Everyone celebrates the standing ovations, the drama school offers, and the successful careers that follow. But behind many performers stepping into the spotlight, there’s a group of people that the industry often forget: the local dance teachers, the youth theatre directors, singing tutors, and the community performing arts schools who started it all before drama school.
Before the prestige of professional training, there were cold village halls and small stages where teachers poured their hearts and countless hours of work into their students. They nurtured confidence, discipline, and creativity, long before casting directors ever knew those young people’s names. And yet, when students reach the big academies or make it onto the West End, their early mentors are rarely mentioned; their essential role is quick to be overlooked.
It’s a thankless truth: the performing arts world runs on the dedication of local teachers who give everything for the love of their craft and their students. Without them, there would be no stars to discover.
Now, Emil Dale Academy is shining a light on these unsung heroes, the grassroots teachers and schools who lay the foundation for the journey of so many performers.
It’s time to give credit where it’s due; without the grassroots, there’d be no glamour. So, if you’ve had – or currently have – one of your students training at Emil Dale Academy, we’d love to hear from you. Comment below and tell us who they are; we would love to include you in a special thank you post celebrating the incredible local teachers shaping the next generation of performers!
