A theatre school where every child is known by name.
Professional training, taught in a room where nobody is embarrassed to be a beginner.
SJ · founder and principal
A welcome from SJ
I trained at Laine Theatre Arts from the age of 18, on a personal scholarship from Betty Laine, studying dance across every genre alongside singing and acting. Since then I have appeared in television commercials and performed at Birmingham Hippodrome, Wolverhampton Grand and Cardiff New Theatre.
I have choreographed Cabaret, Sweet Charity, The Wedding Singer, Seussical the Musical and the Great British Games for Heart of Worcestershire College, plus work for the Worcester Olympic ceremony, Worcester Wolves and Worcester Warriors.
None of that matters much on a Tuesday evening. What matters is that a seven-year-old who was hiding behind their mum in September is front and centre by December. That is the part of this job I care about, and it is why SJP exists.
- 15
- Class styles taught
- Baby to adult
- Ages in the studio
- 2
- Performing troupes
- 5
- Awarding & safeguarding bodies
Meet the teachers
The teaching team
- SJ Founder and principal. Laine Theatre Arts scholar. Acro & Cheer, Ballroom & Latin, First Steps, Drama.
- Madi Musical Theatre on Wednesdays, plus Drama, Singing and Jazz & Commercial.
- Amy Second Steps and Jazz & Commercial. Often the first teacher a four-year-old works with on their own.
- Lottie Parent & Toddler on Monday mornings, and the person who answers your first enquiry.
- Teacher photographs and full qualifications are being updated. Ask us and we will tell you exactly who teaches the class you are considering.
Additional needs and one-to-one teaching
Some students thrive in a full group from the first week. Others need a quieter room, a familiar teacher and time to work at their own pace. We teach both, and we do not treat one as the lesser option.
Private lessons for young people with additional needs run alongside the group timetable, with the same certificates and the same chance to perform. If you would like to talk it through before booking anything, we would rather have that conversation first.
Private lessons offer a great way for Caitlin to learn at her pace, and the teachers are professional and experienced in a safe, nurturing environment. It is wonderful for her to experience the joy of dance and to have the chance to earn certificates she is very proud of.
How we keep students safe
- Every teacher is DBS-checked before they take a class, and checks are kept current.
- We work to an external safeguarding framework rather than a policy we wrote ourselves.
- Photography consent is recorded per family and checked before anything is published.
- Medical and safeguarding details are collected securely at registration, never through a website form.
Our full safeguarding policy is available on request. Ask at reception or email us and we will send a copy.
Examinations and where they lead
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Medals
Short assessments for younger students. A first taste of dancing for someone other than the teacher.
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Graded examinations
Structured syllabus work in ballet, tap and modern, assessed by a visiting examiner.
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LAMDA
Speech, acting and musical theatre qualifications for drama and singing students.
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Vocational routes
Audition preparation and college applications for students considering training full time.
Who assesses our students. We enter students through established awarding bodies, so the certificate means the same thing wherever they take it next.
Come and see the place
The best way to judge a school is to stand in it for an hour. Come and visit, bring your questions, and enrol when you are ready.