Centauri Arts Academy Blog
Join us for NEW after-school arts classes starting January 2022!
As we move out of the pandemic, most of our programs are now in-person at the Centauri Arts Academy, including FILM CLASSES, CREATIVE WRITING CLASSES, ACTING CLASSES & FINE ART CLASSES for children and teens. We’re also offering ONLINE CREATIVE WRITING CLASSES and ONLINE DIGITAL ART CLASSES for teenagers. Why join our after school and weekend arts classes for children and teens? We have an experienced faculty of instructors, many of whom have taught with [...]
How do you Plan a Novel?
So you love creative writing and you have an idea for a novel – but where do you begin? Here Are Some Tips to Get You started! 1. Map out your story. Begin by doing this in a general way. What is the ‘status quo’ for your characters before the story begins? What is the climactic event of the story? How is the character changed by the end of the novel? 2. Identify key elements [...]
12 Best Novels ALL High School Students Should Read
With so much content clamouring for attention, novels often get less class time than they deserve. When students read widely, they think more deeply, and their writing naturally improves. Here’s a list of twelve novels all high school students should read – either because they are enduring classics which have impacted our world, or because they speak to issues vital to our contemporary world. All these novels offer a gripping read, and themes of relevance [...]
English Enrichment at the Centauri Arts Academy, Toronto.
Why English Matters When we began our small-group English tutoring program in September 2020, we were surprised at the needs of the students who joined us. Some were struggling in school and hoped to improve their grades – that we had expected. But many students joined for other reasons. Some loved language, and felt their English class in school did not adequately meet their needs. Others wanted the opportunity to explore more literature, or to [...]
What Happens in a Creative Writing Class?
This fall, in addition to our regular virtual and in-person creative writing classes, Centauri Arts will be adding two new courses: a Junior Creative Writing class for ages 9-14, and a Short Fiction course for more experienced writers. But what happens in our creative writing courses? As creative writing classes become more popular among young people, this is a question many parents – and young writers – may have. Read about our Creative Writing Classes [...]
Are you Looking for Acting Classes in Toronto, this Fall?
Centauri Arts is Offering a NEW Acting Class for 9-14s, starting September 2021 If you have a child aged 9-14, you’ll know it can sometimes be difficult to find challenging and inspiring arts programs for that age group. While most of our programs are open to young people 12 and over, starting this fall, we will have a brand new acting class dedicated to children aged 9-14. Our Junior Acting Class in Toronto In these [...]
Five Reasons Why Acting Classes Matter Now, More Than Ever
This fall, we are expanding our Acting Classes at the Centauri Arts Academy, offering a Junior Acting Course for ages 9-14 as well as a Senior Acting Course for ages 13-18. Why the expansion now? COVID has kept us apart for far too long, and acting classes offer young people the opportunity to brush up on those acting skills that may have suffered over the past months – all while having a HUGE amount of [...]
Creative Writing Classes for Younger Children, This Fall!
If you have a child aged 9-14, you’ll know it can sometimes be difficult to find challenging and inspiring arts programs for that age group. While most of our programs are open to young people 12 and over, starting this fall, we will have a brand new creative writing course dedicated to this age group: Creative Writing Class – Saturdays, 10.30am Parents are telling us that younger children are developing an interest in creative writing [...]
Our Fall Arts Programs 2021 Are Open for Registrations
Acting, Film, Creative Writing, Fine Art – We’re Doing It All This Fall! No matter what your arts interests, we have you covered this fall – and as we move with excitement into the future, WE’RE EXPANDING! We’re now offering TWO Acting Classes – one for Junior actors aged 8-14, and the other for Senior Actors aged 13-18. We also have TWO Film programs to choose from on Thursdays, a new Fine Art program, and [...]
Our English Tutoring Program: The First Year
As we approach the end of the academic year, I’m reflecting on the many wonderful students we’ve worked with since last September, and the astonishing number of literary projects we’ve completed together. Creative writing has been a huge part of all our English tutoring programs. Students begin most sessions with a 15-minute free-write, and we teach a wealth of skills through creative writing: short story structure, character development, grammar, language conventions, editing skills and more. [...]
