What is BWA really about?
A unique performing arts school for children in South London
At BWA, we are not just another performing arts school. We are a community. A creative space where children are supported to grow.
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From Norbury to Thornton Heath, from Crystal Palace to Streatham — families across South London choose BWA not just for dance, drama, and singing, but for something deeper: real development, guided by science-informed teaching and grounded in genuine care.
A Performing Arts School that welcomes every kind of child
The child who loves performing
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We are the school for children who are already dancing, singing, and acting around the house.
Here, they will find high-quality training in dance, musical theatre, and drama — taught by teachers who understand not just performance, but how children learn best.
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The child who is anxious or shy
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We are the school where shy children feel safe.
We give them space, encouragement, and kindness — and we watch them grow in confidence over time. No pressure. Just support.
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Science-informed teaching, led with heart
Our director has a background in Dance Science and Sport Psychology, and brings that expertise into everything we do. She is passionate about fostering nurturing learning environments, helping students learn movement more efficiently, stay motivated, and build real confidence.
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We teach mental skills like focus, resilience, and managing nerves as part of our regular training — tools that support children not only in dance, but in school and life beyond the studio.
Performing arts for teens — Engaging & transformative
Teens come to BWA for all sorts of reasons — some just want to move, have fun, or hang out with friends. Others come because they love dance or performing.
They grow in confidence, learn to work as a team, communicate better, make lifelong friends— and quite often, they tell us it helps with things like managing stress, improving focus, and feeling free to explore who they are.
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Where friendships are made
We see it all the time — current students making close friendships that feel like they will last a lifetime.
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And we know it is true, because former students often tell us,
"I met my best friends at BWA."
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It is one of the things we are proudest of, that this is not just a place to train, but a place to truly connect.
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A Performing Arts School trusted by generations of families
We have students now whose parents, and even grandparents came to BWA!
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In a world where everything changes so fast, we keep evolving, and very proud to still be here, doing what we love, and growing alongside the families who believe in us.
We do not just teach students — we help train the teachers too
We are proud to say that BWA is the kind of school where even teachers come to learn.
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Alongside our classes for children, we also support trainee teachers studying their qualifications with the RAD or ISTD.
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Our own teaching team is also continuously learning and updating their skills, so we can bring the very best ideas and methods into the studio.
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Our Origins
The Betty Wivell Academy of Performing Arts was established in 1964. Since then, thousands of students have trained with us. When we started, it was ballet lessons in Miss Wivell’s sitting room. Now we have multiple classes across 3 venues!