Young people in Swindon who love singing, dancing and acting are getting back to the studio after many months of online classes.
One of the town’s leading voices in performing arts, Fi Da Silva Adams, has worked tirelessly with her team to return to socially distanced, performing arts classes last week.
“Our online classes were a life line for many young people during lockdown,” said Fi who is the MD and founder of Revolution Performing Arts, which normally supports around 350 young people on a weekly basis.
“Young people still had an outlet and an opportunity to experience our empowerment through the arts experience and were thrilled to see their friends, even if it was virtually.
“Now we are doing a phased, Covid-safe return to classes so that children can get back together in a mindful manner and it’s been wonderful.”
One of the first parents to attend an ‘in-person’ session at Shaw Church in West Swindon was Emma King, whose daughter, Darcy was excited to attend a real-world class. Classes are about to be launched in Freshbrook and Shrivenham too.
Emma said: “What a return! First class back after summer and lockdown and it was amazing! The measures to ensure the safety and happiness of the children and us parents were outstanding, from entering the building to leaving. You could see the smiles from the children and they were so excited to be back.”
Revolution Performing Arts, which was founded by Fi in 2007, has felt the effect of lockdown as half of her business was based in schools. Fi knew she’d have to innovate and her team offered online classes and now a phased return to socially distanced classes.
She said: “As schools are still understandably reluctant to have external clubs in I had to diversify so we decided to launch a programme of new sessions including more performing arts open classes, circus theatre arts, musical theatre, ballet for fun, RPA Sing, RPA Dance, RPA Street and RPA Act. We are now offering some of these classes in person at venues around Swindon.
“It’s really exciting. I am so grateful for not only the Covid19 Emergency Fund Grant we received from Arts Council England which has enabled us to keep going but also to the hundreds of parents who stood by us and kept us going all through lockdown.”
Revolution Performing Arts runs sessions in after school clubs and also open classes in church halls. It specialises in empowering young people to celebrate their individuality through the power of performing arts.
For more information, contact email: [email protected] or visit www.revolutionpa.co.uk
Photo from Laura Barnes.
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