Programs

STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT

OTT'S PATHWAY TO PERFORMING EXCELLENCE

Welcome to the heart of creativity and performance excellence. Since our inception in 2011, OTT has been a beacon of performing arts in Barbados, dedicated to crafting the next generation of ‘triple threats’ – talented individuals who excel in singing, dancing, and acting. As a registered charity and cherished community, our mission is to offer comprehensive and immersive training that meets international standards, nurturing young creatives to shine both on stage and in life.

Our programs, led by a passionate team of local and international artists and educators, are designed to empower, educate, and inspire. From the foundational Performing Arts Training to supportive initiatives like Scholarships, The Academic Initiative, and Social Support Services, every aspect of our curriculum is tailored to foster growth, confidence, and a deep appreciation for musical theatre.

Join us at OTT, where students find a place to belong, explore their potential, and prepare for a vibrant future in the arts. Whether you’re taking your first steps onto the stage or looking to refine your skills, our courses are your gateway to a world of artistic exploration and achievement. Discover your path to becoming a triple threat and contribute to Barbados’s rich cultural tapestry.

programs

COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS FOR AGES 4 TO 21

JUNIOR & SENIOR APPLICATIONS OPEN in 2027!

GOT TALENT? AUDITION

Live auditions for the 2027-2028 year will be on Sunday, May 30th, 2027 at OTT Academy in Wildey.

Auditions are open to all singers, dancers and actors from age 7 to 21!  To make this incredible opportunity accessible to all, the audition fee is P.W.Y.C. (Pay What You Can) between $0 – $40 BBD. 

For more information, please click on either Juniors (7-11) or Seniors (12-21) below.

Fun-Filled Acting, Singing & Dancing

SPARKS
4-6 YEARS

Fun-Filled Acting, Singing & Dancing

SPARKS
4-6 YEARS
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Building Confidence, Resilience, Teamwork

juniors
7-11 YEARS

Building Confidence, Resilience, Teamwork

juniors
7-11 YEARS
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Mastering Skills & Developing Personal Growth

seniors
12-21 YEARS

Mastering Skills & Developing Personal Growth

seniors
12-21 YEARS
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MEET OUR EXPERTS

Janelle Headley

Director / Founder / Trustee / Voice & Acting Tutor
As a young girl, on the island of Barbados, Janelle Headley would take every opportunity to be involved in the arts, and would display her creativity in singing, dancing, acting, painting, and drawing. For her this was the best way she could express herself. At the age of 17, music became her main focus, so she attended The King’s University College, Edmonton Alberta, where she studied classical voice, involving herself as a member of the College’s Chamber and Concert Choirs. After spending a crucial year consolidating her music skills, the young artist felt a burning desire to learn more about Jazz, so in the summer of 2001 she moved East and enrolled in York University’s (Toronto) Jazz Program. On her graduation from York University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Specialised Honours Degree in Music, Janelle performed at numerous events including the Barbados Jazz Festival and the TD Toronto Jazz Festival. In addition to performing, Janelle has always been passionate about performing arts education. Her desire is for everyone to experience the joy of actively participating in the arts. In 2005 she founded Live the Music! Breathe the Music!, a company dedicated to offering exceptional training to aspiring vocalists and musicians by way of private lessons and workshops. Her expertise, particularly in vocal performance technique, is often called upon by artists to enhance their shows and studio recordings. In 2011, six years after launching Live-Breathe Music, Janelle incorporated dance and theatre through Operation Triple Threat: Sing. Dance. Act. Her goal is to use the performing arts to inspire, to question and to be a catalyst for change. She believes that the message is as critical as the medium, and hopes that the opportunities she provides will help other artists to be the best they can be.

EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PERFORMING ARTISTS!

Our team is the heartbeat of creativity and care, encompassing everyone from our diligent administrators orchestrating the day-to-day, to the passionate teachers and choreographers who spark brilliance in voice, dance, and acting. Our culinary director ensures our stars are well-fueled, while our social support staff provide the emotional and social scaffolding for every student’s growth. United, we form a family committed to nurturing and propelling the future luminaries of the arts.

