About

A drama class in 2017, and everything since

Mirror Arts Education is a performing arts school for children and adults in Surrey Hills and Glen Waverley, in Melbourne's east, teaching drama, speech, vocal, music and dance since 2017. We have grown from a single drama class into a multidisciplinary creative community, bringing together professional educators, industry-standard facilities and real performance opportunities. Across drama, public speaking, vocal, music and dance, we empower every student to build confidence, develop their craft and shine — in the classroom, on stage and beyond.

Founded
2017
Established
2019
Courses
13 across 4 disciplines
Campuses
Surrey Hills · Glen Waverley
Children in animal costume and face paint, sitting close together mid-scene under green stage light in the annual production of The Jungle Book

What the school is

Professional training, with real pathways beyond the classroom

Mirror Arts Education offers a structured arts education programme across performance, music, speech and communication, musical theatre, dance and creative arts. Our courses are professionally designed to build strong foundations, develop advanced skills and provide clear progression as students grow.

Our teaching team includes experienced educators and industry professionals trained at leading institutions in Australia and internationally, including the Shanghai Theatre Academy, Xi'an Conservatory of Music, Monash University, the University of Melbourne and the University of Manchester. Students learn from teachers who bring both specialist training and real-world experience into the classroom. Who teaches what.

For students pursuing formal qualifications, Mirror provides dedicated preparation for professional examinations and assessments, including AMEB Speech & Performance, AMEB Vocal and CEFA language-performance certifications. Training is systematic and goal-focused, taking students from technique and repertoire preparation through to examination readiness.

Performance is an essential part of the Mirror experience. Every term concludes with a student showcase, giving students a regular opportunity to perform what they have learned. Each year, students can also take part in two full theatre productions, including a major musical production, working through rehearsals and performing on a professional stage. Students are further encouraged to take part in eisteddfods, performing arts competitions and other external performance opportunities throughout the year.

Beyond regular classes, Mirror offers an expanding programme of workshops, masterclasses, holiday intensives, recording projects and creative collaborations. With professional studios, recording facilities, performance spaces and production resources, students are given opportunities not only to learn, but to create, perform, record and experience how the performing arts work beyond the classroom.

At Mirror, every child gets the chance to stand on stage and be seen by the world.

Our history

How it got here

Founded in 2017 as Mirror Drama Studio, we evolved into Mirror Arts Education, a multidisciplinary arts education institution, in 2024.

  1. 2017

    Drama training in Australia

    Mirror enters Australia, partnering with well-known local film and television companies to offer professional drama and screen-acting training.

  2. 2018

    Bilingual courses launch

    Mirror partners with professional instructors from mainland China and Melbourne, launching bilingual drama-performance and language-expression courses.

  3. 2019

    Mirror Drama Studio is established

    Mirror Drama Studio is formally established, with campuses across Melbourne CBD, Kew, Glen Waverley and Doncaster.

  4. 2020

    Music courses added

    Mirror collaborates with independent musicians and adds multiple music courses, broadening the curriculum's scope.

  5. 2021

    Original film and music production begins

    Mirror begins independently producing and filming short drama films and original music videos, and takes part in major local performance events.

  6. 2022

    Partnership with the Melbourne Chinese Museum

    Mirror partners with the Melbourne Chinese Museum, performing and teaching Chinese traditions in English and Mandarin.

  7. 2024

    Melbourne's first Year of the Dragon gala

    As chief producer and director, Mirror co-organises Melbourne's first Year of the Dragon Children's Spring Festival Gala with other local education institutions.

Official partners

Professional pathways & recognition

Through partnerships with recognised examination, certification and competition bodies, Mirror connects students with professional assessments, accredited qualifications and prestigious competitions. Here are the 6 organisations Mirror works with, and what each relationship is.

  • Australian Youth Arts & Cultures Association (AYACA)

    Named partner organisation, listed in the site's footer alongside Venus Dance and Mingxin Dance School.

  • Melbourne Chinese Museum

    Joint programme since 2022, teaching Chinese traditions in English and Mandarin.

  • Salesian College Chadstone

  • Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB)

    Official AMEB Speech & Performance Examination Centre, offering professional AMEB training and examination pathways in Speech & Performance and Vocal.

  • China Arts Vocational Education Society (CEFA)

    Mirror Arts Education is CEFA's authorised examination centre in Australia, offering professional arts assessments and certification across multiple disciplines.

  • Trinity College London

    Certifies faculty and provides a student examination pathway.

Supporters

Organisations that stand behind the work

The school carries the marks of 8 conservatoires, universities, schools and cultural organisations. They are listed as marks because that is all the record holds for them — where there is more to say, the organisation is in the section above.

Supporting organisations

  • The Central Academy of Drama logo
  • Shanghai Theatre Academy logo
  • Beijing Dance Academy logo
  • RMIT University logo
  • Museum of Chinese Australian History logo
  • Venus Art Dance Academy logo
  • Sync logo
  • TL Studio logo

Questions

Before you write

When did Mirror Arts Education start?
In 2017 — "Drama training in Australia" is the first milestone on the timeline on this page, which runs to 2025.
Was the school called something else?
Yes. It began as Mirror Drama Studio and became Mirror Arts Education as it grew beyond drama into speech, music and dance. The Chinese name is 墨尔本魔镜艺术教育.
How many courses and campuses are there now?
13 courses across 4 disciplines, at two campuses: 1F/244 Canterbury Rd, Surrey Hills VIC 3127 and 36 Kincumber Dr, Glen Waverley VIC 3150.