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As Shakespeare wisely said in Macbeth, ‘All the world’s a stage.’ And here, at Moving Waves, we believe that every child is a performer. Here are five ways your child can grow through participating in our Performing Arts programme:
From my own personal experience, I know how the Performing Arts can help young people understand how and where they fit into the world. I was a shy teenager and theatre gave me a voice. Performing in front of a group is an incredible achievement. At Moving Waves, we work with each child to build confidence, gently coaching them through constructive feedback and encouragement. We make sure that all young people have rehearsed sufficiently and are comfortable and confident in their role. The idea is that when the performance day rolls around, they can all enjoy the day!
Of course, there will be some nerves — that is a normal reaction to a challenge and teaches children how to build resiliency and confidence through preparation. Even if there is a hitch, which can often happen in live theatre, it helps young people to learn how to improvise and cope with setbacks.
Believe me, there is no better way to engender confidence in a child than when they experience positive feedback from the audience. Seeing the pride on a parent’s face builds the child’s self-esteem and is huge reward for their hard work. What’s more, these young people can head into the next term of street dance, ballet or musical theatre with their heads held high!
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I believe that the performing arts open up a new world of possibilities. Think of Aladdin flying on his magic carpet in A Whole New World. Being present in a creative environment like Moving Waves allows young people to unleash their imagination and think of the art of the possible. Often, after a show or performance, young people will approach us with new ideas for the show next year – when we haven’t even done the final number! Let’s face it —the world needs people who can think outside the box and come up with creative solutions.
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Here at Moving Waves, we want to ensure that everyone has the chance to perform, learn and build memories and joy together. Many of the performance pieces include an ensemble element so when the children are learning how to do a fantastic turnout in ballet, they are also learning what it means to be part of a team. After all, singing and dancing a group piece in beautiful harmony comes only by people coming together.
In short, young people learn how they can individually contribute, but also experience first-hand that the group is greater than the sum of its parts. They brainstorm and solve problems together and become exposed to the discipline of hard work and rehearsal. Participating in a show involves creativity, practicality and hard work, the ability to plan, present, communicate and problem-solve. These are all highly valued attributes in the workplace, not just the theatre!
Don’t forget the often-overlooked benefit of expanding vocabulary through reading scripts and developing dialogue. According to David Farmer, ‘Speaking and listening skills are enhanced through drama strategies, role-play and improvisation and by the exchange of opinions and negotiation that naturally occur in group activities .’ In fact, some studies have concluded that children who participate in performing arts enjoy improved performance at school in reading, writing and maths.
There are also associated physical health benefits through the act of movement and dance on the stage. Apart from improving fitness, this can also enhance physical and spatial awareness, motor skills, co-ordination and timing.
Some researchers have observed other benefits, such as empathy, improved communication skills and an ability to focus. It goes without saying that engaging in music, dance and drama with others from different communities improves cultural awareness.
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Last but not least, when I think back to when I was starting out in the performing arts, some of my fondest memories are from the days of rehearsal and performance. I met my best friends when we were singing and dancing together. Those friendships survive to this day. The performance day is always filled with so much fun, love and celebration that when you look back — all you want to do is perform again!
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In closing, Moving Waves provides a safe space that allows young people to not only learn about themselves and one another but also to celebrate their differences, build friendships and have fun. We value and nurture individuality, independent thinking and self-discovery. While not every child will necessarily end up working in the performing arts, they will most definitely carry the valuable skills they learn with us into adulthood!
Contact Moving Waves now by email or via our social media channels. Check out our website for more information and stay connected through our social media channels. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
