Afonso School Of Performing Arts in Berkhamsted
Afonso School Of Performing Arts
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Afonso School of Performing Arts opened in September this year, and is run by husband and wife team, Alicia and Ricardo Afonso. Both West End professionals with credits including We Will Rock You, Chicago, Top Hat, Thriller Live and BBC1's The Voice. The school offers classes in ballet, tap, street dance and musical theatre to children aged 2 to 11 years. Examinations and end of year productions, alongside regular presentations and awards, the children will have many opportunities to shine and build their confidence within the school, and day to day.
As well as having performed professionally in the West End, the principal, Alicia, is a fully qualified and insured dance teacher and a Licentiate member of the IDTA, with 12 years teaching experience and holds an enhanced DBS check. Alicia is passionate about teaching dance and hopes to inspire young and aspiring dancers to follow their dreams, as she did.
Ricardo Afonso, the Artistic Director and musical theatre teacher, is currently rehearsing for his new role as the Taxi Driver in the brand new musical 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown'. He has appeared in some of the most well known musicals in London, including 'We Will Rock You' playing the lead role of Galileo, Alberto Beddini in 'Top Hat the Musical', and 'Thriller Live'. He also appeared on BBC 1's The Voice in 2013 as a member of Team Danny.
If you would like your child to have the opportunity to be involved in this new and exciting school, please do not hesitate to contact us at afonso_schoolofperformingarts@hotmail.com-
NEW Musical Theatre class for ages 6 and over. Mondays, 3:45 at the Northchurch Social Centre. First lesson free!!
29 January 2015 - More announcements
Photos of Afonso School Of Performing Arts
View photo gallery ยปAreas covered
We are based in Berkhamsted, and are of driving distance from Tring, Chesham, Hemel Hempstead, Aylesbury, St Albans, Amersham.
View timetableLocations
- Berkhamsted Castle Montessori Preschool and Nursery Spring Garden Lane Berkhamsted HP4 3GY
- Baby bottle heating
- Baby changing room
- Free Parking
- Berkhamsted Northchurch Social Centre Bell Lane Berkhamsted HP4 3QW
- Buggy/Disabled Access
- Free Parking
- Berkhamsted Lagley Meadow Youth Centre Lagley Meadow Douglas Gardens Berkhamsted HP4 3PE
- Buggy/Disabled Access
- Free Parking
Activities
Acting Classes, Activity classes for early years settings, Activity Clubs, Baby and Pre-school activities, Baby, toddler and pre-school classes, Baby, toddler and pre-school Dance, Baby, toddler and pre-school Movement, Baby, toddler and pre-school Music/singing, Baby, toddler and pre-school Theatre, Ballet dancing classes, Breakdance Classes, Creative Dance, Dancing Party, Drama classes, Hip Hop Dancing classes, Holiday camp, Jazz dancing classes, Modern dancing classes, Musical Theatre, Parent + Toddler Group, Pop Dancing classes, Street Dance classes, Tap dancing classes, Theatre and drama classes, Theatre dancing classesPricing & Other Information
We have a unique pricing system which offers bigger discounts for the more classes you attend. Ballet, tap and musical theatre must be pre-booked and paid in advance each term.
Street dance and pre-school classes are drop-in sessions.
Please enquire for further details.
n.b. Please bring along a soft toy to use during our Melody Bear ballet classes. -
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Reviews
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Katie, Mum of Evie (8) Hertfordshire.
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Karen, Mum to Leah (12), and Mia (2) Hertfordshire
I have been taking my two girls to Afonso, School of Performing Arts since it opened this year and my girls love it!
My youngest child is 2 and a half, she goes to the 'Melody Bear' class once a week, she absolutely loves it! It helps to keep supple, the class introduces movement to children with a variety of hopping, skipping, galloping and jumping in a fun way, her teachers are fantastic, they adore the little ones so much!
My other daughter who is 12, goes to the Saturday afternoon class where she does a mixture of tap, ballet and musical theatre. She is currently doing grading with tap and ballet and with the musical theatre she is working towards a presentation to the parents. She is not a confident person but when she is on stage the teachers have brought her on so much to be confident on stage, it's amazing. The teachers are fully qualified and professional teachers who are still in the West End. The children have come on so much since going to Afonso School of Performing Arts. My children lovet hem all to pieces, I can't fault them, they are impeccable!
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Louisa, Mum to Lexi (2) and Olly (7) Hertfordshire
I have been going to Afonso School of Performing Arts since it opened early this year. The age starts from 2 to 11 years old and it includes ballet, tap, musical theatre and street dance. The school is run by former West End Professionals, a husband and wife team.
