Best School for the Performing Arts and Broader Arts Programmes Nomination 2021:
Taaleem’s Al Raha International School
Web site: here.
Our review: here.
Contact information: here
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +971 (0) 2 556 1567
Our rating: 
Background
At Raha International School, a member of the Taaleem family of schools, they believe that a successful education is all about inspired, imaginative teaching, centred on the learner as an individual. They nurture students not only to achieve academic success but also to become true global citizens.
The existing Raha International – Gardens Campus is currently the only school in Abu Dhabi to offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programs for students aged from 4 – 18 years.
One element of Al Raha’s comprehensive mission statement is ‘perform’: to introduce the concept of performance in the early grades so that its becomes part of each child’s creative being and to use performance as a tool to showcase the arts as a flagship part of the school’s identity in order to become globally recognised for excellence.
“The Arts are not just a critical element of the IB but an essential part of all children’s education. The skills learnt in the Arts are incredibly important in development, building confidence and furthering life skills. There is no better time to see a school come alive than when children are showcasing the visual or performing arts.”
Iain College – Executive Principle of Raha International School
“Our mission at Raha performing Arts is to ensure that every student has an opportunity to perform on stage in a main stage production, or to participate in a musical ensemble. We believe that coting connects students and communities like the Performing Arts, and the collaboration and creativity born out of groups of students working towards a common artistic goal is what will bring about positive change to our worlds. We are so proud to offer this opportunity to every student, regardless of his or her current skill level. Every student has the right to step on stage and take a risk.”
Mark Ryan – PYP Head of Specialists
Fee Range
AED 39,000 to AED 61,900
Prospectus:
Prospectus_2020_Issuu_2
Key Features
| Music
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Performing Arts | Art | |
| Specialisms | Raha Performing Arts is Abu Dhabi’s only full IB school which develops student’s creativity, musical skill and knowledge, and ability to respond to music. Raha has a well-developed choral music program, starting in the Early Years (sing and play), Primary (Raha Primary chorus, 80 students) through to the senior choir (The Raha Singers, 60+ mixed singers). Individual instruction is also available to students through Amadeus Music and T Rock ‘n Roll, in piano, violin, guitar, electric guitar, bass, keyboard and drums.
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Theatre at Raha Performing Arts focuses on developing students as creators, collaborators, and critics. In the diploma program, students explore varied theatrical approaches such as realism, absurdism and epic theatre. In performance season, students have the opportunity to perform in a drama or a musical in senior (alternating years) and our primary and early years students have the opportunity to perform in a musical every year. Senior students can take part in the senior director’s festival, and be in a short play directed by their peers which could go to the Short and Sweet Festival, Abu Dhabi or Dubai.
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Raha is Abu Dhabi’s only full IB school, which develops student’s creativity, artistic skill and knowledge, and ability to respond to art. The school is outfitted with full ability for painting, sculpture and ceramics.
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| Recent Achievement | Raha Singers – opening act for Pride of Abu Dhabi Awards, Emirates Palace, 2019
Raha Singers – performance at Global IB Conference, Abu Dhabi, 2019 Raha Singers – top six finalists in Choirfest Middle East 3 years in a row, Dubai Opera Raha Primary Chorus – National Anthem with NSO Symphony Orchestra to an audience of 10,000+ for World Skills Abu Dhabi, 2017 Once On This Island – full senior musical with student pit band, 2018
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Established a full season of plays and musicals for all ages throughout the school
Established the DP director’s festival, where senior students direct younger students in short plays that could proceed to outside festivals Established the Emirati Acting Ensemble, a small group of local students who create plays based on local folklore that performs on National Day and will perform at the Dubai Expo 2021, Most recent senior musical “Once On This Island” performed to large crowds at the school and also at the Louvre Museum (2019).
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Raha’s students have been accepted to very prestigious art schools such as Parson’s New York, St. Martin’s London, ESMOD, and University of Seoul, Korea.
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| Stand out features | Singing ensembles are in demand for performances across the city and in the country.
The school has large non-auditioned ensembles for all, regardless of skill level Also has smaller auditioned ensembles (Raha Contemporary Choir) that demand a high standard All students receive music classes from EY1 (age 4), to grade 8. Early Years and Primary classes utilize the Feierabend method, focusing on developing students into musical beings
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Our large main stage plays and musicals are inclusive – any student who want to participate, can.
