BWA Performing Arts, established in 1964, is a South London performing arts school offering ballet, street dance, modern, jazz, tap, musical theatre, contemporary, drama, and singing classes for children and adults across multiple venues.
BWA Performing Arts, also known as the Betty Wivell Academy of Performing Arts, is a performing arts school for children in South London that was established in 1964. The school operates from three venues in Norbury, Crystal Palace, and Thornton Heath, serving families in the surrounding areas including Selhurst, Upper Norwood, Streatham, Croydon, and Mitcham. The director has a background in Dance Science and Sport Psychology.
The school offers classes in Ballet, Street Dance, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Drama, and Singing. Ballet students can enter exams with the Royal Academy of Dance and the ISTD. Drama students can present LAMDA exams. Classes are designed to build technique, artistry, confidence, and focus, and include teaching on mental skills such as resilience and managing nerves. Students participate in annual shows, competitions, and performances. Adult classes are also available. New students can join at any time during the year and may book a free trial for any class.
BWA Performing Arts, also known as the Betty Wivell Academy of Performing Arts, is a performing arts school established in 1964 that offers dance, drama, and singing classes. The school provides science-informed teaching that builds technique, artistry, confidence, and focus, with classes designed to be fun and engaging. The teaching team includes staff trained by the Royal Ballet School and American Ballet Theatre, with the director holding a background in Dance Science and Sport Psychology. The school teaches mental skills such as focus, resilience, and managing nerves as part of regular training and supports trainee teachers studying qualifications with the RAD or ISTD.
The school is based in South London and operates at three venues: Norbury at St Philips Church, Crystal Palace at the Salvation Army (58 Westow Street, Upper Norwood, SE19 3AF), and Thornton Heath at Parchmore Centre (Parchmore Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 8LY). The school serves families in Norbury, Crystal Palace, Selhurst, Thornton Heath, Upper Norwood, Streatham, Croydon, and Mitcham.
The school offers ballet, street dance, modern, jazz, tap, musical theatre, contemporary, drama, and singing classes. Ballet classes teach foundations and develop coordination, strength, musicality, and confidence in more complex movements. Street dance introduces young dancers to street dance and commercial styles with foundational moves, improvisation, and choreography. The school also offers Acro and Dance Skills Training as add-on classes. Classes are scheduled so they can be taken together to develop skills across multiple genres for a well-rounded performing arts education.
The school offers classes for children and adults. New students can join at any time during the year, and free trials are available for all classes. The school offers performer packages for children including Rising Performer (4 classes a week), Advanced Performer (5 classes a week), and Elite Performer (6 or more classes a week).
The school has coached children aged 4 to 22. Classes are available for children and adults at various experience levels, from foundational training to more advanced work.
Students can enter Royal Academy of Dance ballet exams throughout the year, ISTD-related exams, and present LAMDA exams. Students take part in annual shows and competitions and usually take medals home from competitions. Some students are represented by partner agencies and have landed roles in films and national marketing campaigns. Former students have appeared in West End productions including Matilda, Cabaret, Prince of Egypt, Back to the Future, Mamma Mia, and Chicago, and on BBC shows. Some former students go on to performing arts degrees at UK universities such as Arts Ed and LIPA.
The school follows science-informed teaching methods and offers Royal Academy of Dance ballet exams and ISTD-related exams. Students can also present LAMDA exams for drama. The teaching approach builds technique, artistry, confidence, and focus through enjoyment, with mental skills such as focus, resilience, and managing nerves taught as part of regular training.
Students take part in annual shows and competitions. Ballet students can enter Royal Academy of Dance exams throughout the year. Drama students can participate in an annual Drama Evening Show, and singing students can showcase progress in an annual Cabaret showcase.
Phone: 07481008676. Email: info@bwaperformingarts.com.
