ACTS exists to provide professional training in the performing arts to children 5 -13 years of age, with the primary aim of enabling life skills
l changes, relationship changes with parents and friends, break up of families, academic and peer, pressure and the influence of the mass media, the internet, mobile phones, drugs and alcohol etc have caused many children today to be confused and face significant stress in their lives. Children need to be given the life skills to help them manage the challenges they face daily. ACTS Belief
Children need to be taught from early years, that they can deal with the challenges they face daily in a way that promotes self esteem, a healthy lifestyle and positive choices. These life skills children take into their adolescence, into their teen years and into their adult lives. ACTS promotes the development of crucial life skills in children through ACTS own designed life skills development curriculum, which has a focus on the very real stresses and challenges children face in the 21st century. ACTS believes that the arts are central to our lives and, as such, belong to every one of us. The arts educate, inspire, and transform us, sometimes for a minute, often for a lifetime. Why Performing Arts for Life Skills Development? Theatre is miniature real life. Everything that is depicted in theatre is a reflection of what happens in the real world. Whether it be a comedy, tragedy, a political satire or just even the depiction of a typical "family drama" the reflections on stage are of the very same real life situations. It follows therefore, that if theatre is an imitation of the world,the reverse process is also possible of learning life skills through Theatre Art Experiences. The performing arts also comes ‘naturally’ and enjoyed tremendously by many children. Because of this, performing arts can be used to provide a practical approach to explore difficult issues in a safe and non threatening way, providing powerful and stimulating learning opportunities. Live performance has a unique capacity to stimulate and engage minds, feelings and imaginations of many young people. How Else PA is Good for Children
Outside of teaching life skills to children, students of the arts learn to think creatively and to solve problems by imagining various solutions, rejecting outdated rules and assumptions. Questions about the arts do not have only one right answer. Recent studies show that students who study the arts are more successful on standardized tests such as the SAT. They also achieve higher grades in high school. Encouraging Children with Physical or Mental Disabilities
Therapy and The Performing Arts: There are many benefits for children with disabilities attending ACTS. We provide an environment where children with disabilities can enjoy various arts and recreational programs in addition to receiving therapeutic benefits from their participation. Children gain new and rewarding experiences from which they develop self-confidence, increase motor function, and have fun. The performing arts also helps people with autism improve their social interaction and ability to communicate. Performing arts aids learning, since there is a strong relationship between artistic expression and the fundamental cognitive skills and capacities used in learning academic
History of ACTS
All Children’s Theatre School was launched in Karen, Nairobi, in 2005, by Shibero Akatsa-Darby, a performing arts professional and teacher, with experience from the USA, UK and Africa. Since then, ACTS has run holiday clubs and showcased ‘Lion King II. ACTS is incorporated under Waymarks Consultancy Ltd, a personal development, psychotherapy and communications consultancy registered in 2002. ACTS Program
Every Saturday during term time we run classes at in Lavington. Our 3 hour sessions consist of an hour of drama, an hour of dance and an hour of singing. Our aim is to teach the 3 aspects of performing arts ie drama, dance and singing to children in a friendly and enjoyable environment whilst giving them a chance to do regular performances on stage. Whether your child is hoping to pursue a career in performing arts or have a hobby & enjoyable weekend pursuit ACTS will provide an excellent all round training. Each term a show is performed for family and friends, from this students learn the art of teamwork and other charter building and life skills such as self control and discipline. Students are grouped according to age and are taught at a level appropriate to their age and learn the following:
Theatre/Drama
Using improvisation and script work, our drama classes explore a variety of themes that will often require students to draw upon their own experiences as a starting point to create ideas. Together with the skills and techniques learnt in class, students work on scripts in order to perform as part of the end of term show. Our Theatre/Drama program offers many opportunities for students interested in the foundation they will need to transfer to high school and pursue a career in Theatre Arts. Dance and Movement
In dance and movement, classes focus on theory, techniques, choregraphy, life fitness dance, dance appreciation, hip hop, modern dance, street, african and international dance, dance history & more. The style of dance routine learned will vary from term to term depending on the show that is to be performed at the end of term
Song and Singing
Our voice and singing focus on correct warm-up techniques and a variety of styles of song, harmony, developing all areas of the voice, and performing songs from Africa, well known musicals and songs children have written. Class Instructors
With qualified and experienced teachers, ACTS has a professional team, well practiced in teaching performing arts. All the teachers have performed professionally on stage and or in TV as well as being inspirational tutors. Parents receive written reports twice yearly.