Each class is fun,structured, and and disciplined. Since my children have been going there I can really see a difference in my son's confidence and he really enjoys his street dance class with the cool teacher Stephen! I find that with my youngest child, who is two years old, the teacher keeps them all so busy all the time, really engages with them, so she doesn't not get bored for a minute! I would very much recommend it.
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Stephanie, Mum of Chiara age 2.5
Chiara has been attending Melody Bear Ballet for a couple of months and absolutely loves it. In fact every day the first thing she asks me is 'Can I go ballet today?" - hoping it is Saturday!
Alicia has an amazing strength in engaging with the little ones. She has such warmth and enthusiasm they really listen and pay attention to her instructions. She supports them where necessary to learn some of the basics and makes the entire session really good fun. She will explain an exercise or an activity to the group, asks them to practise together as she demonstrates and then will add the music. She asks them to listen to the beat of the music or using clapping to begin to learn the way rhythm works.
The Melody Bear Syllabus is brilliant because it provides a story which the little ones love to participate in and really fires up their imagination. Credit to Alicia for bringing that syllabus to life with her energy and creativeness - I'm pretty certain much of it is down to her talents.
I'm so happy we found Alicia. Chiara has grown in confidence so much so that now she tells me to sit down as she is happy to participate alone throughout the majority of the lesson. -
Elizabeth, Mum of Harry (7), Northchurch
Our son has been attending the Afonso School of Performing Arts since September. He started by attending the weekly street dance class on a Monday which he loves. His teacher Stefan is extremely talented and teaches in a relaxed atmosphere with lots of opportunity for the children to 'freestyle' which Harry particularly enjoys.
With warmth and encouragement from Alicia and Ricardo our son went on to trial classes in Tap and Musical Theatre and now attends these classes every Saturday. In his own words ' I want to go every week , it's so much fun!'.
He absolutely loves all of his classes and we are already seeing such an improvement in his confidence ! He recently took part in his schools 150 years celebrations where he danced with others from his class in front of the Bishop, school and parents. You would think a daunting prospect but I was amazed at how confident he was and he clearly enjoyed every minute.
He also had a part in his Christmas school play and he was not phased at all. Just hugely excited about performing.
We recently attended a presentation day which gave us a fantastic insight as we were able to step inside the classroom and watch a typical class. We saw first hand what a fabulous teacher Alicia is - full of enthusiasm and patience to help every individual child achieve their best.
We are thrilled our son has found this school where he feels happy and confident and is learning a great deal.
Thank you for your review, this has been sent to Afonso School Of Performing Arts
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Latest from Afonso School Of Performing Arts
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NEW Musical Theatre class for ages 6 and over. Mondays, 3:45 at the Northchurch Social Centre. First lesson free!!
29 January 2015
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We had our very first MASTERCLASS on Sunday with a Matilda workshop taught by Leanne Pinder, the original Resident Choreographer of the London production and Associate Choreographer on Broadway. Soon to be announcing our second guest teacher...
29 January 2015
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SPECIAL OFFER for new customers only... Receive 10% off the spring term when booking on or before the 1st December 2014.
21 November 2014
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Our very first Presentation Day for the parents will be held on the 6th December! We are proud of each and every one of our students and look forward to showing what they have achieved in only 12 weeks with us.
21 November 2014
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Stefan Puxon
Stefan trained at Bodywork Company Dance Studios and Tiffany Theatre College
Choreographic credits:
Will Young - Losing Myself - music video; Smirnoff - Viral; Tiny Dancer - Who Am I? - music video; EE - Conga Line - Advert; Chinese New Year 2012 - stage show; Holiday Inn - Advert; You View - Advert; Years and Years - Take Shelter - Music video
Performance credits:
Dancer for 'Agnes' - O2 Arena; Dancer for 'Labrinth' - O2 Arena; TV advert for 'So You Think You Can Dance?' BBC1; Le Grand Macabre By Gyorgy Ligeti; Toyota "Shout Out" - Viral - 2012; BMW World - Fashion Show - 2012; Puma Head Quarters - Fashion Show - 2012; Giff Gaff - Zombie - Advert - 2013; Harry Hill - Movie - 2013; Samsung - Galaxy - Advert - 2013; Ambrosia - Pudding - Advert 2013; Foxes - Holding on to heav; en - Music Video - 2014
Swan Lake Reloaded European Tour - role = Siegfried - Hip Hop Theatre - 2013 to 2014
Stefan has vast experience as a teacher, having taught at some of the top colleges, as well as Husky Studios, Studio 68 and Pineapple Studios in Covent Garden.Alicia Afonso - Principal and owner
Alicia trained at the Elizabeth Hill School of Dance and Drama, in Merseyside. She then went on to train professionally at Phil Winston's Theatreworks on a 3 year dance and musical theatre course. Theatre credits: Ensemble and swing in We Will Rock You (London); Liz in Chicago (UK Tour); June in Chicago (London); West End Rocks (Reading); Cinderella (Bristol Hippodrome); Dance Captain in Dick Whittington (Northampton); Cinderella (Northampton); The Works (Blackpool). TV credits: BBC 2012 Olympic Handover Party; Blue Peter; Al Murray's Happy Hour; Lenny Henry's 5 O'clock Show. Alicia is proud to say she once held the title of Miss Dance of Great Britain, in 2004. She was also winner of the Janet Cramm Awards, and held the title of British Champion in ballet, modern and tap as a child. Alicia has 12 years of teaching experience, and has been choreographing for dance school shows and competitons around the UK. She recently held the musical theatre lectures at the IDTA London Seminars, as well as the ADA annual congress. Alicia also the taught modern jazz class at the IDTA Theatre Awards in 2013. Now a mother of two, Alicia is excited to be embarking on her latest challenge of running a performing arts school. She is a Licentiate member of the IDTA and has aspirations of becoming an examiner one day, therefore is constantly training and continuing her professional development.
