Nord Anglia Education celebrates 10 years of its Juilliard–Nord Anglia Performing Arts Programme

Launched in 2015 through a pioneering collaboration between Nord Anglia Education and The Juilliard School, the programme has become a key part of Nord Anglia’s educational approach, enriching school cultures, transforming classrooms, and inspiring a new generation of confident, creative global citizens.

At Nord Anglia International School Shanghai, Pudong, the programme plays an important role in school life. From dynamic music lessons to expressive drama performances, our students experience the joy of creativity while developing confidence, teamwork, and cultural understanding.

What is the Juilliard–Nord Anglia Performing Arts Programme?

Built on the shared belief that the arts are essential to a well-rounded education, the programme gives our students unrivalled access to world-class learning in dance, drama, and music. It features an enquiry-led curriculum that introduces students to Juilliard’s Core Works, a carefully curated selection of masterpieces across different genres, historical periods, and cultures.

Juilliard’s approach helps students connect to professional artistry and ignites their own creative expression, critical thinking, cultural understanding, and confidence. These experiences mirror real-world artistic processes, helping students develop the skills to innovate, collaborate and lead in all aspects of their education and future careers.

At NAIS Pudong, our Performing Arts teachers receive ongoing coaching and strategic support from Juilliard specialists, ensuring that our teaching remains innovative, inspiring, and deeply connected to global best practice.

A decade of impact

Over the past ten years, the programme has inspired thousands of students across Nord Anglia’s global family of schools, with:

▪ 59,000+ students taught by Curriculum Specialists from Juilliard. 
▪ 1,600+ teachers empowered through hands-on professional learning. 
▪ 1,700+ virtual workshops. 
▪ 1,000+ in-person visits from Juilliard artists and staff.

At NAIS Pudong, our students have benefited directly from this global collaboration. Juilliard specialists have visited our campus to work alongside teachers and students, providing unique opportunities to learn from some of the world’s finest performing artists. These experiences inspire our students to express themselves creatively and confidently, on stage and beyond.

The power of performance at NAIS Pudong

“Being part of the Juilliard–Nord Anglia Programme has transformed the way our students experience music, dance and drama,” says Mr Thompson, Head of Performing Arts at NAIS Pudong. “They’re not just learning to perform, they’re learning to think, inquire, create, and connect through the arts.”

A lasting legacy

Beyond individual classrooms, the Juilliard–Nord Anglia Performing Arts Programme continues to shape how schools across our family integrate creativity into learning. At NAIS Pudong, the performing arts sit at the heart of our educational vision, helping every child build confidence, empathy, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

Richard Mannoia, Senior Managing Director of K–12 Programmes and Initiatives at The Juilliard School, said: "In the Juilliard-Nord Anglia programme, we aim for every student to access creative experiences in dance, drama, and music; essential resources that unleash limitless potential. We believe that young people need and deserve to nurture their deepest capacities for connection, courage, and authentic expression through the performing arts.” Dr Elise Ecoff, Chief Education Officer at Nord Anglia Education, said: “As the Juilliard–Nord Anglia Performing Arts Programme enters its second decade, our focus is on continuing to innovate. New research initiatives will capture its long-term impact, and our new leadership training and curriculum developments will keep the programme responsive to the needs of our global student community.”