Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Performing Arts and Dance
While many children who take on performing arts as a hobby are already outgoing and confident to start with, even the most retiring child can benefit from an arts related interest.
Apart from being fun, 
engaging in some sort of performing art enhances learning skills that will hold a child in good stead in their academic and then, adult lives.
First, there’s being consistent and reliable. For many children being on stage and in front of the spotlight is something they crave - but beyond the glitter and limelight there’s work.
Your child will soon learn that people on stage don’t just show up and perform with everything falling magically into place - it only looks that way because a team of people have worked hard at making it look effortless.
In fact, studies have shown that cognitive ability, verbal skills, critical thinking, motivation and concentration are all enhanced by being involved in the performing arts. It really doesn’t take an expert to figure out that drama can improve reading comprehension as well as verbal and non-verbal communications.
Dance classes, like being in a play, will teach your child to persevere as learning a dance routine takes time, rehearsal and practice.
Your child will need to invest time as well as effort as learning any sort of new skill helps to develop patience.
Physically, dance can help children improve their overall balance and fitness. Like other performing arts, dance requires concentration and focus. These are skills that they can also benefit from in the classroom.
If your child is not sporty then a performing arts class can help them develop the same skills that team sports engender - they will learn the value of collaboration, team work, responsibility and accountability. Apart from showing up and putting in the hours, your child will learn that if they miss their cue then the rest of the cast, orchestra or dance troupe is affected too.
In an environment like this the child will also get used to taking direction from an adult who is not a .png)
parent or teacher. They will also benefit from constructive feedback from this adult whether they are director, choreographer, music teacher or even juggling teacher.
So, even if the life plan doesn’t include stepping onto the red carpet at a future Oscar ceremony, by signing up to some form of performing art, children are able to gain confidence and invaluable social skills that will help carry them through life.
To reap the rewards of the performing arts disciplines sign your child up to a class near you…
Hartley House Dance Club
Tel: Linda 07763 494417.png)
It's been a very busy year at Hartley House Dance Club. All students were successful in their Royal Academy of Dance examinations held throughout the year. Classes are held in the purpose built studios in the city centre for children aged from 18 months through to adults, in Ballet, Tap and Modern Jazz. The New Star Performance Company is busy rehearsing their showcase of dance ready to be performed in July 2017. January enrolment is now taking place.
Razzamataz
Contact: Deborah 07525 177788
http://plymouth.razzamataz.co.uk
Razzamataz kids will be singing and dancing on the main stage at this year’s Christmas lights switch on, at 5pm on Thursday 17th November. The children will be performing in front of hundreds of spectators and are very excited. They shall be going to a recording studio prior to this to record some vocals which is also a fabulous experience in itself. This follows a lovely Halloween family fun day performance in Central Park that they appeared at a couple of weeks ago.
Razzamataz is a part time children’s theatre school that focuses on giving every child opportunities to grow in self-confidence, learn performing arts skills and interact with like-minded children. Each year children perform in their summer showcase at Devonport Theatre as well as other outside events. Children can study the Arts Awards if they wish and also fill up their Children’s University books.
Stagecoach Theatre Arts Plymouth
Tel: 0330 0500 101
Stagecoach Theatre Arts Plymouth provide high quality part-time education in singing, drama and dance for children and teens aged 4-18 years within a caring, positive and fun environment. Classes take place every Saturday during term time at Woodview Learning Community (PL5 4AA). Its aim is to nurture and develop each child’s potential through singing, drama and dance while stretching young imaginations and building confidence.
Students have delivered outstanding performances during in house presentations and in outside showcases at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London and at The Princess Theatre in Torquay. The Junior Performance Group will be performing by special invitation in London at Stagecoach’s Annual Charity Gala in December. Throughout the year students have had the opportunity to audition for live theatre as well as roles in film and TV productions. Students have consistently achieved a 100% pass rate in drama based LAMDA exams and the classes are inspected annually.
The Stephanie Boast School of Dance
Tel: 07964 706998.png)
www.stephanieboastschoolofdance.co.uk
The Stephanie Boast School of Dance provides Royal Academy of Dance Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary Dance classes for tots to adults. Classes are held at Tor Bridge High and Fort Stamford, and all children are encouraged to take part in performances, workshops and examinations. Stephanie graduated from the Royal Academy of Dance in 2012 with a BA Hons in Ballet Education, was the overall winner at the Dance School of the Year awards in 2013 and won the Dance School of the Year Silver award in 2016.