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Qualifications (3)
- Licentiate Tap IDTA
- Associate Modern Jazz IDTA
- Holistic Massage, Anatomy and Physiology and Business Diploma
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Annual memberships (1)
- Licentate member of the IDTA
Ricardo Afonso - Artistic Director
Ricardo has most recently appeared as one of the principal singers in Thriller Live at the Lyric Theatre, London. He is currently in rehearsals for the new West End production of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Ricardo appeared in the BBC 1 Television contest The Voice 2013 on Team Danny. Theatre credits and workshops: Taxi Driver - workshop production of Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown directed by Bartlett Sher; Alberto Beddini - Top Hat The Musical (London and UK tour) directed by Matthew White; Galileo in We Will Rock You (London); lead vocalist - Strictly Come Dancing- The Professionals UK tour; Willie Lopez - workshop of Ghost, directed by Matthew Warchus; lead vocalist - A Rock and Symphonic Spectacular.. Recording credits (UK): One Not Two for the album Surrounded by Sounds by Tim Prottey-Jones; Dreamer for the album based on the Terry Pratchett book Only You Can Save Mankind composed by Leighton James House; The Meerkat Muchachos for the album Bush Tales composed by Matthew Jameson. Ricardo fronted the cast of We Will Rock You in the opening of the handover ceremony for the Olympic Games 2012, live on BBC1 and in front of Buckingham Palace. This is still one of the most exhilarating moments of his career. Recording credits (Portugal) – Spirit in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron for DreamWorks; Robin Hood in Shrek for DreamWorks; The Lorax for DreamWorks; Mighty Ducks for Disney; Beauty and the Beast for Disney; 102 Dalmatians for Disney; Ducktales for Disney and the album Pokemon. Ricardo composed the original songs for the Portuguese TV series Super-Pai, achieving silver record sales. Ricardo is also no stranger to seafaring. From 2004 to 2005 he worked on many production shows aboard the Queen Mary II and Queen Elizabeth II for Cunard, and Prinsendam for Holland America.
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Qualifications (3)
Suitable for ages
- Pre-natal
- 0-12 months
- 12-24 months
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12+
- 14+
Information for Parents
- Gender: Mixed
- Operates during: Weekly , Weekends , Weekdays , After school , During school , Term time , Holiday Camps
- Grouping: One to one With others (group, class or team)
- Number of visits: Day out/one off Defined length course Continuous course
- Disabilities catered for: Intellectual disabilities
Useful Documents
Qualifications
- Licentate member of the IDTA
- Licentiate Tap IDTA
- Associate Modern Jazz IDTA
Contact Details
- Name Alicia Afonso
- Telephone 07912615860
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Key Information
- Meet the team
- Public liability insurance covered until 09/08/2015
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I have been taking my daughter to Afonso School of Performing Arts since September. She attends 3 classes per week which includes Tap, Street and Musical Theatre and absolutely loves it!. The age range at the school is between 2-12, and the teachers/Coaches are brilliant. The school is run by Husband and wife team Alicia and Ricardo, both are West End professionals.
Evie really looks forward to going every week, the teachers really get to the kids level when they teach and make everything enjoyable. Her two main coaches are Alicia and Ricardo, both are amazing, as-well as her Street Dance coach Stefan, who has performed Choreographically with celebrities like Will Young and 'Pixie Lott!' 'I'm suprised more people aren't coming along to this!'
Katie 26 Nov 2014