WHY WE'RE DIFFERENT

A PROFESSIONAL TRAINING:

From professional teachers
We offer classes from professional teachers who are CRB-checked, qualified, friendly and teach with a positive attitude. Many of our teachers have performed professionally including in the West End and we have a network of workshop teachers to enhance and widen the variety of core skills that we offer within the schools.

To professional standards
We offer training to students who want to become professionals themselves and many of our students go on to further education or a career in the performing arts. In recent years our students have gained places at:

  • Central School of Speech and Drama
  • East 15 Acting School
  • Trinity College of Music
  • The BRIT School
  • Millennium Dance
  • Chichester University
  • Laban
  • The Centre
  • Italia Conte Academy of Theatre Arts
  • Guildford Conservatoire

In addition, two of our students recently took lead roles in the West End musical “Spring Awakening” and we have a student currently in “Oliver”.

Whatever their choice of future career, we hope that all our students take away some great times, great friends having had the time of their life!

PERFORMANCE AND REVIEW

At Phœnix, we think it's no good spending hours learning to perfect a particular technique or rehearsing a spectacular song and dance routine if no one ever sees it. Therefore we actively encourage students to use their skills in performances both within the school, and externally. We also encourage students to take medals and exams. Although this is in no way compulsory, it's a great way to measure progress and build confidence.

The schools regularly put on shows and cabarets in a variety of local professional venues.
We also encourage children to compete in different disciplines where possible, which can be from drama festivals to dance sport competitions in the Latin/ballroom disciplines.

MOTIVATION AND INSPIRATION

Inspiration and motivation come from many sources, but we think that seeing your favourite star in performance or hearing your ultimate singer live, is one of the best ways to encourage and develop an interest in the arts. We therefore run regular trips to see different aspects of performing arts including dance, drama and theatre. For details of our next event, see the “News and Events” section.

PERFORMING ARTS AND LIFE SKILLS

Not everyone who studies performing arts ends up working in the theatre or in a related profession, although we believe that everyone can benefit from studying the performing arts. Learning to speak clearly and confidently is a great boon in adult life, as is having a grace of movement, an understanding of other people and their situations, and being able to work successfully as an individual or part of a group. These are the core skills of performing arts, and as such, we greatly value the contribution that they can make to everyday life. When so much emphasis is nowadays placed on academic achievement, we believe that developing a confident all-round character is vital for modern living.