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Experience NOCCA
Experience NOCCA
After-School Workshops
Non-credit Classes | Open to 7th – 9th Grade
The Experience NOCCA workshop series provides opportunities for young aspiring artists to prepare for and experience a taste of conservatory arts education in each of the 10 art disciplines offered at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, NOCCA, Louisiana’s High School Arts Conservatory – Classical Instrumental Music, Creative Writing, Culinary Arts, Dance, Drama, Entertainment Production Design, Jazz Instrumental Music, Media Arts, Theatre Arts (Drama & Musical Theatre), Visual Arts and Vocal Music.
Registration for the Spring Session of Experience NOCCA will open on December 1st.
Workshops
Bi-Weekly Workshops (Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday ) | 4 pm to 5:30 pm
Classical Instrumental
String Workshop: Louisiana All-State Orchestra Audition Prep
Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday
Designed for motivated students preparing for the Louisiana All-State Middle and High School Orchestra auditions (organized by the Louisiana Music Educators Association, LMEA) in Fall 2025. The workshop covers practice strategies, performance techniques, mental readiness, and individual coaching, concluding with mock auditions. For information on the audition requirements and repertoire for the All-State Middle and High School Orchestra, visit
Screening Requirements:
- Minimum of 2 years of weekly or bi-weekly one-on-one music instruction with a specialist for their instrument.
- Submission of a 1-2 minute homemade video of a solo piece (a portion of a piece is sufficient) from any classical music period (Suzuki Book 4 equivalent).
- Ability to read sheet music.
Student Requirements for Class: Materials provided; laptop encouraged
Creative Writing
Multigenre, Multimedia Writing Workshop
Monday/Wednesday
Workshop Description: Come write and build your portfolio during this intensive writing workshop. Through in-class readings and prompts, we will experiment with the basics of poetry, fiction and nonfiction. Participants will also learn how to engage with a text as a writer and, if interested in auditioning, can consult with faculty regarding developing a booklist. Writers will have the opportunity to share their work through small group critiques and an open mic.
Screening Requirements: Submit one work of creative writing, either poetry or prose. Minimum one page, maximum five pages.
Student Requirements for Class: Materials provided; laptop encouraged
Culinary Arts
Interested in Culinary?
Tuesday/Thursday
Workshop Description: Interested in culinary? Thinking of applying to the NOCCA Culinary Arts program? Join us for a peek inside some of our Level I classes. Here we learn the foundations of cooking and the kitchen environment through the lens of New Orleans cuisine with a focus on the myriad of cultures that have influenced our unique and special food.
Screening Requirements: Applicants must submit an essay telling us why they want to take part in this workshop and what they hope to gain from it and a video of them cooking their favorite meal at home. This does not have to be a cinematic prize winning effort - just show us what and how you are cooking while narrating. We want to hear you explaining your dish.
Student Requirements for Class: All accepted students must commit to the rules and expectations of the kitchen environment as well as to the NOCCA campus. Workshop fee covers all food, recipe files, necessary tools and aprons. Students must come dressed in long pants (no shorts), shirt (long sleeves preferred), socks and closed toe and heel shoes (preferably non slip - sandals or slides will not be allowed), and a head covering (ball cap or scarf). Hair must be kept up and secured tightly (no hanging ponytails or braids). Fingernails should be unpolished and trimmed short - no fake nails), no cologne or perfume, no false eyelashes, no hoops or hanging jewelry. Safety is our number one priority.
Dance
Spring Into Dance!
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
Workshop Description: Interested in dance? Join us as we explore the foundations of dance and the dance conservatory environment with a focus on the core dance styles that are studied by the young dance artists of NOCCA. The workshop offered to 6th-9th graders, will consist of a sample of offerings from multiple areas within the NOCCA Dance curriculum, including fundamentals of: Classical Ballet, Jazz dance, Modern dance, Tap, Dance Conditioning, and Music for Dancers. Students will also have the opportunity to preview a NOCCA Dance performance, observe the rehearsal process, and ask questions of the student artists involved. Come take your dance training to the next level during this six-week workshop. Register today!
