PPAS: Professional Performing Arts School

Professional Performing Arts School accepts students who want to pursue professional careers in the arts upon earning a junior/senior high school diploma. The performing arts school is also offering programs to students who want to study the arts as an avocation. The school offers programs to two types of students. It continues to have academic classes wherein students take those classes in the morning. The performing arts instruction occurs in the afternoon at professional studios.

Professional Performing Arts School or PPAS is situated in Manhattan specifically at 48th Street. It is operated by the New York City Department of Education and is approximately 17 blocks away from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Arts and Performing Arts.

Students of Professional Performing Arts School can receive the diploma endorsed by the New York State Regents upon completing the course of study. The school provides programs in performing arts to students using a multi-cultural, interdisciplinary inquiry-based learning approach. The institution offers programs that can help prepare the students for a professional career in the arts and/or for college. It also provides a professional environment for students in middle school and high school.

Professional Performing Arts Schools has made partnerships with different institutions which include The Ailey School, The Actors Institute, Songs of Solomon Academy for the Arts and School of American Ballet.

School of American Ballet is an institution founded by Lincoln Kirstein and George Balanchine. It offers classical ballet training. In addition to that, the school has classes in pointe, adagio, ballroom, Pilates instruction, music education and physical therapy education. Students of SAB can have the chance to be part of the leading ballet companies in the USA such as the New York City Ballet.

Songs of Solomon Academy for the Arts has curricula in Vocal and Instrumental Music.

The Actors Institute offers performing arts programs which include musical theatre, vocal music and drama.

The Ailey School offers diverse and comprehensive dance programs which include ballet, jazz, West African dance and the Horton technique. Graduates of The Ailey School as well as PPAS have danced with several renowned dance companies such as Philadanco, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Compania Nacional de Danza and Stephen Petronio Company. Graduates of the two schools as attend colleges and dance conservatories such as North Carolina School of the Arts, Juilliard School and Cal Arts.

Professional Performing Arts School seniors can continue their study in various universities across the United States. Colleges and universities where seniors of PPAS can pursue their college education include Harvard, Georgetown, UCLA, Columbia University, New York University, and Boston College.

Created in 1990, Professional Performing Arts School admits students through audition. PPAS' website can contain further information about the institution and their application requirements.