The bright lights are beckoning for budding performers (in Bushey)

You’d be hard pushed to find a kid who hasn’t been introduced to some form of musical theatre or dance class by the age of two, a welcome break for parents faced with the schmutz of soft play. And the curtain is about to rise on a bright new school coming to Bushey this weekend.

Act 1 Performing Arts comes from the dancing feet of actor Danny Becker, 30, currently starring in Operation Mincemeat (Fortune Theatre London). With over 10 years in the biz and endless credits including The Prince of Egypt (The Dominion) and Aladdin (Prince Edward Theatre), he’s certainly got the credentials. “I grew up in Bushey and those Wednesday night am-dram classes were the pinnacle of my week.”

He hosted a summer workshop at his local synagogue (Radlett & Bushey Reform) when he was just 15. “It just came out of my bones,” Danny says.

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Aimed at seven-16-year-olds, Danny’s vision is after-school musical theatre training for elite performers, ‘bringing the West End to Bushey’. Disney-centred workshops will begin this weekend and run for free, creating a foundation where pupils feel seen and celebrated for their talent. “When I get a casting, I’m always the new boy and the key thing I’ve learnt is that you have to be great in a team – that’s what I want to teach the kids and help with building self-confidence. Act 1 feels like I am coming home and giving back to the same community that gave to me as a kid.”

Danny’s is the newest in a long line of well-established performing arts schools.

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In 2013 choreographer Emma Levene established Double Twist Dance in East London for around 25 dancers, actresses and singers from three-17.  “Having my own company gives me the chance to choreograph and teach, alongside my colleague Emma (Clandon),” she says. The two ensure the atmosphere is warm, supportive and welcoming for new recruits as well as their families. Emma says: “I have dyspraxia and I think it helps me to connect well with neuro diverse kids by giving the extra time they might need.”

Running for nearly 25 years as Dancing with Louise, Covid prompted a rebrand of Louise Leach’s dance school to Mouve – a subtle ‘ou’ from ‘Louise’ means that she’s still at the heart of everything, including the camps, school clubs, parties and events. From little ones to adult programmes and based in Hendon, they’re ever-evolving with a strong focus on community and raising money for local charities, showing the kids that the feeling of belonging is so important.  “I love seeing the mix of students – the girl from Stamford Hill, groups from JFS, kids from Habs. Everyone is welcome,” says Louise, stressing a zero-tolerance policy on bullying and how she sees classes as an opportunity to build friendships and self-esteem. “We try to focus on confidence-building where an encouragement of ‘you smiled the whole time’ means the world to the child. And their parents.”

Some fabulous talent has been through the Mouve community, including Emma Kingston (Wicked) who used to perform in the talent shows and another pupil who went on to play the lead in Matilda.

Vanessa Class was told “performing life isn’t for a nice Jewish girl”, but as she is coming up for 45 years in the business, it appears it was a leap worth taking. Many of the parents of the pupils at the Vanessa Class School of Dance were taught by Vanessa, who says: “When the older girls head off at 18, they sometimes teach at Camp America and come back to assist and teach. Even the parents get involved, especially with our charity fundraising for the shows.”

With over 200 pupils taking weekly classes (some three a week) in locations across north London, nastiness isn’t tolerated. “We get a mix of kids from Jewish schools and private schools, but we’ve had some Spanish kids and a girl from Romania. We see ourselves not as a dance school but as a dance family.”

In its 15th year, JStar academy pulls them in from all over Prestwich, Manchester, now with over 200 pupils and another 100 at camps. From two-and-a-half to 15 years old, it’s quite the community with 80 percent of teachers ex-J Star pupils. Founder Jaynie Powsney describes the academy as warm and welcoming where unkindness is not tolerated and operates a three strikes policy. “The first class can be really nerve-racking. I remember a boy with extreme anxiety. We allowed his mum to be alongside him in class and he’s now a blue coat at Pontins, full of confidence!”

Georgia Swarc established Starmaker Performing Arts in Highgate in 2010, spanning ballet, tap, street dance and musical theatre. More recently she paired up with Lauren Gordon to launch in Borehamwood on a Saturday, where classes have space for parents to hang out too. Lauren says: “They spot Georgina and say ‘she taught me!’ and now they’re back again with their own kids. It’s a lovely journey and so many parents have now become our friends.”

Georgia Posner and Lauren Symons, both from professional dance backgrounds (including appearing on X-factor), run Be On Pointe after-school classes including baby ballet and street dance, plus seasonal camps and fabulous high energy shows. Around 600 kids take part across four sites. Adapting to online classes through lockdown and both taking time out to grow their own families, the ladies take pride in the environment they have created, being ‘mummies’ to all of the ‘BOPpers’. Georgia says: “When new pupils, join, especially if coming solo, we make sure everyone welcomes them. We won’t tolerate any nastiness. The space is for everyone to enjoy. It’s phones away and time to work hard and have some fun.”