Child 1 Age 12 - 19 (Female)
Program(s) focused in Musical Theatre
Child 2 Age 14 - 16 (Female)
Program(s) focused in Musical Theatre
(5) Overall experience
Both my kids have consistently come out of Bravo rehearsals feeling uplifted, challenged in the best way, and excited about the shows they are working on. Both gained numerous musical theatre-related skills and upped their skill levels consistently. They gained confidence, made lifelong friends, and learned how to show up as a professional and work as part of a team. As a parent, this is amazing in every way, and this is the reason I have sent two kids to Bravo.
(5) Reason for choosing the program
My first child was attracted to this program because we heard that the shows were rehearsed and produced at a high level, performed in a professional theatre setting, and taught by caring industry professionals. My second child joined this program after watching her sister thrive in it for many years. Bravo has a great reputation, has been completely worthwhile, and definitely costs less than if our kids had instead been doing a team sport. (Though I do consider theatre a team sport.) You will need proper dance footwear, but this was not unexpected.
(5) Program quality and activities
We were definitely not pushing our kids into theatre; they fell in love with it themselves, and both were writing and performing plays with their friends during recess, after school, etc., from an early age. Bravo, therefore, was a natural progression for them both. Each of them loves singing, acting, and dancing, and they also just wildly love musical theatre, and being part of a show. I would say that performing the show at the end of each session is the highlight for them. (And speculation about what the next show will be becomes a full-blown obsession, which is also fun.) Bravo encourages their students to hone their skills, take vocal and dance lessons if possible, to further develop their instruments (i.e., voices, bodies, creative selves), and works on this with all students in a troupe. The fact that Bravo employs choreographers, directors, musical directors, fight directors, stage managers, etc., who are fully trained and also working in the industry professionally, is key to the quality and effectiveness of the experience. The kids learn how to do things on a high level and the right way.
(5) Social dynamics and experience
My kids both have made incredible friends at Bravo, friendships that will last. Melissa and the staff have zero tolerance for bullying, work to make sure everyone is included, and keep their eyes out for problematic social dynamics. They have a lot of experience with kids and teens, and are very supportive and empathetic to the students, as artists and as humans. If needed, they know how to step in and help students work out their differences.
(5) Skills and growth
Bravo's program, their private lessons, and their musical theatre troupes are full of skill development. The kids become better overall performers, specifically better singers, dancers, and actors, and most importantly, they become performers who can do all of those things at once, which is not easy! Certain shows require special skills like tap dancing or fight choreography, and my kids have loved learning those things. My eldest got into one of the top musical theatre programs in the country, and that is largely due to her training and experience at Bravo. My youngest is still there, but also wants to do theatre professionally, and I am confident that Bravo is the best place to prepare her for the next level of education. They have both been given roles that challenged them in many ways, and the work they do as part of the ensemble is equally important. Because Bravo double casts most roles, everyone has the chance, on their "off night" to be part of the ensemble, which means learning an entirely different track (tons of dance, singing with harmonies, blending their voices, getting in and out of different costumes, moving set pieces, being part of giant group numbers, etc) than their "on night." My kids have often found their off night as busy and fun, as their on night, and found it creatively interesting as well. There is a lot of teamwork, fast thinking, communication, and skill involved in every aspect of these productions, and they become more complete artists and humans because of it. One more thing on this subject: there is a lot of auditioning--first to get into a troupe, and then for each show, there are auditions and callbacks. This can seem like a lot, but again, auditioning is a valuable skill that is extremely transferable to other situations. It involves learning how to prepare for an audition--songs and scenes, and also how to overcome the nerves and fears that come with having to get up and perform in front of people. Auditioning takes both skill and courage, and a certain mindset, and having to do it for each show is a really great experience to have.
(5) Staff/Instructors/Counsellors
The staff at Bravo is fantastic. As I have said, the troupe staff are pros, but they are also empathetic, caring adults who really care about the kids. Any time one of my kids has been struggling, someone has been there to check on them and give care and support. Communication from admin and troupe staff is thorough, prompt, and excellent. Any question I have is answered promptly, and they are warm and friendly to all.
(5) Advice and tips
If your kid is passionate about musical theatre, this is a great place to be. It is a serious commitment, especially the performance troupes. It's competitive, and even if you're just doing it for fun, you need to be serious about showing up and doing the work. Showing up and doing the work IS fun, though, and is incredibly rewarding, and will be worth it. If your kid loves doing theatre for fun, this will be great for them, and if they want to eventually do it professionally, there is nowhere better for them to get experience and training.
Another thing your kids will learn is how to deal with disappointment in a healthy way, because while they will always get something interesting and challenging, your kid will not always get the role they wanted. That is life, and that is especially life in the theatre, and part of becoming resilient is learning how to cope with this.
One thing I want to add is that in Bravo's troupes, all the students who are there had to audition to get in, and really want to be there. This makes a huge and positive impact on the vibe and work ethic of the group, and it means their fellow artists have a lot of skill and talent, which brings up the level of the work, and helps everyone be challenged to learn from one another, and bring their best.
Finally, it means that the kids are surrounded by people with whom they have a lot in common, which leads to a great social experience, on top of everything else.
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