We also have smaller productions that may be auditioned and demand a higher standard. Plays and musicals are regularly praised by outside voices for high quality. We maintain and value partnerships with outside organizations such as NYU Abu Dhabi, the Junction Theatre Dubai, and the Louvre Museum. We have a very motivated and independent student tech team who takes care of all the stage management and backstage work.
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Students in the Diploma program consistently achieve very high results with the IB Diploma.
Student work of all ages is displayed throughout the school and regularly curated. Students receive instruction in visual arts starting at age 4 through to grade 8. After that point, they can choose to continue (in either visual arts or media arts) all the way through to diploma (where they can choose visual arts or film.)
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| Facilities/
Infrastructure |
2 large senior music classrooms, 2 large primary music classrooms, 1 Early Years Music classroom
5 individual practice rooms with upright pianos 1 grand piano and 1 baby grand piano Performances take place in the Raha Theatre, our 600 seat large performance venue Complete set of band instruments including woodwind, percussion and brass.
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The Raha Performing Arts Centre features 2 drama studios, a Black Box Theatre with lighting and sound, and our 600-seat proscenium Raha Theatre, with a full-time technician.
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3 large visual arts classrooms in senior including a kiln,
2 large visual arts classrooms in primary, 1 visual arts classroom in early years.
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| Scholarship | |||
| Capital Investment | In 2015, construction was completed on the Raha Arts Centre, which includes our senior music, drama and art classrooms, music practice rooms, the Black Box Theatre, and of course, the crown jewel, the Raha Theatre – our 600 seat venue. Next year, work will be completed on the new Khalifa Campus; this will include a larger Black Box Theatre and several new music, drama, and art classrooms.
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In 2015, construction was completed on the Raha Arts Centre, this includes a senior music, drama and art classrooms, music practice rooms, the Black Box Theatre, and of course, the crown jewel, the Raha Theatre – our 600 seat venue. Next year, work will be completed on the new Khalifa Campus, which will include a larger Black Box Theatre and several new music, drama, and art classrooms.
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In 2015, construction was completed on the Raha Arts Centre, including senior music, drama and art classrooms, music practice rooms, the Black Box Theatre, and of course, the crown jewel, the Raha Theatre – our 600 seat venue. Next year, work will be completed on the new Khalifa Campus this will include a larger Black Box Theatre and several new music, drama, and art classrooms.
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External Examination Partnerships:
Turning Point dance
Amadeus Music
T-Rock ‘n Roll
What the Students say about Music
“Being one of the major contributors to our school’s performance programmes has been one the most amazing opportunities and experiences I have had in my life. It has helped me understand how I am able to be part of such an amazing community. The Performing Arts will always be a place for me to feel included, a place where I can express my artistic self, and a place where I can enjoy life to the fullest.”
Syahmi
What The Parents Say About Music
“The performing arts department at Raha International is world class with fantastic, modern facilities. There have been some excellent and technically challenging productions.
It has all been made possible by substantial investment in the new arts centre and excellent, highly motivated music and drama teachers. “
Paul Rostron
“The school excels in performing and I was thrilled when they incorporated Emirati cultural elements into their plays, showing a great appreciation of our culture.My kids also enjoyed it. They had fun cooperating with their classmates.”
Dr Yousef Alhammadi
What the Students say about Performing Arts
The Performing and Visual Arts programs have really enhanced my own potential and made my experience really fun at Raha International. When I first joined the school, I remember being really excited for ‘Scoundrels and Scallywags’, a production run by the school. At the time, I enjoyed acting but never really pursued it, as none of my previous schools had done any productions (let alone any other types of programs). So once I joined, it was a completely new experience for me, one that I enjoyed and allowed me to be with other amazing students and teachers. One that allowed me to have fun while acting and made me pursue other interests and talents that the Performing and Visual Arts Programs. A year later, when I was in 8th Grade, I had once again joined the production that was happening for the year. Again, it was a great and fun experience. One that really enhanced my acting skills as well as the memories that I had in the school.”
