Pro Arte Alphen Park

Pro Arte Alphen Park is a unique school located in the East of Pretoria, which successfully combines the arts and business. This High School offers six specialised focus areas, namely Dance, Art & Design, Music, Drama, Hospitality and Enterprise Management.

Pro Arte Alphen Park opened its doors in January 1994 with the amalgamation of two schools, namely Pro Arte, school for the arts (1969) and the Alphen Park Commercial High School'

Pro Arte Alphen Park is an English medium school which is one of only a few focus schools established in Gauteng. The school is situated in Pretoria East, Alphen Park, close to the Menlyn shopping centre. The school does not only serve learners from surrounding suburbs but also learners from all over the country.

At Pro Arte Alphen Park we nurture creativity as a tool to resolve challenges. The school boasts a highly qualified staff component which contributes to our achievements. Our school governing body is eager to assist us in our endeavour to remain the preferred school for children interested in the arts in Pretoria. As a school, we also embrace the principles of democracy through respect for each other.

Values such as respect, integrity, commitment and loyalty are treasured in our school. Our code of conduct is guided by these values. The management of the school regularly assesses the commitment of learners and teachers towards promoting these values. The school motto also reflects on these values: “Vigor et Veritas” which translated, means Strength and Integrity.

This quotation symbolizes how many art students may feel: discouraged, intimidated, loss of passion and a loss of interest in art; but the key to overcoming this barrier is appreciating art and its value.

I often ponder the recipe to a successful artwork. The proportions of my fragile idea, the contours of my emergent composition and the absolute truth my artwork has to portray. Before me its representation transmutes and separates into the opinions of individuals. Through an uncoordinated parade, multiform mosaics can sometimes transgress towards the hand that reigns over them, allowing only restriction to the beholder – in other words, the artist rebels.

We as artists are scrawled out notes, rough sketches needing assistance and tonal value, someone to colour our knowledge, to enhance our imagination – our dreams to be prescribed. Inspiration for an artist comes from an inner chamber, a reservoir if you will, where all philosophies, notions and emotional endeavours of the artist are preserved.

The present Dance Faculty has evolved from a past that gives it a strong foundation to build on. The young, vibrant and enthusiastic staff has the required passion for dance, and being experts in their respective fields, the necessary skills to take the department proudly forward into the future.

The Dance Department offers: Ballet, Spanish and Jazz dance as part of the curriculum and include the theoretical subjects: Anatomy and Health care, Music & Dance History.

This is a unique environment that not only nurtures the students’ individual talents, but also offers the theoretical background that allows him/her to pursue diverse career paths within the dynamic world of dance.

Learners wanting to play in this orchestra have to play an audition during the second week of the school term, and they also have to attend a workshop during one week of the April holiday. After this intensive training, the orchestra presents three concerts, of which the gala evening is usually held in the ZK Matthews auditorium of UNISA.

At Pro Arte Alphen Park we are especially focused on the well-being of each and every individual learner. We have a full time employed counsellor ready to assist with a multitude of solutions to our learners’ every day challenges. These days, the role of the school counsellor is multifaceted and may vary greatly, depending on the requirements of both the department of education as well as each individual school.