A groundbreaking online performing arts course has been developed to provide young people in care with opportunities to break into the industry.
Targeted at those aged 13 to 17, the course is a collaboration between The Share Foundation in Aylesbury, Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in Hertfordshire, and the Rothschild Foundation.
Anais Houillet, a dance teacher featured in the course, drew on her personal experience of being in care as a teenager.
She expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “I feel grateful to be part of it, and to share what I went through and to let people know it’s possible.”
The course aims to support some of the UK’s most disadvantaged young people by offering creative outlets that help build confidence, resilience, and skills for potential careers in the performing arts.
Produced by Particle6, the program will also connect participants to a broader network of arts resources and organizations.
Houillet, who now works for the social enterprise Care to Dance, provides tutorials in various dance styles and shares personal advice for overcoming obstacles. “My advice to young people is to block out the noise and focus on yourself and your craft… If you need a showreel or portfolio, start with your phone, and that momentum will attract opportunities for you.”
Gavin Oldham, chairman of trustees at The Share Foundation, emphasized the course’s potential to transform lives: “It’s more than providing a course—it’s trying to change life prospects, giving them another skill that will hopefully make a difference.”
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