A celebration of everything your child has acheived

Each week, children attending Perform are learning new skills, doing things they’ve never done before and often doing things they never thought they’d do!

Our over-arching aim is to use performing arts to help boost their confidence and self-esteem so that they dance even if they don’t think they can and speak out even though they feel anxious. Most of the time, the children are having so much fun that they don’t realise they’re learning so many useful new things. To give the children the chance to celebrate all they have learned, we have designed a Challenge Award programme which allows them to demonstrate some of the wonderful things they have achieved. Twice each year, our class Producers will nominate children for a Challenge Award, which in itself is to be celebrated as it means they are deemed capable of what is required!

About the Challenge Award Programme

There are seven Challenge Awards in total and children can work their way through them. For our 4–7s, we have Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum awards while for our 7–12s, Ruby, Sapphire and Diamond awards. Each award has its own syllabus and includes tasks which the children have covered in class. For example, the Bronze award requires a child to introduce themselves, sing a song and tell a joke while the highest Diamond award for older children asks them to sing acapella, use improvisation, self-choreograph a dance routine, sight-read a script and more. Your child will need some support from you at home, but the challenge on the day is all theirs. The programme is designed to be in-step with a child’s ability and to be an entirely positive experience. A successful Challenge is awarded with one of three grades: Pass, Merit or Distinction.

Booking a Challenge

To enter a Challenge, a child must have received a nomination from their Producer via email invitation, which is usually sent out in March and September. You then have the option of booking your Challenge session at a venue which suits you. A Challenge lasts between 3 and 10 minutes depending on the level. You can book your child’s Challenge by phone or online but please note that slots are allotted on a first-come-first-served basis and generally fill up quickly, so don’t delay if you’d like your child to take part.

A chance for your child to shine

Many parents tell us that taking part in a Challenge Award is an incredible confidence boost for their child and that they’ve noticed a difference in them after participating. We also get feedback that they are a great way of helping children prepare for school interviews when trying for the 4, 7 or 11 Plus school exams.

One final thing to remember is that it’s important to see Challenges as being fun! The Challenges are a positive celebration of what the children are learning in class. They’re a chance for your child to shine – and what could be better than that?