âPQA has changed my whole perspective on my persona and who I am. If you look back at me before I joined PQA, I was a different person. At PQA I know that everyone is like me and theyâre not going to judge me on who I am. I now class all of them as my family. Weâre so close.â ------------------------------------------------ "Look at this, Charlie!â I am suddenly surrounded by a swarm of my eldest students, radiating with that untouchable ambition one has within the safety net of youth. They are showing me videos of a dancer, thrown into the silhouette by using the light through the window, oh, and the slow motion button on their iPhone, to make it âarty.â Turns out the prima ballerina in question is one of the excitable students next to me who just âmade this now⊠for fun.â Meet Jade, born and bred in Hampton Court (the hospital, not the palace!) fifteen years old and dreaming of life on a West End stage. Before coming to PQA sheâd always loved performing, even dancing in the 2009 childrenâs variety performance at Her Majestyâs Theatre, âIâve been dancing for as long as she can rememberâ and passed her grade 3 singing exam with distinction). By 30, she intends to be living in a big house in the city, performing in a West End show and inspiring others. Her determined ambition is very contagious and before long I am wondering if all thirty somethings should be checking in for a little pep talk with those still untainted by the âthis is right, this is wrong, lets put you in a generic boxâ educational system and rat race. âIâve recently discovered this incredible singer. Oh my god, sheâs so good. Her name is Bernadette Peters. Iâm listening to her on repeat.â For those of you who are unsure who B.P is, this is the equivalent of Jade discovering Beyonce, Einstein⊠or fire! It seems the timeless impact of great performers really does work its way down from one generation to another. It is this legacy that inspires Jade to work hard⊠âAll of my favourites are divaâs; Elaine Paige, Barbara Streisand, when I watch them perform, I can tell by the way they look around at the audience that theyâre doing what they love. They look so appreciative of what they have and their expression when they sing is just mesmerising to me.â I suggest it could be an inner belief or self confidence that sets them a cut above the rest, âExactly that,â Jade agrees, â I admire their confidence. I can see it.â Ahh. That old chestnut. Interestingly, 70% of my students join PQA to try and improve theirs and Jade was no exception to this statistic. Often, even the most boisterous and extroverted students lack an inner anchor and realistic evaluation of just how good they are. âI wanted the confidence boost when I joined PQA because I didnât really believe in myself. A lot of the teachers at PQA gave me that and now I feel really comfortable within myself. Iâve learnt a lot from Alex especially (Musical Theatre teacher.) Being taught by someone who is so confident reflects on us, we all look up to her as a role model.â We could all take something from Jadeâs motivated work ethic. In her bedroom she proudly displays her mantra, âWhen youâre not rehearsing, somewhere⊠someone else isâŠâ Everyday after school she sings in her bedroom with a mic and amp her Mum got her for Christmas (important essentials for the aspiring superstar!) and often stays late after school to dance. Iâm relieved to hear she also gives herself plenty of headspace, riding her bike down to the river for a little rest, relaxation and âme timeâ. Her no nonsense approach and intuitive creativity will ensure her successful, regardless of her future path. Watch this space! Jade will be playing the part of Jamie in âOut Thereâ at the Hampton Court Theatre on the 9th July 2016.
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