Teaching the Teachers
Wow – it’s been yet another hectic week! No rest for the wicked, eh?
This week I’ve been working hard with our Regional Partner Simon Fielding on developing a new series of training courses for our Perform teachers.
Simon originally joined us 9 years ago as a Producer - and then soon became an Area Partner, visiting schools, evaluating teachers etc, but last term we decided to set him a brand new challenge. We’re focusing on growth here at Perform, but I’m absolutely passionate about ensuring that standards don’t slip as we grow. You see, unlike all other children’s drama classes, we don’t operate as franchises – instead, all Perform schools are centrally managed and they all run the same curriculum so we can maintain the high quality of our workshops across the board.
Over the years Simon’s been instrumental in helping to evolve the Perform style of teaching that we a call ‘learning through laughter’. He is staggeringly good at his job and such an inspiring trainer.
Summertime… But the Living Ain’t Easy!
If I had a £1 for every person who said “Oh that must be a lovely job – nice long Summer holidays, huh?”, I’d be rich beyond my wildest dreams and sunning myself on my own idyllic island – cocktail in hand. I might also have someone peeling me grapes, not because I have a particular aversion to grape skin, but just because it seems marvellously decadent.
The truth is, whilst the Summer holidays have arrived, sadly I’m far too busy to relax and enjoy them.
Contrary to what you might expect, the Summer is far and away the busiest time for us at all at Perform. In addition to running the holiday courses, we’re all rushed off our feet putting the plans in place for next term’s curriculum. There are producers and writers to commission not to mention the teachers – who of course have to be taught the new songs and routines.
As an example of the sort of work that goes on, check out this video of some of our teachers learning the Fairytale Dance for last term.
10 Tips, 10 Years On…
A little over ten years ago, the very first Perform school opened its doors.
Prior to starting Perform I was working as a musical theatre actress and, like most jobbing actors, while I loved my time on stage, my life in between was inevitably peppered with rounds of hideous temping jobs which I hated.
However, there was a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. I knew I was happiest when working in the arts and so took a job teaching a children’s drama class. I’d love to be able to tell you that my eureka moment happened there and then in my very first class but, sadly, the reality was somewhat different.
I was taken on without so much as an audition and, having been breezily introduced to the children, I was just left to my own devices. I was terrified.
There was no formal training given – it was very much a case of sink or swim… and for a while, I really felt I was sinking. But after a few weeks, things began to change. I can’t pinpoint the precise point, but somewhere along the line I really began to enjoy it.
