We are a professional performing arts school for ages 18 months to 21 years. Our qualified and experienced staff teach term time from Monday through to Saturday. We have two teaching spaces within our own premises including a fully equipped dance studio. 

 

Classes include ISTD Classical Ballet, Tap, Modern Theatre, Classical Greek and Contemporary. We coach accredited AcroDance and Acrobatic Arts sessions, accredited Cheerleading team training and also I-PATH Musical Theatre classes. We provide examination opportunities with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), International Performing Arts and Theatre (I-PATH) and Acrobatic Arts. We also provide audition preparation classes and private lessons for singing, drama and all dance genres.

 

We enjoy taking part in local events and many of our students perform in shows across the county such as award ceremonies, professional stage shows, pantomimes, plays and musical concerts.  The highlight of our year is our summer Derngate Theatre production that every student has the opportunity to take part in.

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We deliver adult ballet and tap dance classes, with day and evening lessons -  these are for both beginner and experienced dancers.

 

There are opportunities for our students to remain involved with our school throughout the school holidays via specialised workshops and performing arts days.  Open Stage students receive a discount and early bird booking deals for many Open Stage performing arts extra-curricular activities.

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​Miss Rachael has always enjoyed a strong bond with our local community and therefore designed an arts outreach programme with weekday and evening classes for babies and their grownups right through to classes for adults and pensioners including sessions for adults with additional needs.  Many of our teachers are early years trained and have experience of teaching all ages, they enjoy creating a friendly community atmosphere that involves all regardless of ability.

 

Early years classes such as Multi-Sensory Hoo-Ha and Imagination Station create a wonderful foundation for families to meet our team. Many babies continue their journey with Open Stage as they grow and often move over to joining our main theatre school.

 

The Open Stage Community Choir is full of wonderful people from all walks of life, there is no audition and they sing as a whole group all you need is a love of singing –they meet in our studio on Wednesday evening sessions and enjoy performing at local event. We are always coming up with new classes and ideas – so watch this space!

 

Friendly Street Productions

 

Miss Rachael has worked in professional theatre for many years and has enjoyed working with David Kent for the last 14 years. They met during a professional production that Rachael was directing and choreographing, and David was a performer in the show. David Kent is also a musical theatre playwright; his most recent tour was ‘Soul Sisters’. Friendly Street Productions is an opportunity for Open Stage to develop and produce new musical theatre. They have most recently enjoyed working on ‘A Christmas Lost and Found’ and ‘Just We Two’ with well-known cast members taking lead roles. Both productions have had interest from producing companies. Wherever possible Miss Rachael finds opportunities for Open Stage students to get involved – from learning about stage management and technical team work to playing supporting roles in the productions.