We live in fast-moving times. World events are thrown up before us and we are constantly bombarded by people wanting things from us, selling us things, needing our time. It’s in-your-face and competing for your attention whether you want it or not.
Attending our weekend drama school for 3 hours a week is an escape from all that. I have often talked about the theatre space we operate in but what’s more important is what we put into that space. That’s how we make the world disappear as we focus on the magic rectangle, we call theatre. It’s time out with different energies and a break from the everyday. Once you are in that space it needs your complete attention because if you are distracted you can’t truly participate in learning the performance skills inside it.
You know that feeling when you want to sleep and your brain won’t let you because there’s too much thinking going on? It’s much the same in the performing arts, you have to let the world go for a bit. That’s hard for some people.
On average 15 to 24-year olds spend 4 hours a day on their phone and check them every 6-8 minutes. You can draw your own conclusion about what that might do to you.
For our older performing arts students we operate a phones-in-the-box policy in class and rehearsal. We therefore crash headlong into that need for a social media fix. Surely, it’s good mental health to be free for a few hours from the pressures of the outside world. I would go further and say that it is our duty to make those three hours of classes in acting, singing and dancing sochallenging and exciting that the phone and its power over us is not even thought about. It’s just so much fun to be engrossed and absorbed in DANCE ACT SING.
I like to think of that special space we enter as students and teachers as a zone or a sanctuary. An oasis for the arts, soothing for the soul and an arena for the imagination to soar. After all, without a place to explore our hopes, dreams and nightmares what are we?
Our nationwide performing arts schools, teaching young people skills in singing, acting and dancing can provide your child with a weekend activity that encourages confidence, friendship, communication skills and so much more. If you would like to find out more about our theatre schools or your child has shown an interest in attending drama, dance and singing classes then visit our website www.theatretrain.co.uk
