Unique theatre school training in Acting, Singing & Dance

Specialist tutors

Effective teaching and learning

A lifetime of transferable skills

Bowdon has been running since the Summer of 2008 and finally found it's home in the prestigious 'Cinnamon Club'. Although an evening school with a main focus on drama (main school) taught by Managing Director Jo, it also has regular visiting tutors in dance and singing, so the children still benefit form all 3 disciplines of acting, singng and dance. The Tiny's cover all 3 disciplines every week in bite-size sessions with their regular tutors.

Monday evenings

5pm - 7pm (6 – 16yr olds)

4.3pm - 6pm  (4 - 6yr olds)

Staff

Our staff are recruited on expertise and experience, and are all trained and hold current enhanced CRBS. Most of our team work in the performing arts industry and come to us highly recommended.  We have regular meetings to plan, prepare and update on childrens' needs and ways of learning to help us promote inclusivity and an 'every child matters' policy. We also discuss shows, exams, opportunities and evaluate progress and action plan for improvements to the service we offer.

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Classes

Tiny's (4 - 6yr olds)

Your wonderful, expressive 4 - 6 year olds are introduced to theatre and performing in a safe, fun, energy-driven yet structured way of learning. Each week the Tiny's are taught in all three disciplines -  dance, drama and singing - in bite size chunks of 20 - 25 minutes each. They have a little break in the middle to have a snack and a drink, which the children seem to enjoy as much as the classes! Its their chance to express themselves with each other, identify with their peers and have a good old chit chat (they're like little old men and ladies nattering given half the chance). However, under the close supervision of their tutors they are encouraged to be individual and express them freely in a supportive forum. The tutors spend quality time getting to know the children and plan their sessions according to abilities, learning styles and what that particular group seem to enjoy. Confident in their teaching, the tutors at Footlights aim to let the children perform as often as possible, usually all sharing equal roles to promote teamwork and a sense of camaraderie from a young age. The Tiny’s are always part of the main school shows at Christmas and during the Summer, so you will regularly see your child perform.

Drama
In Drama the children learn improvisation, comedy, scriptwriting, mime, verse, tv and film acting and theatre scripts, helping them to become confident well rounded young actors. Jo has taken over this term to challenge and push the Bowdon school to the next level. Jo has much experience in teaching having taught both here and internationally from nursery to university level and with the very young (age 18 months to 67 years old) so her experience is vast. Jo also has extensive stage and tv expererience and is also an established director and is well known for her tough love approach with a huge smile and much encouragement for all the young actors at Footlights.

Dance
Dance can be empowering, creative and above all fun! Dance brings people together but can also be a fantastic form of exercise. It encompasses cardio vascular practices as well as increasing coordination, balance, flexibility, and strength. Also there are so many forms of dance to explore and identify making it inclusive of all cultures, times and bodies. At Bowdon there are a range of visiting tutors from our other schools who teach on rotational basis, the sessions include streetdance, jazz and musical theatre.


Singing
In singing the children learn harmony skills is well as solo and group singing and most of all build confidence. Singing can do wonders for articulation, projection and most of all confidence, so non singers are gently encouraged to sing in small groups or pairs to begin with building up their ability and belief in a reassuring manner, whilst the natural singers are challenged to find a variety of styles within their range as well as work on team building with the less confident students. Iain Hennessy (Lostock school) is the main visiting tutor at Bowdon and structures his timetable to a 2 hour workshop every four weeks.

Facilities
The Cinnamon club is a super venue complete with ballroom, sprung floor dance studio with mirrors and a super bistro with stage and wooden floorspace perfect for drama and intimate shows. It also has excellent parking facilities.

Directions

 If you are coming from North Manchester and heading south along the M60, you need to come off at the Stretford turn off, also sign posted for Carrington and Altrincham. Follow the signs for Altrincham along the A56. This is a straight road. Keep going, eventually you will come to the Cresta Court Hotel on your left. At the set of lights go straight ahead, the road veers to the right you then go under a foot bridge. You will come to St Margarets church on your right. Turn left directly opposite the church into St margarets Road. At the bottom turn right onto the Firs. The Bowdon Rooms are located on the left before you reach the Stamford Arms.

If you are coming along the M56 from any direction, come off at junction 7. At the roundabout take the third exit sign posted for Altrincham. At the first set of traffic lights go straight ahead. After a short while on the left hand side you will come to St Margarets Church, you need to take the turning directly opposite on your right. At the bottom of St Margarets turn right onto the Firs. The Bowdon Rooms are approximately 300 yards on your left.

History
We started in Stretford in very humble beginnings at Stretford Grammar school in 2004. We soon built up an excellent reputation and moved to better facilities and more room to Lostock Arts College. We are currently in our 5th Year at Lostock Arts College, with a roll of over 70 children. We try not to turn anyone away, however places are limited at Prestwich so we urge you to get in touch as soon as possible. We have had massive successes over the past 4 years producing some fantastic performances at festivals, theatres, as well as charity events and many of our students have also appeared on screen too. The right honourable Beverley Hughes (recent minister for children) commended us in the House of Commons for our work with special needs children.

Achievements
We have had so many great experiences over the past years, with many of our children appearing on tv , some have even appeared in film, one child even got to star with Johny Vegas!  Our successes are many and we do strive to keep everyone updated in our latest new section, however the best way to get a full view on the school is to subscribe to our FREE newsletter. In July 2009 the children and young people performed at the renowned 'Lowry Theatre' where they raised  £750 for a local cancer charity.  We also achieved 100% pass rate in our first year entering the prestigious LAMDA examinations, where one of our groups Footlights 1 (aged 6-8yr olds) all received Distinctions in musical theatre.