Julia Headley-Rohmann

Trustee / Creative Director / Dance Tutor / Remote Administration
JULIA HEADLEY was born and raised on the island of Barbados, where she began her dance training at Louise Woodvine Dance Academy. Following her graduation from the Juilliard School in 2013, Julia moved to Mannheim, Germany, beginning as a solo dancer at the National Theater of Mannheim. At NTM she has had the opportunity to perform works by Marco Geocke, Kevin O’day, Yuki Mori, Dominique Dumais, Stephan Thoss and many others. July 2023 marked the end of her 10th season with the theater. Julia is excited to continue to use her artistic abilities and passion to develop the arts and creative sector in Mannheim and beyond.

Maachelle Farley

Staff Lead / Social Media Manager / Music & Drama Tutor
Maachelle Farley is a Creative and an Advocate for change. She believes in the creative potential of each student she interacts with and advocates for a more fair and equal society in her human rights work. She is the Director and Founder at Wellness Music Creative where she has taught piano and voice with a wellness approach for the past 14 years. She was born in Barbados and attended Acadia University in Canada where she achieved her Bachelor of Music in 2010. She started working with Operation Triple Threat in 2014 as a voice tutor and has musically directed productions such as The Wiz, Matilda and Once on this Island, Cinderella and Annie. Maachelle loves to learn new things, and enjoys swimming, writing and spending time with friends.

Chanté McDonald

Junior & Senior Dance Tutor
Born and raised in Barbados, Chanté McDonald began her dance journey at the Louise Woodvine Dance Academy, where her passion for dance was ignited. She continued on to complete her Associates’ Degree in Dance at the Barbados Community College and in 2014, she was accepted into London Contemporary Dance School (BA Hons) in the UK where she has had the opportunity to perform the works of Richard Alston, Dam Van Huynh and Ohad Naharin to name a few. Chanté also has a passion for teaching. She has taught dance in many primary and secondary schools across the UK as well as hosted Caribbean dance workshops. Chanté is currently pursuing a Degree in Early Childhood Education and Care at the University of the West Indies.

JUSTIN POLEON

Senior Dance Tutor
Justin Poleon was born in July 1991 in Bridgetown, Barbados. A graduate of The Lodge School (2008), he began his dance training at the Louise Woodvine Dance Academy. He performed with the contemporary company Of Another Nature, which won a National Arts Award for Outstanding Choreography. That same year, he received the Barbados Dance Theatre Scholarship for his debut NIFCA duet. In 2011, Justin was accepted into The School of Toronto Dance Theatre and trained under renowned choreographers such as Massimo Agostinelli, Paul-André Fortier, Danny Grossman, and James Kudelka. He graduated in 2014 as Valedictorian and debuted with Ballet Creole in Celebrating Our Men In Dance. Later that year, he returned to Barbados and won silver for his solo IT and gold for Turned to Stone, also earning the Arden Clarke Founder’s Trophy. At NIFCA 2017, he performed with the Louise Woodvine Dance Academy Collective, earning another gold and Arden Clarke Trophy. From 2019 to 2024, he performed in Disney’s The Lion King in Madrid, followed by a brief appearance in Moulin Rouge in Germany. Recently back home, Justin now serves as the National Performance Cheer Coach and looks forward to continuing to share his passion for dance worldwide.

SHAQUILLE SEALY

Sparks Tutor
Shaquille Sealy is a 24-year-old young man who attended the St. Leonard's Boys' Secondary School. He started singing at the tender age of four and continued throughout his school life where he became a member of the School's Award Winning 100 Boys' Choir for Six years. He was Deputy Head-boy from 2016 - 2017 and that instilled a level of confidence in him. Shaquille did Vocal exams and attained Merit and Distinction passes in Grades 1, 4, 6 and 8. He later auditioned for Operation Triple Threat (OTT) and found a greater passion for Singing, Dancing and Acting where he is currently teaching the Sparks (4 - 6-year-olds) and is also an Intern. He has performed in various Musical productions with OTT, such as: Disney's The Little Mermaid, Matilda, The Theory of Relativity, Fame Jr, Cinderella Enchanted and Annie the Musical.

