Glee-ful days at KCFE with a new performing arts course

THE corridors of the Kerry College of Further Education are set to become that bit more like the school of TV show Glee thanks to the establishment of its brand new Department of Performing Arts.

Dancers, musicians, and those interested in all forms of performing arts will now have an even greater range of opportunity in their home county thanks to the new range of courses coming up in the KCFE.

From September next students will be able to obtain a QQI Level 5 Certificate in Music or Dance with a number of focus areas including performance, theatre and music technology.

A dizzying range of move-busting dance styles and countless musical genres will be taught in the new courses with a multi-agency approach helping deliver just about the best training package possible in the field in this county.

Kerry County Council Arts Office, Siamsa Tire, the Institute of Technology, Tralee and local dancers, musicians and educators are coming together with KCFE in the department.

That’s a massive boon when it comes to one of the most important areas of study - work experience. Students will work with choreographers, music industry professionals, theatre professionals and technology experts and also participate in the production of live performance. The Level 5 Certificates will enable graduates to progress to Higher Education or undertake careers in theatre, dance, music, community arts initiatives, education programmes, event production and sound engineering.

Acting Principal Carmel Kelly said she was delighted to develop the department in such an artistically vibrant county.