Dialogue Between Cultures: Music Theater Education in the UAE

Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA) is the first and only college level performing and production arts conservatory in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region that focuses on excellence, creating highly skilled, versatile, entrepreneurial, and professional performers who are creative global citizens. Creating intersectional, intercultural, relevant musical theatre in the MENA region presents many rewards and challenges. In this discussion we will explore together multiple innovative ways that music educators can encourage intercultural and intersectional music making such as devised musical works, bilingual productions, multi-media presentations. All the participants will have the opportunity to share their approaches to teaching second language learners, novice singers and musicians, and the opportunities and intricacies of working as an arts educator in the Middle East.