Showstoppers opened its doors on September 2nd 1996. My aim was to run a school that offered a high calibre of teaching where I could pass on the knowledge I had gained as a former teacher and performer and be a yardstick for young performers, giving students a friendly environment where they could express themselves freely through the performing arts and grow in confidence as performers and young adults.
Being part of the British Arts Association has given me the opportunity to give students the experience of exam work in an exam environment from a young age, for students to be involved in competitions both locally, regionally and nationally and to learn the lessons of competition (both the highs and the lows).
We have always prided ourselves on presenting an annual show of a very professional standard, teaching students commitment and hard work and by attributing these assets what you can achieve (life lessons not just performance lessons).
I have had many students pass through the door who have gone on to full-time vocational training where the skills they have learned at Showstoppers has stood them in good stead. We have had students go onto Millennium Performing Arts, London studios, Stella Mann, The Brighton Academy, Elmhurst School for Dance, The Royal Ballet School, Tring Park Arts Educational, Rambert, Bird etc.
From there our students have gone on to work in a variety of professional companies, cruiselines, shows, cabarets, modeling and teaching!
Today many of our former students return to take classes or run workshops and pass on their knowledge, keeping us a very close-knit school. This year alone we see our graduating students go on to a variety of further education in lots of different aspects of life, but showstoppers has given each of these young people something special regardless of whether they are going into the Arts or not. It’s given them friendships, good work ethics, understanding of commitment and working as a team, a pride in themselves and in theirs and others achievements.
For the future I hope to see more of the above.
Harriet Smith (Was Wilkinson) is also an ex-student who has worked professionally after graduating from Brighton. Harriet has worked for Warner’s, held the position of dance captain and worked overseas in musicals and worked on the musical Titanic. Harriet has won several choreography awards. As well as teaching at Showstoppers Harriet is Head of the Science department at The Undershaw School in Hindhead.
Anna started her dance training with the Kim Ellen school and progressed onto professional training at the age of 16 when she went to the Brighton Academy. Anna has performed in musicals and films and has now decided her future is in teaching,
Kirstie Stuart trained with us before attending Bath Spa where she achieved her degree in Musical Theatre. From there she went on to work on the cruise ships as a singer/dancer, Became lead vocalist of the Fred Olsen Line . Kirstie is now a full time teacher teaching singing at many Hampshire Secondary schools and also runs here own singing school KLS. Kirstie teaches for Showstoppers on a regular basis and is head of our Musical Theatre department.
Rachel Dare trained with RAD in schools in Scotland, England and America. She holds a Masters Degree in Education and was instrumental in the founding of Showstoppers.
Ellie Marshall joins Showstoppers after attending TBA to do her musical theatre degree , Ellie is an acrobatic arts teacher and at the moment joins us to teach in the Acro class , eventually we hope to see commercial street classes coming our way with Ellie .
Finally and most importantly is that I hope that Showstoppers is a fun place to train and when you leave you feel that you have achieved being the best that you can be and along the way you have made memories that will stay with you always!