Screening Requirements: All interested students must learn a short ballet and modern dance combination via video, then submit a video of themselves performing the ballet and modern dance combinations. Video links to the recorded ballet and modern combinations can be found here:
Video submissions must be submitted via Acceptd along with registration.
Student Requirements for Class: All accepted students must commit to the rules and expectations of the dance studio environment as well as NOCCA’s campus. Proper dance attire is required for all participating students.
Dance Attire Requirements:
Ballet: pink or flesh-tone tights, pink or flesh-tone ballet shoes (shoes and tights much match in color), black tank leotard
Jazz: black convertible tights, black tank leotard, black or flesh-tone jazz shoes
Modern: black convertible tights, black tank leotard, bare feet (no shoes, no socks)
Tap: black convertible tights, black tank leotard, black oxford-style (lace-up) tap shoes (no slip ons, tap shoe alternatives can be provided to students without tap shoes)
Students will not be allowed to dance in socks. Hair must be kept up and secured tightly in a neat bun (or puff for natural, short hair), no hanging ponytails or braids. Fingernails should be trimmed short, and no hoops or hanging jewelry should be worn.
Entertainment Production Design
Behind the scenes in E.P. Design
Tuesdays/Thursdays
Workshop Description: The workshop will consist of a sample of offerings from multiple areas within the E.P. Design curriculum. It will include fundamentals of scenic, lighting, costume, and fashion design. The workshop will also cover aspects of technology such as projection and sound for the theater. There will also be hands-on components with projects in both the scenic and costume shops.
Screening Requirements: Brief letter or video submission describing why the student is interested in both NOCCA as a whole and specifically the E.P. Design Department Samples of any visual artwork or pictures of any artistic or theatrical work that they have created. Resume of any entertainment production or creative work that they have been a part of, as well as any hobbies, special interests, or specific skills that they have.
Student Requirements for Class: Students will not be required to bring any specific materials or supplies for the workshop. All materials will be provided by the department. Students will need to abide by the E.P. Design dress code for safety purposes and these specifics will be covered during the first class.
Jazz
Jazz 101
Tuesdays/Thursdays
Workshop Description: The workshop will consist of a sample of offerings from multiple areas within the E.P. Design curriculum. It will include fundamentals of scenic, lighting, costume, and fashion design. The workshop will also cover aspects of technology such as projection and sound for the theater. There will also be hands-on components with projects in both the scenic and costume shops.
Screening Requirements: Brief letter or video submission describing why the student is interested in both NOCCA as a whole and specifically the E.P. Design Department Samples of any visual artwork or pictures of any artistic or theatrical work that they have created. Resume of any entertainment production or creative work that they have been a part of, as well as any hobbies, special interests, or specific skills that they have.
Student Requirements for Class: Students will not be required to bring any specific materials or supplies for the workshop. All materials will be provided by the department. Students will need to abide by the E.P. Design dress code for safety purposes and these specifics will be covered during the first class.
Media Arts
Animation Workshop!
Monday/Wednesday
Workshop Description: In the Spring Animation Workshop, students will bring stories to life by mastering the 12 Principles of Animation through silhouette animation. Using light, shadow, and handcrafted puppets, they’ll create a unique stop-motion short that plays with the power of negative space. Classes are on Monday and Wednesday.
Screening Requirements: Submit an original story in one of the following forms:
1. 1 to 2 page script or short story or
2. 1 minute video or
3. 30 second to 1 minute audio piece or
4. 30 second to 1 minute animatic, storyboard, or drawings
Theatre Arts
Preview! An Introduction to Theatre Arts
Tuesdays/Thursdays
Workshop Description: Calling all theatre lovers! Have you ever sat in a darkened theater and wondered “How do they do that?” This course will explore every aspect of what it takes to put on a play or musical. Every week we will explore a different aspect of theater including playwriting, acting, singing, dancing, improvisation, directing and more. Students will also have the opportunity to preview a NOCCA performance and ask questions of the artists involved. This course will be a fun, educational and fast paced journey through what it takes to put on a show, giving students the chance to learn what it takes behind the scenes - and to step into the spotlight.
