What goes on behind the scenes
About Opa
A nonprofit arts education program for Tulsa-area youth
At Oklahoma Performing Arts, we teach character through performance.
Oklahoma Performing Arts is a nonprofit organization that teaches classical arts education to children ages 3 to 19. OPA offers ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, music, voice, acting and technical theater.
OPA provides a high-quality classical arts education that holds students accountable to professional artistic and behavioral standards of excellence.
Why Oklahoma Performing Arts?
At Oklahoma Performing Arts, we teach character through performance.
Founded in 1996, Oklahoma Performing Arts (OPA) is a nonprofit organization that teaches arts educations programs for children ages 3 to 19. OPA offers ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, music, voice, acting and technical theater, as well as public performances, in diverse theatrical genres.
Oklahoma Performing Arts takes a unique approach to arts education. In addition to teaching students how to dance, sing or perform on stage, OPA uses performing arts to help students develop the emotional intelligence, tenacity and grit they need to truly succeed in life.
OPA uses a social-emotional learning (SEL) based performing arts curriculum to strengthen children’s emotional control, improve their self-concept, and empower them to establish and maintain healthy relationships.
As a result of the SEL-based arts education, Oklahoma Performing Arts produces graduates who are resilient individuals with grit and good character.
Community Outreach
Since 1999, Oklahoma Performing Arts has provided community outreach to bring performing arts and arts education to underserved youth across Northeastern Oklahoma. Through H.A.P.P.Y (Hands-on Arts Performance Programs for the Youth), OPA provides three ongoing outreach programs.
OPA Training
Oklahoma Performing Arts provides traditional OPA Training in non-traditional environments to reach students who may not have access to arts educations. Currently, OPA has partnered with two Tulsa Public Schools that serve primarily low-income students and St. Elizabeth Lodge, a transitional housing and support program for single mothers and their children, through Catholic Charities. Outreach also is planned for two rural schools outside of Tulsa, whose students are underserved in arts education.
iExperience
Oklahoma Performing Arts has partnered with Girls Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma to provide peer-driven arts training. Allenato students visit Girl Scout troops and teach 3-5 different art disciplines (i.e. ballet, voice, acting). Each lesson includes art history, an example of the traditional format of training, plus a performance component to engage the students. These lessons are aligned with current Allenato performances and the Girl Scouts are encouraged to attend the performance to see what they have learned come to life.
The iExperience outreach also includes “Capture the Spirit,” which brings the entire OPA holiday performance, including set, to the Children’s Hospital at St. Francis for a special one-day event each December.
Creative Community
Oklahoma Performing Arts has partnered with local retirement communities to provide an opportunity for students to perform in front of an audience. Each month, OPA students present what they are currently learning to active seniors in the community. During these outreach sessions, the seniors provide constructive criticism to the performers. The students and seniors create a dialog in these outreach sessions which helps the students grow and develop their skills.
Helping Children “Act Out” Their Good Character
Learn how Oklahoma Performing Arts uses the vehicle of performing arts to help students develop the emotional intelligence, tenacity, and grit they need to truly succeed in life.
OPA Testimonials
“My 4-year daughter has been taking dance from OPA for about 6 months. She has learned more than I could have imagined during that time. During a recent gymnastics class at another location, her instructor commented on Avery’s poise and talent- and said it must come from her ballet instruction! The children are challenged to do more than expected and they DO! During the holidays, the students performed at various nursing homes in the area. It was so much fun to see the JOY on the faces of the residents watching the children perform. The children interact with the residents following the nursing homes and its mutually beneficial!!”
“I am now a senior in College and have an outstanding GPA, job offers, and am two months away from a bachelors degree. None of this would have been possible without Oklahoma Performing Arts. It is more than a studio it is a family. I have had so much support even when I graduated from the school. I am always in contact with the director who is constantly helping me figure out problems academically, artistically, and emotionally. While I was there I learned responsibility, maturity, and how to work as a team. There is no other place in Oklahoma where you can find all of that plus highly rated arts education. Any time I come back to Oklahome me and the other alumni always make sure we can take at least one class. They deserve as much support as anyone can give. The director is trying to make a difference in Oklahoma and with support I know she can do it.”
