Juilliard Specialists Visit BSG - Music and Dance Excellence

The British School of Guangzhou was proud to welcome two Juilliard specialists to campus for an inspiring two-day visit focused on music, dance, and collaborative creative learning. Juilliard Music Specialist Andrea Lee and Juilliard Dance Specialist Donna Costello worked closely with students and staff, bringing world-class expertise into classrooms, studios, and professional learning spaces.

The visit reflected BSG’s commitment to outstanding performing arts education and meaningful partnerships that enrich both teaching and learning.

“It was a generous and energising exchange. From student storytelling in dance to collaborative music-making, the creativity we witnessed at BSG was outstanding.”
Andrea Lee and Donna Costello, Juilliard Specialists

Music learning through collaboration

Andrea Lee returned to BSG to work alongside the school’s music team, delivering lessons and sharing Juilliard-informed approaches to collaborative learning. She taught Year 3 students, worked with Year 10 GCSE music classes, and led an informal masterclass for several of BSG’s gifted musicians. These sessions challenged students to listen carefully, reflect thoughtfully, and perform with intention.

A key focus of the visit was professional development for teachers. Andrea co-led an interactive session exploring collaboration and group work, skills that sit at the heart of Juilliard teaching practice. Music and dance teachers from NAS Guangzhou joined BSG colleagues for this session, strengthening professional links between the two schools and creating a shared space for dialogue and growth.

Dance, storytelling, and expressive movement

Donna Costello visited BSG in tandem, working one to one with the dance team, including Yuki, to reflect on teaching practice and explore Juilliard dance resources in response to BSG students. Her time in lessons highlighted the depth and range of dance learning across the school.

In Year 1, Donna observed students telling stories through gesture and facial expression, demonstrating early confidence and expressive intent. In Year 5, she saw pupils organise movement with purpose, creating strong slashing and slicing lines with their limbs. She was also delighted to watch Early Years students during their dress rehearsal, where singing, acting, and dancing came together in an energetic and joyful performance.

Professional learning that connects schools

Joint professional development sessions with the performing arts teams from BSG and NAS Guangzhou provided a valuable opportunity to deepen strategies for student creative work. These sessions reinforced the importance of collaboration, reflection, and shared language across music and dance teaching, while also building lasting connections between colleagues across the region.

The visit was a rich and generative experience for students and staff alike, leaving a lasting impact on classroom practice and creative confidence.

BSG is grateful to Andrea Lee and Donna Costello for their expertise, generosity, and continued collaboration.

We look forward to welcoming our Juilliard colleagues back to campus and continuing to develop exceptional performing arts experiences for our students.