Welcome Freshers, welcome back returning students!

It’s been a journey these last few months. We ended our academic year streaming classes full time online. Our end of year showcase was cancelled. But we decided to hold on to our 2020 leavers a little longer. A new training site for our expanding needs was introduced and we learnt countless useless facts via some much needed online social quizzes. Sound familiar?

But now we’re back! Yes, the day has come. And whilst our operations will feel a little different than before, our mission is the same – to train our young people at the very highest standard, preparing them for a career as a professional performer.

Faculty has worked hard over the summer to ensure safety is of the highest priority, with the arrangements of smaller sessions to allow for social distancing, on an extended timetable. Temperature checks on sites and year groups split into four bubbles. Yes, four year groups!

Here’s where we’re fortunate to be an Independent training establishment. Our 2020 Graduates haven’t officially graduated! You heard right. They’ve joined us back for one final term (the equivalent of what we did online during Lockdown) for that all important contact (be it socially distanced) training experience. We believe the this will not only instil confidence in our commitment as a Conservatoire to our students, but more importantly, enable these young people to more fearlessly approach their next steps, being at the top of their game.

We’re just getting started back (did we ever really leave?) and there’s so many exciting events on the horizon already. So whether you’re UK based or abroad and are considering what your next career choices will be, get in touch #jointherenaissance.

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Wondering what type of people choose to study with R/A? Well wonder no more! We asked some of our student body to tell us about why they decided to train with Renaissance Arts Conservatoire, amidst the many other options available, and what they defined as key moments from their training so far:

Why did you choose to study with R/A?

“Before I auditioned for R/A I never really liked Ballet, however at the audition I didn’t feel pressured and had a ton of fun, completely forgetting it was an audition at times. I learnt so much in such a short lesson. I pushed myself more than I ever did before and overall felt like the directors were going to help and push me to become a professional dancer.” Ceri Bullock, First Year Dance Course

“In all honesty I had already made my mind up and fixed a place at the training institution I wanted to go to before my R/A audition. HOWEVER, I was not prepared for a huge spanner in the works when I completely fell in love with Renaissance and the teachings there within the first hour of my audition! The professionalism combined with honest care and passion from the faculty really drew me in. The atmosphere from the students was so welcoming, I already felt a part of the pack! Above everything, it was the solid technique that sold it to me, no cheat routes and just about looking good, but solid focus on being 100% employable regardless of your ‘preference’ in style.” Lucy Richardson, Second Year Dance Course

I was an R/A scholar for two years prior to starting college here and in those two years I felt that I learnt so much. I also found that the personalised training Renaissance Arts could offer was the right route for me. R/A is also good for me financially because studying near home means that I save on accommodation costs and don’t leave college with lots of debt. Lola Kinard, Second Year Musical Theatre Course

I started out on the scholars program, which was something so different that I hadn’t experienced before, especially the strength and conditioning side. The teachers were so encouraging and I really saw their teaching start to give me results. It just goes to show that what they tell us really does work, which is what attracted me to apply for the college. Alex Middleton, First Year Dance course

Tell us about a moment from your training experience with R/A that stands out?

“One moment that stood out for me was the day that I had just come out of my first ever assessments at R/A, I was in my first year. Everything felt so empowering and professional. The drive from not only the directors but the people training with me gave me a sense of purpose. I was confident on a great journey ahead of me.” Lucy Richardson, Second Year Dance Course

One stand out moment from my training at Renaissance arts so far was when we got the opportunity to work with Black Box Creative in a dancing on camera class. This is a stand out for me as it taught us skills that we could use in the future whether it is for professional tv work or filming our show reels. I have been lucky enough to work with Black box again during the filming of “Howly Ballet” and I feel this class really helped me in understanding how to achieve the best images. Lola Kinard, Second Year Musical Theatre Course

I Managed to lift 100kg at the gym during student combine week, this is something I hadn’t predicted at all and it really shows me my progression since starting college as I wouldn’t have been able to do that before. Alex Middleton, First Year Dance course

Who Inspires you professionally?