“I learned more about myself while attending Oklahoma Performing Arts than any other organization I was ever involved with as a kid. I developed self-confidence, leadership, a very strong work ethic, courage, strong skill in the fine arts, social skills, and most of all best friends. I learned more skills than just the several disciplines of dance. Miss. Laura was the best mentor, friend, and instructor I could have had during my childhood and part of the roughest times in my grade school life. I credit Miss. Laura and the Oklahoma Performing Arts studio for many of the accomplishments I have achieved since I have left the studio. Everything I learned from Oklahoma Performing Arts has helped me in so many more areas than the performing arts, and dance; the life skills I learned have helped me in college, academics, the work field, student organizations, and athletic teams at college.”
“We moved to the area this past year and were referred to OPA as our daughter is serious about dance. We had never done voice or acting . . . It quickly became evident that the program was very advanced and well suited for our family. It impresses me how quickly the children progress. My daughter was behind others her age, but was given the attention and instruction to catch up and thrive! It is a true testament to the fact that if you expect something out of a child, they WILL rise to meet the goals! Also, the family atmosphere made our move and integration into a new community much easier. We love it so much that our son recently started in the program.”
Enjoy a Free Trial
Prospective students are invited to experience everything Oklahoma Performing Arts has to offer with a one-week free trial. Join OPA for in-person or virtual lessons in music, voice, acting, acrobatics and dance. During your one-week trial, try as many lessons within your age level as you like.
Frequently Asked Questions
OPA Rehearsals/Classes are offered at our Broken Arrow location:
718 South Elm Place
Broken Arrow, OK 74012
(81st and Elm Place)
Cost Details Coming Soon!
Boys
- Pre-Performer/Beginner: white form fitting shirt, dark shorts, black canvas split-sole ballet shoes, and black tie tap shoes
- Ballet: white form fitting shirt, dark shorts, and black canvas split-sole ballet shoes
- Jazz: solid color form fitting shirt, dark shorts, and black slip-on Jazz shoes
- Tap: solid color form fitting shirt, dark shorts, and black tie tap shoes
- Acrobatics: solid color form fitting shirt, dark shorts, and bare feet
Note: Boys should wear sliders beneath their shorts.
Girls
- Pre-Performer/Beginner: solid color leotard (will need a skin toned spaghetti strap for performance), pink and tan convertible tights, pink canvas ballet shoes, and black Mary Jane tap shoes
- Ballet: solid color leotard and pink tights, black dance shorts may be worn over leotard and tights, pink canvas split-sole slippers and/or pointe shoes (if applicable), hair in a bun
- Jazz: solid color leotard, tights (can be cut offs), solid color dance shorts may be worn over leotard and tights, and skin toned slip-on jazz shoes
- Tap: solid color leotard, tights (can be cut offs), socks (optional), dance shorts may be worn over leotard and tights, and tan Mary Jane tap shoes
- Acrobatics: solid color leotard, convertible tights (can be cut offs), dance shorts may be worn over leotard and tights, and bare feet
Hair
- Hair should be worn up and away from the face in a ponytail
- Hair should be in a bun for ballet
Important Note:
- Street clothes are to be worn over lesson/movement/dance clothes outside of OPA at all times)
One of the most often overlooked vehicles for helping children achieve their optimum human potential is the performing arts.
Something magical happens onstage when children face down their anxieties and bravely step in front of an audience to don a new persona. By the time the curtain falls, they have become more confident, more resilient, and more comfortable in their skin. And with enough time and practice, they will take those character gains with them into a more hopeful future.
Founded in 1996, Oklahoma Performing Arts offers developmentally sensitive programs for children ages three to 19 featuring ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, music, voice, acting, and technical theater, as well as public performances in diverse theatrical genres.
Unlike many other arts organizations that serve youth, Oklahoma Performing Arts teaches more than just how to dance, sing, or perform onstage. Through the vehicle of performing arts, students develop the emotional intelligence, tenacity, and grit they need to truly succeed in life.
At Oklahoma Performing Arts, we teach character through performance.
Learn more about the benefits of arts education for your child. Download the Case for Support