RASHEEDA HOWELL Msc., BSc. (Hons)

Registered Counselling Psychologist
Rasheeda Howell holds a master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus. She is a Registered Counselling Psychologist and the founder of Mindful Counselling Solutions. In addition to her private practice, she also works as a Primary School Counsellor. Previously, Rasheeda has worked at the Barbados Youth ADVANCE Corp as a counsellor. She has also volunteered as a counsellor at PAREDOS, Drug Education Counselling and has been involved with the S.A.F.E Zone Developmental Program for many years. Her passion lies in working with young people; where she enjoys being her creative self as she strives to create a safe and nurturing environment for the counselling process. Rasheeda finds joy in empowering others and aims to help each person she encounters to become the best version of themselves with the use of a holistic approach that caters to everyone’s individual needs. Outside of work, she enjoys sunset beach walks, photography, and spending time in nature.

Laura Applewhite

Social Worker

Laura Applewhite is a trained social worker, who is curious and passionate about people, especially children!

She currently works with the Student Support Services team at the Ministry of Education and prior to this has spent many years living and working among at-risk families and children around the world. These experiences of the last 16 years have cemented a belief, that the change process takes time, and that the beginning is often building relationships- taking time to understand individuals, before seeking to help them face and overcome their unique challenges.

Outside of supporting clients and helping them to become the best versions of themselves, she enjoys being an aunty, playing outdoors, gardening and cooking for friends!

Leigh Johnson

Stage Manager
Leigh Johnson is a Stage Manager at heart, Theatre Technician by trade and an overall creative soul. Leigh started out doing stage management at 14 at the Ursuline Convent School working backstage during their Christmas pantomimes. She then went on to do Theatre Arts programme at the Barbados Community College and worked with Laff it Off Productions as well as Mustardseed Productions before heading off to England to study Technical Theatre at the University of Derby. During her 4 years in England at university, and working as a Stage Technician at Derby Theatre, Leigh continued to fall in love with and grow stronger in the artform she had found herself in back when she was 14. Leigh then decided that it was time to move back home and pursue a career where she was born and raised here in Barbados. Leigh now is a freelance Stage Manager, Event Manager, tutor at the Barbados Community College as well as Operation Triple Threat. Leigh hopes to inspire anyone she crosses paths with and to continue to build a strong community within the local arts and entertainment industry.

Margaret Austin

Administration & Building Management
Margaret serves as a member of the Administration Team. She is best known for her love and helpfulness of children, and distinct desire to see them strive, especially in the areas of education and their overall mental and emotional health. Her training in childhood education gives her scope in being able to provide useful support and guidance to young learners. Additionally, she hails with experience in the area of Public Administration affording her significant knowledge in that regard and allowing her to make valuable contributions to the administrative team. Margaret loves working with people and has an amazing sense of humour.

Pamela Headley

Meals Programme Director & Administration
Pamela, wears many hats at OTT, serving as an Administration Assistant, Building Manager and Meals Programme Director, is the embodiment of dedication and compassion. With a heart as big as her ambition, Pamela ensures that every aspect of administration runs smoothly, supporting the backbone of our creative endeavors. Beyond her administrative expertise, Pamela leads the Meals Programme with a profound commitment to nurturing not just the artistic talents of our students but their overall well-being. Her work guarantees that every student has the nourishment they need to thrive both on stage and in their studies. Pamela's passion for her work and the difference she makes in the lives of young artists are palpable, making her an invaluable asset to the OTT family. Her efforts ensure that our students are well-supported in every sense, laying a solid foundation for their success and growth in the performing arts.

Scholarships

THE OTT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT'S EMPOWERING DREAMS

At OTT, we believe in the power of the performing arts to transform lives. That’s why we’re proud to offer the OTT Scholarship Program, a beacon of opportunity for young aspiring artists. Aimed at breaking down financial barriers, our scholarship program ensures that every talented individual, regardless of their socio-economic background, has the chance to shine in our SING, DANCE, ACT Program.

Aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 for Quality Education, we’re dedicated to providing access to quality tutoring through scholarships and bursaries. Since 2012, thanks to the generous support of donors, local charities, and corporate entities, we’ve awarded over 100 full and partial scholarships to students in our programs.

Our commitment is clear: finances should never hinder the growth and success of our talented youth. By offering financial aid we ensure that each application is carefully considered. While the number of scholarships available each year varies, reflecting the needs of our students and the resources available, our resolve to support aspiring performers remains unwavering.

Got your acceptance? Fantastic! If you need a little help with fees hit the button below to explore financial aid options. We’re here to help!

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