Inside the Studio with The BRIT School

The BRIT School is the UK’s leading free school for performing and creative arts, located in Croydon, South London. Founded in 1991 and funded by the British Government with support from the British Record Industry Trust and other partners, it offers world-class training for 14–19-year-olds across disciplines including Dance, Musical Theatre, Film Production, Visual Arts and more.

Can you explain your role at The BRIT School?

Jodie: I teach a range of dance techniques while also writing, choreographing and directing performance work. Alongside my role at The BRIT School, I work with the ISTD, teaching and mentoring, and I also choreograph for corporate events, flash mobs and pantomimes.

Anthony: I work as part of a team of four technicians, alongside a production manager and an entire department of production arts teachers and students. Together, we put on over 200 performances a year, including music exhibitions, gigs, plays and musicals. My role is to manage the day-to-day technical needs of the school’s performing arts subjects.

What do students take away from studying at The BRIT School?

Jodie: That they have a voice and that they are responsible for their next steps. Our students have a professional network and a support system for life at their fingertips. 

Harlequin Activity sprung floor with a Harlequin Standfast performance vinyl floor

Why is it essential for Studio 1 and your theatre spaces to be equipped with a Harlequin floor?

Jodie: The quality of the floor is so important for our dancers. Safe dance practice in both the physical and physiological fields are very important in our dance curriculum. The floor allows dancers to move freely without friction or external resistance which reduces opportunity for lower leg injuries. The sprung element supports our dancers in absorbing force and promoting good use of plié. It looks lovely too, which lifts the professional atmosphere of the space!

Anthony: Having used Harlequin floors many times for shows, as well as for the main dance floors in our two theatres at BRIT, we have complete confidence that they can withstand the demands of a full academic year. As a state school, when we invest in a replacement or upgrade we need to ensure we are providing an industry-standard product, making sure our students train on the same high-quality surfaces they’ll find in the professional world. This is essential for preparing them for their future careers. The floor provided by Harlequin is both high quality and expertly installed, meeting the high-level requirement for our facilities.

What is the most rewarding part of your role at The BRIT School?

Jodie: #AlwaysBRIT – I’m aware that it’s very on brand but it is a real thing! I really appreciate students who take the time to keep in touch and share their highs and lows. The fact that they still value my opinion and seek guidance is a huge privilege. I can’t help feeling a little proud when a graduate comes back to work with current students and speaks highly of the lessons learnt here that have served them in their life and career.

Anthony: Being able to help a student achieve something they didn’t think they could do, and watching them overcome challenges they once found daunting, then seeing their sense of accomplishment at the end is so great. The students are what make this school special and they are what keeps you going even on the toughest days. 

What moments, from unforgettable student experiences to the unseen work behind the scenes, really define your role at the school?

Jodie: There are so many memorable and special moments in this school. Just this morning we had a beautiful rehearsal, and I’ve worked on inspiring projects like devising the Sky project with Stuart Worden and the students. There are funnier memories too, including a certain green mankini moment that I won’t go into too much detail about! Those unexpected moments, combined with the creativity and energy of the students, are what make this place truly unique.
Anthony: If students shadowed me for a day, I think they’d be surprised by how much goes on that they never see. We plan, prepare and turn around so many shows and events, all while supporting students at every stage so they can understand how the industry truly works. It’s intense, but incredibly rewarding, and it’s what makes BRIT such a special place to be.

What song would best describe a typical day working at The BRIT School?

Jodie: BRIT has so many brilliant, exhausting and entertaining things happening all the time…  ‘I Lived’ by OneRepublic would summarise it for me. It has a positive and driving energy, and I definitely feel like ‘I did it all’ by the end of the day!

Anthony: It has to be ‘What the Hell Just Happened?’ by Remember Monday, purely for the line: ‘What the Hell Just Happened? No clue but I liked it.’ There have been so many times here when I’ve walked away thinking exactly that. I’m constantly amazed, week after week, by what students achieve through their creativity and their output. What happens here never stops inspiring me and makes me so hopeful for the future of our industry.

Image credits: Noz Creative