Celebrating Leadership and Creativity

Earlier this year Northbridge International School Cambodia (NISC) hosted the highly anticipated Southeast Asia Performing Arts Festival, an event that brought together students from across the Nord Anglia Education network to celebrate their talents in music, dance, and drama. This vibrant festival not only showcased incredible creativity but also highlighted the leadership that empowers students to push their boundaries and grow both artistically and personally.

Nurturing creativity through leadership

NISC principal, Frances Morton shared her excitement about the festival and its ability to provide students with an unforgettable experience. “This is a really unique experience for students to trial something new, to be creative, to take a risk, to develop the skills that they’ve already learned during classes and after-school,” said Frances.

Thirteen-year-old music student at NISC, Sophie, shared her excitement about being part of the festival and the opportunity to step out of her comfort zone. “The most exciting part about this Performing Ats Festival is that I get to meet new people. I get to experience new things, let loose when I perform, and express my emotions on stage. It makes me very happy to perform and entertain others,” Sophie said.

The festival also fostered a sense of community, with students from different schools working together to create a final performance. Frances added: “They’re going to get the opportunity to work with music, drama and dance teachers... and we’ll conclude with a performance that will showcase all that they have learned.”

Building confidence and friendship through collaboration

The festival encouraged students to not only develop their artistic skills but also build confidence through collaboration. “I felt really proud when I went on stage and performed. I’ve performed drama and music before, but my first drama production in front of a large audience really made me feel accomplished,” Sophie said, sharing how the experience helped her grow both personally and artistically.

The festival encouraged students to not only develop their artistic skills but also build to take creative risks and step outside their comfort zones. Through teamwork, they learned valuable leadership skills, embracing collaboration and gaining confidence. Frances also highlighted how diversity plays a key role in enriching the experience.

“But it’s not just about the performance,” Frances said. “It’s about the journey. If there’s one thing they can take away from this event, I really want them to have enjoyed it. I want them to have had fun, made friends, and feel that they’ve truly achieved something when they reach that final performance.”

“It gives them an opportunity to share stories, to experience different cultures,” she added, showcasing the power of the arts in connecting students from all walks of life.

For Sophie, this sense of achievement was felt not only through her performance, but also through the new friendships she formed. “I met new students from other schools, and we really bonded. I felt like I belonged.”