What goes on behind the scenes
About Oklahoma Performing Arts
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
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
