"Performing Arts", <sigh>, DD has decided - now what?

[KatyMac]

DD has decided she want to go to a college for the performing arts

Assuming
a)she is good enough
b)we can afford it
c)she can get a place

What are her options?

I'm assuming a 'fame' or 'Britiannia High' type schools don't actually exist and there is a more down-to-earth/normal option?

fame type in livererpool i think.

or tring?

lottery funding? burseries?

How old is she?

They are not a thing like Fame or Brittania High unless you start from a really young age!

Where abouts are you looking?

My friend's dd got a scholarship, her fees were reduced to £1000 a month
choke

She loved it, made loads of friends, but, well, works in Next now

Where do you live? The Brit School in Croydon might be the ticket if you live nearby or fancy moving!

She is just 13, year 8

We are in Norfolk

Yep QOD, that's what I think, but she thinks she can teach if it all goes wrong, then retrain as a lawyer

It's hard to be supportive; but I thought I should at least know what we are talking about

:)

I note no-one has actual asked if she is any good

I am so not a stage mother; but I think she is a good dancer and an OK singer

Croyden....bit far; Liverpool might be possible I guess we have family there

Unless you can afford to go the private route (there are MDS funded places for music and classical ballet only) then the best option is to wait until 6th form. What PA route is she interested in. For musical theatre she would need to be having regular dance and singing classes and for straight acting some kind of drama group or youth theatre. For dance she would probably need to be studying ballet, tap & modern at a minumum with possibly jazz.

At 16 you can investigate local courses, some colleges do excellent BTEC performing arts courses with very good tutors, however there are many such courses that are not very good. You can go away to study on a foundation course for dance at 16 but fees have to be paid. Most funding kicks in at 18.

For post 18 there are two options go the degree route, not necessarily at uni many drama/dance schools also offer practical based degrees which are funded in the usual uni way or you can apply for a drama/dance school diploma course. These are funded by DaDa awards currently which are auditioned.

However who knows what changes the government will make.

The BRIT school has been mentioned. This is currently the only state performing arts school (I'm talking proper PA school not PA status). It is an excellent school akin to the private schools such as Sylvia Young & Italia Conti.

The competition for all of these courses (except the local BTEC ones) is likely to be very, very high. What do her dance teachers advise?

Are you looking at her going now? or when she is 16?

SHe is about to join a 'company' for singing or dancing (can only afford 1) plus starting her arts award

She dances Ballroom & latin competitively & does jazz/disco type stuff as well

She sings at school (choir & choral group) plus lessons in & out of school

I think it's pie in the sky but feel I should know what is available before I say "Don't be silly"

Oh & she is learning piano, guitar & african drumming

performing arts schools are weird - it can't be that hard to learn how to act and sing, does it really need early training?

i see the point for dancing though

or music

I don't know when she would go - I assumed 16 or 18 I guess

I wouldn't say oh don't be silly but more look babe, the options we can access/afford start at 18 and competition is fierce. You need to practice loads AND do well academically to have any chance, so buckle down and if you get the grades and are still passionate about it at 18 then we'll support you every step of the way.

For the dance route to be a serious option she needs to have a high standard of ballet/modern dance. It sounds like she wouold be better going for the all rounder route. I'm not dissing the ballroom/latin stuff but the courses are not out there for those styles it tends to be ballet/theatre dance andthey will be looking for a very high standard of technique, its probably a bit late for that route now.

Voice can and is often better starting later but unless she wants to go the classical route it does need to be combined with acting or dance for the musical theatre route.

I have no doubt that she would get onto a BTEC course at 16 do well and maybe even get a degree but is she is seriously looking at performing arts specialist schools she needs to realise that she will be competing against very serious students who have been trainging from an early age and who want serious careers as performers. The self discipline involved is immense. For dance the expected standard at audition at age 18 is around Advanced 1 grade and for singing Grade 8 distinction.

DH teaches at a few of these colleges by the way.

ok.i can help with the dance side - ish.

SHe can carry on doing her normal lessons and take the exams - assuming its RAD or ISTD? and she can do her teacher training that way.

Or she can go to college and do general performing arts at BTEC or A level and then go to UNi and do a degree then a year QTS and that will enable her to teach too.

It is possible to have a full scholarshipjust very very hard.

I was offered a full 3 year scholarship for the Laban Centre but only for a Masters degree (I didn't have a bachelors at the time) and the cost of living in London would have meant i would have to work full time which wasn't possible when doing a full time course and evening performances.

I'm gurssing ballroom/latin would be IDTA?

If its any consolation dd aged just 9 has annoucned which colleges she wants to auditiotn for (Bird, Mountview, LIPA & Italia Conti!!!!!!!!)

My DCs school has a performing arts specialism which means there are lots of opportunities to sing and dance or whatever. I have certainly been some very talented kids who have gone on to more specialised training at either 16 or 18. One of the girls in the year below is in a west end theatre group and manages to do that all weekend and study for AS levels.

DD2 was totally in love with the idea of performing - she was in every single performance at school, she was in two choirs, and she danced five times a week. She is applying to university at the moment to do er Maths.

My advice would be to give her as many opportunities as possible to perform and then if she is still keen then look for opportunities at sixth form level unless she is so talented she can't be held back - one girl in DD2's ballet class went on to the Royal Ballet School but she was obviously very talented.

Yep it's ISTD

So She can qualify like DH did as an extension of her medals then teach & earn enough money to do a proper degree

I think if we can stretch to it maybe both companies is the way to go; I wonder if it would be better to do that than the in or out of school singing lessons?

I trained at one of the accredited drama schools in London...but you have to be 17 in some and more than18 in others. BUT the average age is around 21...most are now degree courses, so a BTECH or A levels in drama and english would prepare her.

But it's more on audition than exam results and competition to get a place is fierce.

The best thing about a course like this is the agents showcase at the end (apart of course form three years of excellent teaching and acting experience!) The agents showcase gets some kids an agent and others nothing but most go on to work in the profession.

She shoul look at the websites of

RADA
Drama Centre
Lamda
Bristol Old Vic

There are many bursaries available and I knowthat RADA really helps those from low income families.