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The Performer's Academy:

The Performer's Academy is a unique and exciting facility that specializes in the arts - namely musical theatre, dance, voice, acting, and self-image programs for toddlers through adults and is located in Laguna Hills, California.

Owner and Director, Natalie Costa's vision was to create a place where actors, dancers, and singers can come together, in a safe-fun environment, work on their craft, have access to agents and gain industry knowledge. She wanted to create an affordable program that allowed everyone an opportunity to participate.

This dream was fueled by her 11-year old daughter's desire to do TV commercials and model. After spending far too much money on useless portfolio pictures and bad managers, she dove in by taking jobs at a franchised modeling and acting school, learned the business from the bottom up and when the opportunity presented itself, created The Performer's Academy.

The premise was simple, to give everyone the opportunity to sing, dance, and act in a facility built by members who are passionate and excited about this business. In addition to providing the hottest dance teachers, innovative programs like Binky and Baby ballet, and working actors and film directors to teach workshops, the Academy also has a long standing reputation with agents from SAG and ATA agencies who enjoy coming to the facility on the weekends to take a look at our students. This creates a unique opportunity to the students to audition before real agents and for the agents to hopefully find new talent to represent. These meetings occur every week and are free to Academy students.

The Performer's Academy is a training facility neither a management company nor an agency. Therefore, the academy does not charge or earn any money from any work you may do in the industry. The Performer Academy makes no promises or guarantees that you will be successful. Natalie Costa is passionate about The Academy's role, "It is our commitment to give our students the tools to prepare them by offering excellent training in the Performing Arts and also facilitating their access to agents. We also have information parents meetings where parents come and children to learn first hand about the entertainment industry as it pertains to children from people in the industry."

The Best Training by Engaging Industry Professionals

Let's Talk Dance:
The dance program is probably the most affordable program in Orange County. Baby & Binky ballet classes are $3.50 per class. Children come in tights and leotards (baby ballet slippers or skid-proof socks) and dance. This is without a doubt the most adorable class you've ever seen. The children love it! They twirl ribbon wands - learn right foot from left, and parents are encouraged to bring their cameras!

HIP HOP:
The Performer's Academy has the hottest teaching staff around. The newest edition to the staff is most amazing hip-hop teacher who goes by the name, Gibson, drives down to OC from LA to teach there. Once you've seen his moves, his teaching style and the love in his heart for teaching - you are hooked. He breaks down the most complicated of moves so that everyone gets it…..you don't have to be a pop-star background dancer to enjoy what he has to offer. He's a working actor and dancer and UCLA student. Classes are $6.50 per hour for all adult classes.

Amy Short, is another phenomenal teacher who's energy and fresh moves make her very much in demand. Brenda Rodriguez is a Disney performer and wonderful teacher. She tours regularly as the Barbie National Tour Director and appears weekly at Disneyland in a varied of roles. She also teaches at SOSHA.

ACTING:
The Performers Academy specializes in two theories of acting, Stanislavsky and Meisner. The teaching staff is comprised of working actors and film directors. Our workshops teaching pee-wee's through adults and are held six days per week.

Jeff Celentano, the newest addition to the Academy staff, is an award winning film director with a long list of credits, which including, Gunshy, with Diane Lane, and William Peterson from CSI, and Under the Hula Moon with Billy Baldwin and Emily Lloyd.

His well-know and respected actor and director and we are very excited about his involvement with The Performer's Academy. He has many exciting projects that he will create with the students from the facility.

MUSICAL THEATRE:
This program is growing daily says Costa, "Under the Direction of Jody Pollen, we are about to embark on a wonderfully funny new play called, "I love the Knightlife", Casting for this play will start in a few weeks. Jody is a highly respected drama teacher and singer and a wonderful asset to our staff."

Orange County parents are discovering that their children's skills, confidence and enthusiasm for the Performing Arts are nurtured and showcased at the Performer's Academy which as it's name implies is developing confident and skilled performers who will no doubt be seen in many exciting roles throughout their lives.