Supernova
chatted to Hanneke Rauch, the founder and managing
director of Buzz – Drama, Dance and Singing, in the northern
suburbs of Johannesburg. All Buzz custom designed workshops help
children between the ages of 5 and 9 to develop confidence and
creativity, which can be applied to all aspects of life.
What
made you decide that you want to teach drama to children?
I
trained at the University of Cape Town and qualified with a degree in
Theatre and Performance. After finishing my studies, I soon realised
that I would like to use drama to make a positive change and a
difference in my country. What better way to do that than with
children? I have always loved being around children. They are open
and keen on learning and developing as much as they can every day.
Drama (and other performing arts like dance and singing) helps build
children’s all-important confidence and social skills. These are so
valuable and important for kids. Doing drama with children is also
super fun! All kids have vivid, creative, amazingly alive
imaginations.
What
is the most rewarding part of your job?
To
see the results we have in the lives of individual children. So many
kids first arrive terribly shy or with poor social skills. Many need
a platform to use their excess energy or just to show off their many
talents and perform! No matter whether they are introverted or
extroverted, struggle to concentrate or make friends – whoever they
are: each child grows and develops into a stronger, more confident
version of themselves as a direct result of the exposure to the
performing arts. To see the direct, visible results in the lives of
each little individual child, is so rewarding. They have fun while
growing and developing!
What’s
the most challenging part of your job?
We
have many product lines – drama, dance and singing workshops,
birthday parties, holiday courses, workshops for schools and many
others. We have a huge staff and client base and it is often hard to
juggle the big and growing Buzz family!
What
makes Buzz stand out from other drama schools in the country?
We
are fresh, modern, new and different. Drama, dance and singing like
you have never experienced it before! Instead of being old fashioned
and traditional, Buzz truly is for every type of child, from the
introverted, to the loud and bubbly. All children who buzz, benefit
from it. We do not impose something on to the child, but rather find
who they are and encourage that little individual to shine brightly
and confidently!
Unlike
other drama schools, Buzz has original music, written for Buzz, that
kids get access to when they join. This is themed to the adventures
we go on in the Buzz sessions. There are characters and stories to
fit the theme of each adventure. We learn through fun!
What
can children expect from a workshop session?
We
dance then we sing and then we do drama at our workshops, and it goes
like this:
Move,
shake, jump!
Workshops
begin with a high energy warm-up to funky music. Children are then
led through a variety of fun physical games promoting coordination,
posture and focus. This section concludes with theme-based dance
choreography taught in a dynamic and animated style.
Laugh,
listen, speak!
The
dance section of the workshop is followed by the calmer singing
section. Here vocal projection and eye contact feed into the
development of confidence. These aims are woven into circle games,
which always leave children roaring with laughter. Children are
taught original Buzz songs in a fun and friendly style.
Stories,
characters, adventure!
As
children are led through a magical weekly adventure, this section is
surely the highlight of the Buzz workshop. All children take part in
the story as it unfolds through improvisational games and creative
play. This interactive adventure is especially themed!
How
do you decide on the themes you use in your workshops?
We
try to think about imaginary worlds and places that kids enjoy, what
they know and what is current. We choose topics from which they can
learn something new. We choose topics like: Under the Sea, Outer
Space and Around the World. Kids are transported into a fun world
while they learn new and wonderful things, and information along the
way.
How
does drama form an important part in a child’s development?
It
gives a child the gift of confidence! Through character play and
improvisation, children are given a platform where they can think
outside of the box and develop creative thinking, which is so
important in problem solving as children become the adults of a
tomorrow we are yet to imagine! Children learn vital social and
communication skills through exposure to creative play and drama.
Can
any child be a performer?
Any
child WHO WANTS TO BE can be a performer, but certainly not every
child needs to be a performer. It is more about being confident as
whoever or whatever they dream of being. Some kids who come to Buzz,
will one day be performers with their name in lights, and we will be
glad to have ignited that journey and given them a platform when they
were young. Some kids who come to Buzz will one day perhaps be more
self-assured accountants or lawyers who are able to work more
confidently in groups. Whichever way they go, I believe that being
exposed to drama, will give them the tools they need to achieve
success in life.
Why
do you think drama is very much overlooked in the school curriculum?
School
systems are unfortunately built to favour mathematics, sciences and
language. Although these are very important, one cannot overlook the
importance of developing the right brain, which is stimulated and
developed through the arts. I believe most schools feel overwhelmed
with pressure to meet the demands of the curriculum. Drama might seem
a distraction and an add-on. I believe it is a wonderful tool to use
as part of education!
Do
you have any advice for educators who wish to promote drama in
schools?
Be
in touch with Buzz. We will come in and train your teachers and
educators so everyone will learn how to use drama in the classroom,
to enrich learning and make it more fun!
For more information about Buzz - Drama, Dance and Singing, visit http://buzzdrama.com/ or contact +27 (0)11 025 2525.
Look out for a review on Buzz - Drama, Dance and Singing in Supernova vol. 4.2!
