Laine Theatre Arts
Encyclopedia
Laine Theatre Arts is an independent performing arts college, based in the town of Epsom
in Surrey
, England
. The college was founded in 1974, and developed from an earlier school, the Frecker-Laine School of Dancing. The college was founded by former professional dancer and dance teacher Betty Laine
.
level in dance
and musical theatre
. The college prepares students for a professional career in the performing arts and has a history of feeding artists into West End theatre
, dance companies, television, film, pop music and other high profile areas of the entertainments industry.
The college offers two courses:
Both courses are accredited by Trinity Guildhall and are recognised by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
. The college is also accredited to the Council for Dance Education and Training
. Many student places at the college are funded by the British Government through the Dance and Drama Awards (DaDA) scheme.
The college is also an approved centre of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
. Students have the opportunity to gain nationally recognised dance teaching qualifications with the organisation, in ballet, tap and modern theatre dance.
The school stages an annual production at the local 'Epsom Playhouse' theatre.
Epsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The college was founded in 1974, and developed from an earlier school, the Frecker-Laine School of Dancing. The college was founded by former professional dancer and dance teacher Betty Laine
Betty Laine
Betty Laine OBE, is a British dance teacher and former professional dancer.- Biography :Born Betty Chamberlaine in Cardiff, Wales in the United Kingdom, Betty Laine was educated at the Ursuline Convent School in Brentwood, Essex, and received her vocational training in dance and theatre at the...
.
Overview
Commonly referred to as Laine's, Laine Theatre Arts provides specialist vocational training at further educationFurther education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
level in dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
and musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
. The college prepares students for a professional career in the performing arts and has a history of feeding artists into West End theatre
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
, dance companies, television, film, pop music and other high profile areas of the entertainments industry.
Training
Key areas of study include ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary dance, singing and drama.The college offers two courses:
- National Diploma in Professional Dance
- National Diploma in Musical Theatre
Both courses are accredited by Trinity Guildhall and are recognised by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency is an exempt charity, and an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Children, Schools and Families...
. The college is also accredited to the Council for Dance Education and Training
Council for Dance Education and Training
The Council for Dance Education and Training * accredits professional training programmes in vocational dance and musical theatre schools* validates the qualifications of Dance Awarding Organisations...
. Many student places at the college are funded by the British Government through the Dance and Drama Awards (DaDA) scheme.
The college is also an approved centre of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing is a leading dance teaching and examination board based in London, England and operating internationally. Established on 25 July 1904 as the Imperial Society of Dance Teachers, it changed to its current name in 1925 and is now a registered educational...
. Students have the opportunity to gain nationally recognised dance teaching qualifications with the organisation, in ballet, tap and modern theatre dance.
The school stages an annual production at the local 'Epsom Playhouse' theatre.
Notable alumni
- Victoria BeckhamVictoria BeckhamVictoria Caroline Beckham is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress, fashion designer and businesswoman. In the late 1990s, Beckham rose to fame with the all-female pop group Spice Girls and was dubbed Posh Spice by the July 1996 issue of the British pop music magazine Top of the Pops...
- Ruthie HenshallRuthie HenshallValentine Ruth Henshall , better known as Ruthie Henshall, is an English singer, dancer, and actress best known for her work in musical theatre. Henshall attended the Laine Theatre Arts school in Epsom, Surrey before making her first professional appearance on stage in 1986...
- Sean GhaziSean GhaziSean William Ghazi is a Malaysian actor, singer and dancer.Ghazi is best known for appearing in the 1999 movie Anna and the King , alongside Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-fat. He has appeared on stage in London's West End and in Europe, in productions such as Miss Saigon, Rent and The King and I...
- Leanne RoweLeanne RoweLeanne Rowe is an English actress and singer, known for portraying Nancy in Oliver Twist, May Moss in Lilies and Baby in Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage.-Background:...
- Gerard McCarthyGerard McCarthyGerard McCarthy is an actor, best known to television viewers for his award-winning performance as Kris Fisher on the British soap opera Hollyoaks from 2006 to 2010, to theatres-goers for his performances on the West End and at Shakespeare's Globe, and to film geeks for his role in Belonging to...
- Summer StrallenSummer StrallenSummer Peta Vaigncourt-Strallen is an English actress who has performed various roles on stage and screen. Her most notable theatre credits include Meg Giry in the West End production of Love Never Dies and Maria Von Trapp in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of The Sound of Music at the London...
- Lee Latchford-EvansLee Latchford-EvansLee Latchford-Evans is an English pop singer, actor and dancer, most famous for being a member of the British pop group Steps.-Biography:...
- Enda MarkeyEnda MarkeyEnda Markey is an Irish-born Sydney, Australia-based stage and television actor. He made his professional stage debut aged eleven in Dylan Thomas's A Child's Christmas in Wales at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin....
- Kerry EllisKerry EllisKerry Jane Ellis is an English stage actress and singer who is best known for her work in musical theatre and subsequent crossover into music...
- Ben RichardsBen RichardsBen Richards is an English actor. He is best known for playing Bruno Milligan in series 4 and 5 of the British TV drama Footballers' Wives and in series 1 and 2 of its spin-off Footballers' Wives: Extra Time...
- Sarah HadlandSarah HadlandSarah Hadland is an English actress who has a career spanning theatre, film, and television and as a voice-over artist.-Early life and education:...
- Louise DearmanLouise DearmanLouise Dearman is a British musical theatre performer, currently playing the role of Glinda in the West End production of Wicked. She has a number of other professional stage and television credits, such as Eva Perón in Evita, and released her debut solo album, You and I, in 2005.-Early...
- Adam Ellis