In an extraordinary display of talent, dedication, resilience and teamwork, the students who attend a part time franchise theatre school based in Kent, have emerged victorious in the prestigious So You Want To Dance competition, renowned for showcasing the best dancers from the region.
The youngsters from Razzamataz Medway, part of the multi-award-winning Dragons’ Den backed franchise, astounded the judges with their awe-inspiring performance, combined with technical prowess and artistic expression. What is even more impressive is that the students were up against others that attend schools that just focus on the discipline of dance, with students practising for hours to pull off a highly technical number. The Razzamataz students become triple-threat performers, learning dance, drama and singing so although they don’t get as long to perfect their dance skills, this competition clearly shows their high level of training.
Maddie was one of the winning Inters students who competed for the first time and was awarded first place in her solo commercial dance. The competition squad also came first place for their group piece Empower and the cast who performed at the Shaftesbury Theatre last year, won first place in the cabaret category. Other solo entries also performed well with Sam and Melissa both achieving second place in their respective categories. Highly impressed, the judges gave out several special awards. The competition squad were awarded a dance scholarship for a summer intensive course at The International College of Musical Theatre and the Shaftesbury cast were awarded the Musical Theatre Scholarship at the International College of Musical Theatre.
“It’s a privilege to be able to see our students work so hard for something and to then walk away with the recognition that they have done an amazing job is the cherry on top of the cake,” says Emily Nachshon, Principal of Razzamataz Medway. “You experience all of the emotions with them before during and after the piece which in turn allows you to understand the students emotionally and mentally much better. Participating in these types of competitions is so valuable for all involved. As teachers, it is a great way to keep your skills and knowledge current, ensuring your students have access to the best opportunities to enrich their overall experience.”
The victory at So You Want To Dance competition is a testament to the comprehensive training provided by Razzamataz Theatre Schools. The schools cultivate a holistic approach to theatre education, empowering students to develop their confidence so they can find their unique voice while honing their technical skills.
“It has given me more confidence overall and I am more willing to try things that I’m not very comfortable with,” says winner Maddie. “It pushes me to be a better gymnast and improve my flexibility and movements so I can be a better dancer. I also understand the importance of teamwork and supporting people. It shows me that I can get better at things if I just stick with it and practice. Razzamataz Medway is my happy place and without my Razz family and the opportunities they give me I would not be able to do what I do now as I would not have the confidence, motivation or support they give me.”
Maddie’s mum Hayley has seen a huge change in her daughter and credits Razzamataz with her blossoming confidence as she explains: “Maddie started Razzamataz in 2015 when she was five years old. She was a shy and quiet girl who would always go to the back of the class. She would never approach any other child and found it difficult to make friends. Seven years on and now 13 years old what a different child I have, and I honestly believe this is down to Razzamataz Medway and the opportunities they have provided for her. Her confidence has grown massively and she doesn’t hold herself back as much as she once did. Being given the opportunity to perform at competitions like SYWTD, Hotshots, dance workshops like BASE and Shaftsbury Theatre makes Maddie feel alive and very proud. Without Razzamataz Medway giving Maddison all these opportunities, she would not be the girl or performer she is today.”
Razzamataz Theatre Schools is dedicated to nurturing the next generation, providing them with the skills, mentorship and opportunities necessary to thrive in not only the world of performing, but in whatever area they choose to follow.
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Razzamataz Theatre Schools is a BBC’s Dragons’ Den backed theatre school franchise established in 2000. Every school offers FREE taster sessions for all potential students to try, and every team member will have access to the Razzamataz Training Academy, a platform that we believe will revolutionise the ongoing development of our staff. Upon completion of the course, each teacher will receive a diploma that is recognised throughout the network. We are proud our average network turnover running as a mainly part time business is circa £80-100k in our network with our top performing franchise partners operating the business full time reporting turnovers of circa £300k with a 70% gross profit!
Neither Razzamataz Ltd, nor any of its directors, associated companies, employees, professional advisors or associates makes any representations, warranties or guarantee as to the reasonableness or accuracy of the financial information supplied to franchisees or the likely financial performance of individual franchisees. The information provided above is purely based on a number of general assumptions based on a full school however the individual performances of franchisees will vary depending on factors such as local competition, pro-activeness of franchisees to follow the systems, the promotion of the brand & other factors.