“Someone who I’m inspired by professionally is R/A Graduate Dani Hampson because when I leave college I really want to dance for celebs in music videos, tours etc and Dani has accomplished this, so I look up to her, wanting to achieve what she’s achieved.” Ceri Bullock, First Year Dance Course

Someone who inspired me professionally is Sutton Foster who has appeared on Broadway in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Anything goes, Little Women, the Drowsy Chaperone, Young Frankenstein, and more. She is an incredible singer and actor however she also dances in her roles. This is something that I really admire because when I graduate I would love to perform in a role in which I get to use the vocal, acting, and dance training that I have received at renaissance arts. Lola Kinard, Second Year Musical Theatre Course

Although I’m a Dance course student, I would say that people like Dianna Ross and Whitney Houston Inspire me because of the soul and passion they give to their performance. It’s something I want to add to my dancing in the future. Alex Middleton, First Year Dance course

After previously studying the work of Lester Horton and the Alvin Ailey American Dance company. I got really inspired by the power that story telling has on their performance and how they portray raw emotion through resistance through movement and connecting to real life situations. Lucy Richardson, Second Year Dance Course

What are your ambitions for the future?

My main ambition is to tour as a Dancer when I leave college and artists such as the Spice Girls have such good choreo, which i can see myself doing! I’d also like to feature in music videos as a Dancer. Ceri Bullock, First Year Dance Course

My ambitions for the future are ultimately to be working on London’s West End in Musical Theatre. The dream is to be doing something where I can showcase the dance, vocal, and acting training that I have received over three years here at R/A. One particular role which really would be a dream for me is “Satine” in Moulin Rouge the Musical which is coming to England next year. The movie on which it is based is one of my favourites and the soundtrack is really powerful. Lola Kinard, Second Year Musical Theatre

After graduating from Renaissance arts, I would love to travel the world as a backing dancer for recognised artists. I also would like to experience life on a cruise ship for a while. Lucy Richardson, Second Year Dance Course

Naturally I’m drawn to the showgirl cabaret style but hen guest teachers come in to teach commercial dance I’m just excited to see in the next couple of years where I’m going to be and how that’s going to lead me in to the industry. Alex Middleton, First Year Dance Course

Thinking about studying Dance or Musical Theatre after your GCSE’s or A-Levels?

At R/A, our unique selling point is our aspiration to deliver uncompromised teaching, ensuring that students receive inspiring and engaging experiences, with professionals who have been and are still working at the levels many aspire to. It’s a unique selling point.

But are we fighting against a culture of academic routes and funded study? 

The government no longer offering professional career development loans, to support those seeking an alternative route. How will our students afford their training fees and does heading to University to study for a Degree offer a more certain career path?

As an Independent vocational training conservatoire, Renaissance Arts offers almost exclusively practical tuition, across 4 days a week, 38 weeks a year. Our unique, industry lead courses are aimed at those wanting a professional career in the performance industry.

Full Fees to study a three year Dance or Musical Theatre course at R/A are currently £7450.00 per year. Study with some of our main competitors, and you can expect to be paying nearer to £14,000 per year. We take students from 16 years old, expecting them to graduate at 18/19 years old and go straight into work, cutting out a further 2 years of study if choosing to take the more traditional route of University, following A Levels or a Diploma.

So, why choose study elsewhere?

One of the key reasons is the ability to receive a government funded loan for degree courses, but how much you receive is very much dependent on your household income, and then there’s the interest that gets added on later down the line.

Why don’t R/A change courses to a degree level?

In short, we’d have to double course fees and reduce practical training by around 35%. This would undoubtedly diminish the standard of the courses and hugely compromise the employment success of our graduates. What we did do this year however, is took the unusual decision to become financially regulated, so that we could responsibly offer flexible payment options for fees.

It’s also worth considering that performance jobs in the entertainment industry are awarded based on practical talent and not where you’ve studied or what grade you received. For students applying to study towards a higher education qualification, in some establishments this could end up costing an additional amount on top of your fees. R/A students leave with a level 4 Teaching Qualification with the ISTD, meaning that between jobs or following professional work later down the line, they are already qualified to formally teach classical dance. They are also able to apply for funding bursaries towards their ISTD qualification.

Does studying outside London really offer value for money and a competitive route into the industry?

Finalist on the BBC’s ‘All Together Now’ and currently playing the role of Dustin in ‘Starlight Express’, 2016 Musical Theatre graduate, Ben Lancaster put it well, saying “The common myth and stigma around the necessity of training in London is incorrect and outdated. The training I received was impeccable and tailored so I could be the best I could possibly be, gaining experience in different styles and genres from a faculty who are at the top of their game in the industry.”

Last year’s data from the Institute of Fiscal studies found that Creative Arts Graduates had the lowest employment figures. 93% of 2019 R/A graduates have worked professionally since leaving their studies with this figure set to rise come the end of this academic year. The conversion speaks for itself.