10 Key Skills Educate Theatre Camp teaches through Theatre

1. Self-Expression: Theatre provides a space for you to express yourself freely and creatively. Through our drama classes you can develop your acting skills. Through our writing and directing classes, you can express your stories and perspective in unique and creative ways.

2. Emotional Intelligence: Theatre also serves as a platform to explore your emotions. You can learn to understand your emotions better and thus be able to process them much more efficiently. Actors and writers often explore the depths of emotional experiences and can assist those in the audience to gain a more profound understanding of themselves or empathize with others who share some of the same experiences. We are able to teach this through our acting process in a safe and nurturing environment.

3. Collaboration: Theatre calls for teamwork and collaboration. It can help you to develop your communication and interpersonal skills, and to learn to appreciate and work actively as a team member to achieve collective goals. Whether in our Acting Improv, Comedy, or Performing Antics classes OR going big on the stage for a full production in our Perfect Performance camps, ETC is always promoting and fostering collaboration among actors.

4. Confidence: The theatre needs individuals who are confident in themselves and their abilities. Participating in theatre can teach you how to be a confident and empowered individual. It presents you with several opportunities to take center stage, to speak up about your thoughts and opinions, and to demonstrate your abilities. Being able to play a different character can allow students to feel safe and give them the ability to believe in themselves and their abilities. Theatre gives them an opportunity to challenge themselves, to push past their limits and to learn new skills. It gives them an opportunity to step out of their comfort zone and perform in front of an audience, helping them develop a sense of accomplishment and pride in their abilities.

5. Growth: Theatre constantly offers you opportunities for learning and growth. By collaborating with other people and participating in an environment that requires active support, you learn how to explore new territories and take the risks required to reach your full potential as a person and an actor.

6. Communication Skills: Theatre requires good communication skills, both verbal and nonverbal. Through acting, children learn to express themselves effectively and listen to others. In theatre, teamwork is essential. Children are often given the opportunity to work with a team and be part of a community. It helps them to communicate more effectively and overcome communication challenges.

7. Creativity: Theatre provides an environment for creativity and expression. Children of ALL abilities can thrive in such environments because there are no barriers to their ideas and imagination. They have the opportunity to explore and contribute something unique and personal to the production, which provides a sense of ownership of their work.

8. Promote Inclusion: Theatre provides a safe and inclusive environment that welcomes ALL children. It is an opportunity to embrace each other's strengths, celebrate each other's successes, and work towards a common goal. All of ETC’s programs are Unified, meaning we make adaptations and modify our instruction to try to meet the needs of all students. In addition, we have Adaptive programs where students who require more support, are able to receive the targeted instruction and supportive environment needed to become a star!

9. Problem-Solving: Participating in theatre requires children to face various challenges like remembering lines, developing characters and working with different production elements. It is an opportunity for children with disabilities to develop their problem-solving and critical thinking skills, helping them navigate specific challenges and gain confidence when addressing other complex issues. In our Adaptive Theatre classes we utilize specific scene work that allows students to role play and work through solving problems they may encounter in real life.

10. Empathy: Theatre allows children to explore different perspectives and empathize with others. This helps them develop compassion and understanding for those who are different from them.

Theatre provides an opportunity for all kids, including those with disabilities, to unleash their full potential, express themselves, build bonds with others, boost self-confidence, acquire valuable skills, and problem-solve. Participating in theatre helps establish an inclusive and safe environment that promotes and enhances mental, intellectual, and social skills among children.