs over a certain period and can only be used on the given project.
However, Rasekeledi said: “No matter the challenges that may come and go, the AAA sets out to work with the holistic human being to prepare them for any career, not only in the arts and creative space. Our programme will prepare students to be innovative, creative, confident and willing in any career field.”
Written by Sascha-Lee Joseph
14/10/2021