The Claire Goodwin Theatre Arts School
Dancing, singing, acting and performance for students aged 3 and up
History and philosophy
When the school first started it was called 'Dancing for Fun' and its primary purpose was to provide the local am-dram group with some dancers for the annual pantomime in the village hall. Now, 30 years on, the school is a theatre arts school, it has grown twenty fold, its scope enlarged to embrace singing and drama, and we put on our own annual show in a local professional theatre with a cast of about 250. Nevertheless, the basic tenet of the school is unchanged, it is still 'dancing for fun' – although now 'performing for fun' would perhaps be more appropriate.
We live in a world where tests, exams, progress checks, and measurements of all types are pervasive, particularly for youngsters. There are times when such measures create pressures which can obscure the fact that the activities are really enjoyable for their own sake. The objective for the students is, therefore, to take part in a show each year in a professional theatre. Practicing and rehearsing for these shows creates an extraordinarily friendly, social atmosphere where interacting with others is natural. And it's amazing to see how young people's self confidence and social skills grow in this environment. Some of our students become so enthused that they go on to study musical theatre at further education, and then hopefully pursue a career on the stage. But for most it just continues to be a fantastic hobby – fun, rewarding and with a big enough adrenalin rush each year to bring them back after each show to start all over again.
We live in a world where tests, exams, progress checks, and measurements of all types are pervasive, particularly for youngsters. There are times when such measures create pressures which can obscure the fact that the activities are really enjoyable for their own sake. The objective for the students is, therefore, to take part in a show each year in a professional theatre. Practicing and rehearsing for these shows creates an extraordinarily friendly, social atmosphere where interacting with others is natural. And it's amazing to see how young people's self confidence and social skills grow in this environment. Some of our students become so enthused that they go on to study musical theatre at further education, and then hopefully pursue a career on the stage. But for most it just continues to be a fantastic hobby – fun, rewarding and with a big enough adrenalin rush each year to bring them back after each show to start all over again.