I am delighted to take this opportunity to introduce you to London Studio Centre.
London Studio Centre is celebrating its 35th birthday in 2013. The college has an outstanding international reputation for providing dance training to a wide variety of disciplines, enabling our students to become versatile and valuable members of the theatrical profession. Each department is, in its own right, a centre of excellence where students can train to a high professional standard.
The Theatre Dance Course at London Studio Centre not only offers a thorough training in the skills required for a career in the professional theatre, but also provides the option for students to gain internationally recognised qualifications.
Our unique and successful programme is constantly under review and enables students to follow a broad based training, specialising in their chosen field for their final year. We seek to preserve and nourish the individuality and creative spirit of each of our students, encouraging them to develop as performers and to accelerate their individual progress.
Our policy at the Studio is strictly to limit the number of students in any one class. If more students apply to take a particular class, we simply create another one of the same level. There are currently fourteen levels of ballet and of jazz, contemporary and tap. Our staff/student ratio of 1:7 ensures personal interest and care from the faculty, enabling students to emerge as self-confident and self-disciplined individuals ready to move into their chosen branch of the professional theatre.
The pastoral care of our students is a vital aspect of our work. We have a number of specialist staff available for consultation about specific areas including health, accommodation and finance. We also have an experienced physiotherapist who visits London Studio Centre to examine and diagnose students’ injuries. London Studio Centre has a consulting G.P. and a qualified sports psychologist and counsellor for students’ care and well-being. The Health and Safety Committee at London Studio Centre keep these welfare issues constantly under review.
Over the past few years, the profession has been expressing concern that vocational colleges are under-represented in certain areas. We are particularly interested in addressing these issues and are looking to attract students from a diverse range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. We also wish to redress the male/female ratio balance that still persists in what is a traditionally female-dominated career - that of dance - and are seeking to increase the number of male students auditioning, enrolling and eventually, graduating from London Studio Centre and entering the dance profession.
In the vibrant atmosphere at the Studio all our students are treated as professionals. We have an 'open door' communications policy which lends itself to a very special working environment that produces positive, versatile and communicative young professional performers. This is demonstrated over our 35 years by the marked successes of our graduates in every branch of the performing arts.
We are most fortunate to have a highly distinguished teaching faculty dedicated to imparting their own knowledge and artistry; we are delighted to attract so many professional performers providing the finest training available.