STAGECOACH THEATRE ARTS

[katysav]

Hi,

After looking through the threads about Stagecoach classes for kids, it seems that the standard can vary from place to place, as it is a franchise. I understand that some people think it is expensive, but the fact a non-teaching principal is around is attractive to me as a safety/child protection thing...and am happy to pay if DS enjoys/benfits from it.

I am looking at enrolling my 5 nearly 6 year old at the Huddersfield school - does anyone have any experiences?

Also info on whether to go for early stages or the older one would be good.

Thanks guys - look forward to your replies x

Bump!

Not the Huddersfield one, sorry, but we do do Stagecoach.

We held off until DS was 11 (put off by the cost, frankly) and tried holiday drama courses and local cheaper options instead. Be warned that once you've enrolled, you need to give half a term's notice or pay for that half term... Having said that, ours is the high point of DS's week, and the one chance (around here) for a boy who loves dance to go and do it without being laughed at.

My DSS did Stagecoach. I was sceptical because he was shy and quiet and I couldn't imagine that he was going to get anything out of it - but he absolutely loved it. It brought him right out of his shell and he got a part in a semi-prof production shortly after starting. I thought it was brilliant.

We too, do Stagecoach Early stages, dd is only 5.5 and she has been doing it since just before she turned 4. It really helped her socially. She used to be very clingy, very quiet and sensitive. She is essentially still shy, but now she can happily get up and try to dance in a birthday party without feeling self-conscious even in slightest, which was unthinkable before! She got courage to be out and visible. Okay, she has been doing martial arts too but still, her coming along so nicely, I do attribute it to drama class rather than martial arts class.
If I was you, I would start with early stages as it is only 90 minutes, divided to 30 mins of dancing, 30 mins of singing and 30 mins of "acting" whereas one stage up from that, is 3 hours and I believe it is too long for some kids and physically demanding. If your child likes Early stages, after a while s/he can move up to the bigger class.
Also in our branch of Stagecoach, moving kids up to the longer classes is not automaticly done with chronological age, it is done more in line with the kids' readiness. Some kids in dd's early stages class were moved up at 6 years old, some others not, dependign how mature and ready tyhe child is..

Personally I do recommend it.

Couldnt rate it high enough.. DD is almost 5 and enjoys every second of early stages. Its amazing the things they do.. Also this week the older children had a dancer in from the MAMA MIA show - so lots of excitement.

Expensive = maybe, but from my side worth every penny. DD has some lovely children in the class too.