Why Choose Bodens?
At Bodens Performing Arts, we believe in nurturing young talent and providing a platform for young people to learn, improve and perform through creativity. Our commitment to excellence in a supportive, inclusive environment makes us a brilliant choice for parents seeking performing arts education for their children in North London.
performing arts classes at bodens
"In addition to our high standards of training within our
performing arts classes, we provide our students with a safe space to grow in confidence, discovering the world around them and the road ahead, helping them shape their identity. We provide opportunities for manageable risk to enable them to consistently achieve, aiding them in their development as performers and throughout their transition into adulthood. Young people need a place away from school and home where they can learn to perform as themselves. We are proud to be that place for so many."
Principal : Adam Boden, MA Applied Theatre
exceptional faculty
Our teaching staff at Bodens Performing Arts is a team of highly qualified and experienced tutors who are not only passionate about teaching, but also dedicated to each student's development. They bring real-world experience from theatre, television, film, and training; ensuring that students receive quality training from individuals who understand the demands of the industry. Many of our faculty members are industry leaders and have been recognised for their contributions to the performing arts and education, further assuring parents of the quality of teaching their children will receive.
approach to training
At Bodens, we focus on developing technical skills and guiding learning through creativity and self-expression. We offer classes in acting, singing and dancing, and believe in encouraging creativity and play whilst also instilling discipline, confidence, and strong work ethic in pupils. Our teaching methods encourage students to push their boundaries in a supportive and structured environment, to help every pupil achieve their potential.
Wonderful environment for kids to learn and have fun. The teachers are fantastic! It’s my daughters favourite place!
Itzfurse - Recent 5 Star Google Review
individual attention
We recognise that every child is unique, with their own talents and needs, strengths and weaknesses. To cater to this, we maintain small class sizes to ensure each student receives direct attention and focused teaching. Our tutors work closely with students to identify their strengths and areas for improvement, and provide regular feedback and guidance-both verbal and written-to pupils and parents. Our approach helps to maximise each child's growth and accelerate their development as performers.
industry connections
Our strong connections with the performing arts industry offer our students opportunities to work with experienced industry professionals. Our industry connections also facilitate audition opportunities, work experience and career guidance, helping students to find their way in a competitive industry.
Highly recommend it. My daughter has been going there for more than 8 years and she really enjoys it.
Good fun learning environment with committed teachers. Margarita - 5 Star Google Review
supportive community
We pride ourselves on our supportive community of students and teachers. We believe that a positive and inclusive atmosphere is essential for growth. Our students, faculty, and staff work together to create a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued, supported and encouraged. We celebrate diversity and promote collaboration, ensuring every student feels they have an important place at Bodens. This supportive community helps students build lasting friendships and a strong sense of belonging.
facilities
Our purpose-built facilities are designed to provide our students with the best possible learning environment. We have fully equipped dance, acting, and singing studios and dedicated performance spaces. Our studios have sprung flooring and mirrored walls, and are equipped with technology that supports students in their creativity. This safe and well-equipped environment at Bodens enhances the students' overall educational experience, allowing them to focus on their training in quality facilities, while we look after everything else.
location and accessibility
All our Enfield, Barnet and Islington centres are situated on major public transport routes (accessible by bus or train) and have nearby parking facilities. Our studios are also wheelchair accessible.
Best acting school in London!
Caroest - 5 Star Google Review
how to apply
Our application process is simple and can be done online through our application form or by contacting a member of our team by calling or emailing. Our team are available by phone 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, and by email 7 days a week, and are happy to assist you with questions you may have about our classes, facilities, applications or anything else. If you have any queries whatsoever, don't hesitate to get in touch!
We offer a free trial session for anyone looking to join a class at Bodens, so your child can try a lesson with us at no extra cost to you. We then recommend that parents pay on a weekly basis for the first few weeks to give them time to settle before moving onto monthly or termly payments.
our productions
Throughout the year students take part in performances, some through the classes they attend, and others as optional opportunities to further their learning and experiences. We take on all manner of plays from Greek Theatre and Shakespearean to new writing and Contemporary classics. We devise our own pieces, and often performances can be in the form of immersive, educational or participatory theatre. There are also opportunities to be a company member of large scale musicals. We perform in house at our resident Scaffold Theatre, at the Arts Depot in Finchley and Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar, and further afield in venues such as Hackney Empire and The Soho Theatre in London.
Previous musicals performed include Into the Woods, Les Miserables, Matilda, Whistle Down the Wind, We Will Rock You, High School Musical, Honk!, Bugsy Malone, 13 The Musical, amongst many others. Our large scale immersive work includes Hamelin, Revolting Rhymes, Metropolis and our current production, Minotaur.
Bodens is a warm and friendly learning place, with extremely thorough and flexible teaching. If you're someone looking into going into performing arts - this place is perfect. It teaches all the proper techniques and shows you how to professionally refine yourself into a fine actor, singer, or dancer. Tetsutetsu - 5 Star Google Review
our vision and values
At Bodens Performing Arts our mission is to help transform the lives of children and young people through inspirational teaching, providing exceptional training in performing arts. We want to be recognised as an outstanding educational provider and to ensure we help all our students to achieve their potential. At Bodens we place the well-being and development of our young people, staff and the local community at the heart of the organisation.
a little bit of history
In 1973, professional actors Tony and Mo Boden were asked to teach acting to friends' children. The number of students wanting to work towards their speech and drama exams quickly grew, and once they hired church halls in Palmers Green, the country's first combined course classes were born, and for 20p a week, young people from the local area would spend three hours singing, dancing and acting.
Following the death of Tony in 1996, all the classes were put under one roof in purpose-built studios on Windmill Hill in Enfield by Mo and their son Adam. Five years later, with courses offered seven days a week, Bodens had outgrown their new premises and created purpose built studios on East Barnet Road. The extra studio space and purpose-built studio theatre helped us grow from strength to strength, and in 2014 Adam Boden, now principal of the school, opened the full-time college with just seventeen students. In 2022, Bodens began the academic year with 75 young people attending full time at the college, and over three hundred children and young people in the part-time school. 2023 will be our fiftieth year of creativity, commitment and success. While some classes remain on the East Barnet site, our main studios have now moved to a three story building in Islington. With our experience and knowledge, we have always been one of the country's leading providers of performing arts, now, closer to the heart of London, we can achieve even more.