Nathan Charles. Grade 8.
What the parents say about Performing Arts
“The Performing and Visual Arts Program at Raha International School is one of the best I have found, with a world class faculty body, supporting, motivating and encouraging all students. They spend all the necessary time for the students to excel and enjoy the lessons and the activities. This is perfectly aligned with excellent facilities designed and dedicated to match this love for music and theatre.
My sons have been part of the theatre, musical plays and choir, where they have had brilliant opportunities of performing in the Emirates Palace and Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi as well as in the Dubai Opera House, literally the most prestigious venues in the UAE. Additionally, their plays have been praised by prestigious personalities as the NYUAD Arts Centre Director and the experience of the children being selected to compete as finalists in Middle East ChoirFest in two consecutive years has been a life changing one.
I love Raha International School’s academic excellence and acknowledge it as the best in the country but what I appreciate the most is the seriousness and professionalism of the performing arts you find there.”
Alexis Paez
“Both of my sons enjoyed performing in more than one of the productions Raha’s performing Arts have brought to the stage over the last 3 years. We noticed increased confidence levels, their creativity levels and imagination soared, they stepped up to take risks on stage by trying and doing things in front of an audience they grew in perseverance and most of all developed a love of Performing Arts.”
Ronel Kurten
“The Visual Arts program at Raha provided me the opportunity to grow and developed my appreciation for the finer things in life. I have always been interested in taking art but have never had the chance to properly do so until I joined Raha. My teacher, Ms. Daniela exposed me to a variety of skills, techniques, and media, many of which I never knew existed. Methods that seemed bizarre produced surprisingly stunning results; every lesson left me amazed. What made my experience so memorable was that our class was a family. The personal connections we all made brought learning far beyond the classroom. The hands-on one-on-one teaching I was given greatly motivated me to do my best. At the end of the week, it was always that last period art class where schoolwork felt like recreation, not to say that it was a walk in the park.”
What the Students say about Art and Photography
“The Visual Arts program at Raha provided me the opportunity to grow and developed my appreciation for the finer things in life. I have always been interested in taking art but have never had the chance to properly do so until I joined Raha. My teacher, Ms. Daniela exposed me to a variety of skills, techniques, and media, many of which I never knew existed. Methods that seemed bizarre produced surprisingly stunning results; every lesson left me amazed. What made my experience so memorable was that our class was a family. The personal connections we all made brought learning far beyond the classroom. The hands-on one-on-one teaching I was given greatly motivated me to do my best. At the end of the week, it was always that last period art class where schoolwork felt like recreation, not to say that it was a walk in the park.”
David Raagas
“I have been a part of the Raha arts and choir programmes since I arrived at the school at the ripe old age of 9. Strangely, my passion for the visual arts began early when I decided to draw a monster, but participating and engaging in the visual arts classes allowed me to translate my passion for art into skills and encourage me to push my boundaries and experiment with mediums I wouldn’t dare touch in previous years. Of course this would not be so exciting without such passionate and encouraging teacher who are here to help us grow as an artist, in both your technical skills and analytical essay writing skills, which is something beautifully unique about Raha.”
Matilda
What the Parents say about Art and Photography
“I found the Visual Arts Program in Raha valuable to my son David as it opened a whole new understanding of the Arts for him. It provided him a venue to learn and apply his understanding in a guided and motivated environment.“
Anne Raagas
“Hands down the best school art department I have seen between me and my husband, our children and I, we have lived and studied in many different countries. Many loving, dedicated and inspiring teachers who have given students the right balance of freedom and guidance to spread their wings and find the great artists within.”Maryam Andres
Student Slipstream Graduating Institutions
NYU – Theatre Studies and Game Theory
School of Art Institute, Chicago, Illinois – Various
University of York – Playwriting, Directing and Performance
University of Toronto, Canada – Architecture
Cambridge School of Visual Arts – BA Musical Theatre
ESMOD, Paris, France – Fashion Studies
Dance for All, Edinburgh – Professional dance Training
NYU Abu Dhabi – Film and Political Science
Florence University – Fashion Studies
Parsons New York – Graphic Design
St Martins London – Curatorship
Sungshin Women’s University, Seoul Korea – Graphic Design
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