This annual event celebrates NAS Abu Dhabi’s wider commitment to the arts
Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi recently hosted the 2025 Middle East and India Performing Arts Festival (MEIPAF), welcoming students from Nord Anglia schools across the region for a three-day programme of workshops and masterclasses led by West End professionals.
Held in the school’s Al Reem Island campus, the festival brought together students with a shared passion for the performing arts, offering opportunities to work with industry experts and take part in high-level, creative sessions.
This annual event, is part of Nord Anglia Education’s wider commitment to the arts, providing students with access to high-calibre creative experiences.
The programme featured a range of specialist sessions delivered by professionals with credits in major productions such as Hamilton, Wicked, Mamma Mia!, and Harry Potter.
Workshops in drama, singing, and dance were complemented by orchestral training and masterclasses.
NAS Abu Dhabi’s own teachers led several of the sessions, alongside guest musicians and educators from New York University and the International Music Institute (IMIG)
The piano masterclass was led by IMIG Director Aldo Dotto, while Pop and Rock Band sessions were run by Marvin Lee Presens.
Amira Rodriguez, from NAS Abu Dhabi, led drama workshops, and orchestral rehearsals were directed by Aaron Wolfe, supported by musicians Dr Warren Churchill and Shyalina Muthumudalige
The festival culminated in The NASpectacular: a final performance that brought together everything the students had learned.
The programme included Friend Like Me from Aladdin, Castle on a Cloud from Les Misérables, Defying Gravity from Wicked, and Rolling in the Deep by Adele.
The closing number, From Now On from The Greatest Showman, brought all participating students together on stage.
The festival forms part of a wider focus on the performing arts at NAS Abu Dhabi. Throughout the year, the school has delivered a varied programme that includes whole-school concerts, theatre productions, and informal performance opportunities.
The school’s Winter Concerts involved every student, from the Early Years to Key Stage 4, and this year’s major production, Aladdin – Journey to Agrabah, featured performers from Year 3 to Year 11.
Every other Friday, the school also holds ‘Friday Busking’, an informal performance platform open to all students, and often joined by parents and staff. These sessions have become part of the fabric of school life.
They give students a space to take risks, express themselves, and build confidence in front of a supportive audience, often for the first time.
Marie Connolly, Director of Creative Arts at NAS Abu Dhabi, said: “Hosting MEIPAF was a proud moment, and it showed what’s possible when students are given space, support, and high-quality training.
“The growth we witnessed, in just one weekend, was astounding! Moving forward, we remain committed to making the arts accessible, meaningful, and world-class for our students.”
Mrs Connolly is originally from Galway, Ireland. She studied voice, viola, and musical theatre at University College Cork and furthered her expertise in New York City, becoming an integral part of its performing arts scene.
Marie’s collaboration with the Juilliard School led to the pioneering Juilliard-Nord Anglia Performing Arts programme.
As the curtain closes on the academic year, NAS Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its profile as a hub for the performing arts in Abu Dhabi, and a school where creativity is central to the student experience.
For more information reach out to admission@nasabudhabi.ae or call 02 699 3333
Follow Yalla for all the latest education news