Elaine Milbourne Performing Arts School

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Elaine Milbourne Performing Arts School (EMPAS) offers a vast range of subjects for the performing arts, our team of fantastic specialist teachers create an atmosphere where all of our pupils can develop in a fun and caring environment.

The school was established in 1980 by Elaine Milbourne as the Elaine Milbourne Theatre Dance School, the schools development to offer a broader range of Performing Arts subjects has resulted in a change of name and location.

Our school based at Newburn Town Hall since September 2016 is beautifully equipped, we have 4 purpose made studios with sprung wooden floors, barres and mirrors, we also have a singing/music room. Other facilities include a refreshment station, with fresh bean to cup coffee and a variety of snacks available.

Since the schools inception we have always been actively involved in the community appearing at events, fetes and local shows. We participate in local festivals, workshops, CYD events, TDCI Championships (with previous British Junior & Senior Ballet winners) and have performed in theatres across all regions as well as at Disneyland Paris and Her Majesty’s Theatre in London.

Pupils are guided and coached to audition for shows and events externally, such as local pantomimes, professional shows and operatic societies, and we have fantastic success stories. We have had a EMPAS student crowned “Miss Dance of Great Britain” and currently have various students working professionally around the world.

Throughout the year we enter hundreds of candidates with the I.D.T.A. (International Dance Theatres Association) for exams at all levels and we have an enviable reputation and excellent success rate. Pupils are nominated regularly for the I.D.T.A. Theatre Awards, and we have had previous winners in 2013, 2015 and 2017 and 2020 as well as numerous special bursary awards and commendations in all subjects throughout the years, see our achievements page for more information!

What makes our school different is that it offers such a vast range of subjects for students of all abilities and ages, there is something for everyone whether they want to go onto a professional career or just come along and enjoy a class. Students at EMPAS are able to train to teaching level and go on to full time performer’s college, our students have been successful in gaining places and scholarships at English National Ballet School, Bird College of Dance, Tring Park School for Performing Arts, Laine Theatre Arts and Phil Winston’s Theatreworks. We also have pupils on Associate programmes at Royal Ballet, Northern Ballet, Hammond, SLP, Tap Attack, Denman and Renaissance Arts. The range of subjects and the success our students is testament to the students themselves and the quality of the teaching enabling each student to develop their own individuality.