Professional Mentorship & Rehearsal Support
Industry professionals providing real-world feedback, motivation and insight for school performances.
RISE Professional Mentorship & Rehearsal Feedback brings current working industry professionals into schools for a focused, high-impact rehearsal visit.
Designed for school musicals, plays, VCE and VET assessments, showcases and live audience events, this experience gives students the opportunity to receive genuine industry feedback from professionals working across stage, screen, dance, music and theatre.
Most commonly delivered during a dress rehearsal or late-stage rehearsal, the session is designed to support, champion and elevate the work already created by the school.
This is not about replacing the teacher’s direction.
It is about bringing a fresh professional lens into the room - giving students insight, encouragement and practical feedback that helps them lift their confidence and performance quality.
Bringing the professional world into the rehearsal room
There is something incredibly powerful about having a current industry professional watch student work.
Students listen differently.
They lift their standard.
They see their performance through a new lens.
They understand that the work they are doing at school connects to a much larger creative world.
RISE mentors bring professional experience, warmth and inspiration directly into the rehearsal space — offering feedback that is practical, specific and deeply encouraging.
Supporting teachers and departments
RISE works in partnership with teachers to understand the production, the students, the rehearsal stage and the goals of the visit.
We honour the work already happening in the classroom, studio or rehearsal room.
Our role is to support and champion that work — offering students a fresh professional perspective that reinforces the teacher’s direction and inspires students to take the next step.
Whether students need support with performance confidence, storytelling, stage presence, acting through song, choreography, ensemble connection or assessment preparation, the RISE mentor provides targeted feedback aligned with the school’s needs.
What the visit can include
Each visit is tailored to the school, the students and the performance outcome.
A professional mentor may:
• attend a dress rehearsal or late-stage rehearsal
• watch selected scenes, numbers, solos or full runs
• provide immediate verbal feedback to students
• offer practical industry insight
• support performance confidence and stage presence
• guide students on intention, storytelling and character
• provide notes on ensemble connection and professionalism
• motivate and inspire students before performance
• offer teacher debrief or summary feedback after the session
Students receive feedback in real time, helping them understand what is already working and where they can continue to grow.
Suitable for
RISE Professional Mentorship & Rehearsal Feedback can support:
• school musicals
• school plays
• dance productions
• drama productions
• music performances
• musical theatre showcases
• VCE Dance
• VCE Drama
• VCE Theatre Studies
• VCE Music
• VET Dance and Performing Arts
• ensemble performances
• solo works
• Performing Arts festivals
• live audience events
Who students may work with
Jackie is joined by professional artists such as:
• musical theatre performers
• professional dancers
• actors
• musicians
• choreographers
• directors
• vocalists
• screen and stage performers
RISE mentors and artists include respected industry professionals such as Erin Cornell, Michael Ralph, Samantha Dodemaide, Thern Reynolds, Jayme-Lee Hanekom, Ben Scarmozzino, Asmara Soekotjo, Priscilla Cosentino, Cristina D’Agostino, Kyla Bartholomeusz, Anna Burgess and Harry Targett.
These artists bring extraordinary industry experience into the room - but more importantly, they understand how to inspire, encourage and guide young performers.
Professional mentorship can support
School musicals
Feedback on acting through song, character, choreography, ensemble work, confidence and performance quality.
Plays and drama productions
Support with scene work, character development, emotional truth, voice, movement and storytelling.
VCE and VET assessments
Professional feedback to help students refine solo or ensemble works, strengthen intention and prepare with confidence.
Live audience events
Guidance for students preparing for concerts, showcases, festivals, auditions, assemblies or special performances.
Optional show attendance
Where dates align, the RISE professional mentor may also attend the final performance as an add-on option.
This gives students the powerful experience of knowing an industry professional has seen both the rehearsal process and the finished work.
Where appropriate, this may also include a brief post-show reflection or teacher debrief.
Add professional judges to your event
RISE can also provide industry judges and adjudicators for Performing Arts events, including:
• school Performing Arts festivals
• House Arts competitions
• talent quests
• dance, drama and music showcases
• VCE and VET performance evenings
• musical theatre or live performance events
Judges provide professional, constructive and age-appropriate feedback designed to celebrate student achievement and support continued growth.
Bring a RISE mentor into your rehearsal
Whether your students are preparing for a major school musical, a VCE assessment, a drama production or a live performance event, RISE can provide a professional rehearsal visit that supports your Performing Arts department and inspires your students.