Reimagining education for creative excellence

The traditional education system is facing unprecedented challenges and leaders across the globe are looking for new methods to prepare students for the evolving world in which they will enter the workforce.

At the forefront of this is Dubai and the UAE who are making significant efforts to prepare the next generation of students by focusing on the skills development that is currently missing.

One powerful way to do this is by incorporating performing arts into the education system. By doing this, we can unlock the potential to nurture creative leaders who possess the skills and mindset to excel in an ever-changing world.

Razzamataz Theatre Schools is a UK-based multi-award winning franchise, with more than 23 years’ experience working with children and young people from the age of babies through to young adults of eighteen.

With more than 60 schools across the UK, teaching approximately 10,000 children weekly, the Razzamataz team will be sharing their knowledge and experience about how to grow students’ potential through the life skills and resilience that is gained through the performing arts.

Denise Hutton-Gosney, MD and Founder of Razzamataz, recognised early on that the impact of performing arts on young people was immense. She has dedicated her time to ensuring that the Razzamataz curriculum delivers not just excellence in terms of performing arts training, but also providing young people with the ‘soft skills’ needed to thrive in education and beyond.

“The inclusion of performing arts education alongside the traditional school curriculum can be transformative to the outlook for individual students,” explains Denise. “At Razzamataz, we create a safe and welcoming environment for students to enable them to express their thoughts, emotions, and feelings freely, thereby unlocking their creativity. This allows them to think outside the box, work collaboratively, and come up with innovative ideas.”

However, integrating high standards of performing arts education into schools is not without challenges. Limited resources and teachers who have not had the years of intensive training required to be a performing arts practitioner can hinder the process and positive results for both students and teachers.

Offering a solution is Razzamataz Theatre Schools, who would like to foster partnerships with international educational institutions to exchange knowledge and best practices through bringing in their own highly trained teachers. This helps expose students to a broader range of educational opportunities and lessen the burden on schools that may not have these specialists’ teams.

“Razzamataz have highly trained and experienced performing arts teachers who nurture talent as well as foster the development of various soft skills by creating a supportive and challenging environment where students can learn, practice and apply these skills,” adds Denise. “This is highly valuable in everyday life, education, and future careers.”

By engaging with Razzamataz, schools can deliver a world-class education programme, focussing on the whole student and differentiating themselves within their market. Through our work in the UK, we understand the benefits that come when students engage in performing arts training and although we know the interest in performing arts is there, schools must provide the best teachers to inspire, empower, and engage students to reach their full potential.

As part of their commitment to providing a performing arts education that builds life skills and confidence in young people, Razzamataz conducted research into the main issues that are affecting students, with a survey sent out to the Senior students (age 12-18) across 60 Razzamataz schools throughout the UK.

Since starting Razzamataz, 89.6% of students said that their confidence has improved with typical responses such as: “I have become more confident in trying new things and pushing myself to do things even when I’m scared.”

Educators that Razzamataz works with in the UK have had similar responses with students not only feeling more confident when they are performing but also increased resilience and improved teamwork in class every day.

“Equipping students with the appropriate skillset not only enhances their educational growth but also prepares them for the challenges of a competitive society in the future,” concludes Denise. “We are proud to be giving them the crucial skills that they need to become the leaders of the future.”

About Razzamataz Theatre Schools

Razzamataz Theatre Schools is a franchise theatre school offering performing arts education to babies, pre-schoolers, children, and young people up to the age of 18. Launched in 2000, more than 60 schools across the UK currently teach 10,000 children a week.

The Razzamataz brand is strong and recognisable across the whole of the UK, building on an appearance on BBC’s Dragons’ Den and winning support and the full investment from Dragon Duncan Bannatyne. Razzamataz has continued to build on its profile with many national, regional and local newspaper articles.

Razzamataz has cemented its position as a leader in the field of performing arts and as a market leader within the franchising and children’s educational activity sector. National award wins include a double win in the 2022 British Franchise Association Awards, success at the Federation of Small Businesses Awards, positioned in the Elite 100 Top Franchises in the UK for consecutive years, and being awarded the highest accolade 3 kite mark from the Institute of Children's Activities Providers. Razzamataz is also an Ambassador for The Prince’s Trust.

Building on this profile, Razzamataz has collaborated with multi-national brands such as Mattel, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros, 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures.