About Us
Since Kirkham Henry Performing Arts Centre was formed in 1989, when Angela Kirkham and Jennie Henry decided to combine their individual teaching talents, our contribution to the Arts and fitness in Ryedale and the North Yorkshire area has been immense.
In 2021 our Principal Miss Angela celebrated her 50th Year as a dance teacher...a huge achievement .
Supported by a team of brilliant teaching staff with well over 100 years combined experience, we have gained a reputation for excellence in all aspects of the Performing Arts and community classes and are immensely proud of our students’ achievements over the years, not just those that have continued into the performing arts industry, but all those students who, with the discipline and dedication learnt throughout their time at Kirkham Henry, have gone on to excellent careers outside of the performing arts.
Why choose Kirkham Henry?
Every member an individual
The philosophy of the Centre is one of care and concern for each individual, aiming to achieve the personal, recreational and vocational development from our tots to our elders to the maximum of her/his ability and well-being. Angela and Jennie believed that if young people are self-disciplined in their hobby then they are self-disciplined in life itself!
Our reputation for being an inclusive school means everybody is welcomed.
Skills for the future
Dance, Singing, Drama and Music are taught to the highest level and many students go on to enjoy successful careers in the all forms of performing arts. For those who choose not to enter the industry, Angela and the staff possess the ability and skills to motivate young people to progress to alternative courses in higher education. All our Adult community classes are for fitness, fun, learning a new skill, friendship and well-being.
Examinations
Students excel in examinations in Royal Academy of Dance, International Dance Teachers Association,
Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and
Trinity.
Nationally acclaimed
We consistently win trophies at the various Stage Dance and Singing Festivals in the North of England. Many years Kirkham Henry pupils have been awarded numerous “Most Outstanding Performers” awards at the festivals. Pupils often have the opportunity to appear in professional productions.
In October 2019 Kirkham Henry were awarded The Malton and Norton Pride Award for 'Outstanding Achievement'
Friends for life
Success can be measured in so many ways and at Kirkham Henry it isn’t just the prestigious awards that pupils win year after year, it is the rapport between teachers, Directors , children and parents, a feeling of a family enterprise. Those who train together, stay together. This goes for our children's and adult classes.
Some of our adults have been dancing together for over 40 years, frienships can be formed and the help and support for each other is immence. All teaching staff are very much a family of close colleagues and are there for each other as well as each individuale pupil.
Accessible for all
The Centre provides a happy, friendly, disciplined and focused environment, which allows its students, both young and mature, to flourish. The schools success is also based on its ability to offer places to everyone from a wide range of social backgrounds and to the wider community. As a fully inclusive school, Kirkham Henry provide Adult classes for the older generation, such as Golden Gliders and Silver Swans, Dancing with Parkinsons, Dementia, Mencap groups and blind and sight support groups.
Kirkham Henry is a Makaton friendly school and offers support with qualified teachers to anyone using signing to communicate, along with trained SEND teachers , allowing more special needs and disabled children and adults to access dance classes.
Mental Health and Well-being
Our dance for life long well-being classeshave many testimonials of how they provide an opportunity to have fun ,meet new people and make new friends and improve overall physical, mental and emotional health.
" I have attended Golden gliders for several years and prior to that Jazzercise! I have always enjoyed my exercise and dancing helps me both physically, emotionally and socially
I am now 85 and have always been able bodied, however in April 2022 I fell and broke my hip, following which I suffered a stroke. I was back ‘dancing’ again in the September albeit sitting on a chair. I now have to use a mobility scooter to get about.This class has been a lifeline for me and I would find life difficult without the regular contact with friends as well as the physical improvement! My consultant is very pleased with the progress I am making as a result of my regular dance class."
Beryl Queen
Arts for everyone
“The aim of the Kirkham Henry Performing Arts CIC is simple - to help anyone enjoy the pleasures of the performing arts, to learn to appreciate good music, to dance, to sing and to act well.”
18 year and under recreational and vocational classes. Our adult and senior citizen classes for well-being both physically and mentally. Friendship and combat isolation and loneliness. To move it or lose it has never been more apropriate.
Angela and Jennie considered it vital that class fees are kept at an extremely affordable rate in order to support students from less privileged backgrounds and maintain the “rich mix” of talent that has been so successful in the past.
