British Theatre Academy (BTA)

[Napo1]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone has experience with BTA?
My 12yo daughter started attending their classes in Dulwich, and she's very bored - all they do is sing karaoke to the phonogram/backing track.
No vocal warmups, no dance techniques - and this cost £250 per term, or £83 per month.
I don't want after the first month as we are unhappy with the training quality - has anyone been in the same situation?
Thanks!!!

I looked at it but I’ve heard such mixed reviews and was put off. From what I’ve heard the main guys running it are rude and massively unprofessional. A friend showed me some of the Facebook posts from them and I was shocked - they were openly slagging off other performing arts schools, agencies and sometimes even parents and the tone was very very aggressive. The shows are apparently a high standard as they are expected to rehearse several times a week at home and get into trouble if they don’t. Not for me.

Your right my daughter was there , the teachers openly slagg off parents children staff and other agencies on there Facebook group dean Johnson is the worst I have screen munches if anyone wants to challenge it be my guest , I hope it’s his company because there is no way I would have him work for me. He is petty and like he said he has never had a main role in anything , the free show is ok but the classes are not …

My daughter tried it but only for a couple of months.
Really weird is all I can say. Wouldn’t reply to emails from me, only my daughter and when she was unable to leave school early for 2 weeks to attend some rehearsals (she could get to rehearsals, just not at the time they wanted) she was blocked, as in they wouldn’t answer our emails, call etc.

Thank God we didn’t pay anything as was free until you had been in your first show.

The locals running the rehearsals for the show are ok, but the main people running it and the admin woman are rude, sarky and will block and remove anyone who tries to date even reply to their pressurised, negative posts aimed at the kids “not doing well enough” or “being late” or attendance.
I got my comment removed when I said their tone was not acceptable and could damage the morale of the children and their mental health.
They also are not too great if you have to have time off with covid or medical issues
Certainly never again..

*dare not date lol

where did you reply to them? I think i agree with you but just curious as to which post you were responding to?

My daughter’s stayed with BTA only three months. She said staff were rude and unkind.
Also in their FB group they were always presenting themselves better than other schools. When in fact they are just another making money operation.

My Granddaughter has done two shows, she is completely devoted!! (Of Course) We have just received emails advising that we have to register as chaperones and get licences. If we are not licenced chaperones thereby able to accompany other children to rehearsals and shows we will be charged £40 per show that our child is performing in!! (on top of the £20 per ticket for attending the show - Epsom) Therefore, they are understaffed, they are unprofessional and you are being ripped off by putting your child with this group. If they are registered and if they do not have adequate supervisors then should OFSTED be alerted to their practices???

My daughter has done one show (for free) and loved it. We were planning on just doing the one, but she had such a good time, and clicked so well with the other kids, that we have decided to continue. Definitely no karaoke here, they sing to an instrumental backing track and perform some relatively complicated dance routines. I agree that the main guy is quite egotistical and aggressive in his Facebook posts, but given that is all the contact we have with him I can deal with it!

A family member did it for a long time, did some good shows but never got a main part, they always went to the favourites. And the owner is a twat.