Screening Requirements: Students should write and submit a paragraph or video of themselves answering the following questions:
- Why do you love theater?
- Why are you interested in finding out more about auditioning for NOCCA Theatre Arts?
Student Requirements for Class: Materials provided
Visual Arts
Introduction to Photoshop and Introduction to Color Theory
Mondays/Wednesdays
Introduction to Photoshop (Terry DeRoche) - Students will receive hands-on computer training in one of the most widely used visual arts computer design pieces of Software: Adobe Photoshop. We will cover tools, menus and palettes as well as techniques using provided images. Bring questions and problems you may be having in editing your own work and a desire for creative problem solving. No experience necessary.
Introduction to Color Theory (Madeleine Kelly) - Discover the art of color in this hands-on workshop introducing the fundamentals of color theory. Students will explore how colors interact through blending, layering, and mixing using oil pastels, colored pencils, and paint. Through guided exercises, participants will learn about the color wheel, harmony, contrast, and how to create mood and depth in their artwork. No prior experience is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to experiment with color!
Screening Requirements: Please submit 1 drawing: Using a regular #2 pencil on printer paper, draw a still-life that includes 3 objects that are important to you. Please use value (shading) in your drawing. Also, please submit a short (2 minutes or less) video about why you are interested in coming to NOCCA.
Visual Arts
Images of Self and Figurative Objects
Tuesday/Thursday
Workshop Description:
Images of Self - Ms. Laura Vélez: In this drawing workshop students will be learning the integral fundamentals in improving their technical abilities to do self-portraits from direct observation using graphite. In this workshop, students will be learning the art of observation, wind-shield wiper technique, value scale, site-measuring, how not to get overwhelmed with the figure. All students will be learning fundamentals that not only will apply to drawing self-portraits but can be applied to anything students want to draw later on. Students will also be engaged with proper positioning and posture to make the best portrait they can make.
Figurative Objects - Mr. Marcus Brown: In this sculpture workshop class we will create projects utilizing different media, materials,techniques and concepts related to the figure. Students will explore creating sculptures from observation using traditional methods. We will consider the historic and contemporary international sculpture including Assemblage. Elements that we will work with will include form, space, tension, texture, repetition, scale, use of modular units, and abstraction. The class will do a series of projects, incorporating various concepts, materials and processes. Skills learned and utilized will include ceramic sculpture techniques, plaster, and clay. We will learn how to use materials and equipment for each area with regards to safety and health hazards.
Screening Requirements: Please submit 1 drawing: Using a regular #2 pencil on letter sized paper (8.5x11”), draw a still-life from direct observation that includes 3 objects that are important to you. Please use value (shading) in your drawing. Also, please submit a short (2 minutes or less) video about why you are interested in coming to NOCCA.
Vocal Music
Vocal Prep Workshop
Monday/Wednesday
Workshop Description: Are you a 7th, 8th or 9th grader who loves to sing? Do your friends and family tell you that you have singing talent? Have people said, “you should take singing lessons”? Do you love to sing in the shower, to the radio, pretty much everywhere? Then this prep singing workshop is for you!
In this Vocal Prep Workshop students will learn the fundamentals of singing technique from our expert
Vocal teachers at NOCCA. Over the 6 weeks you will learn to sing and perfect 1-2 solo songs, and the class will learn 1-2 ensemble pieces together. You will also learn some basics of music theory (note reading /writing, key signatures, etc.) This class is for you if you are in 7th, 8th, or 9th grade and love to sing.
Sign-up
Registration for the Spring Session of Experience NOCCA will open on December 1st.