What Benefits do Acting Classes have for Teenagers? – Screenwise Tips

Many teens may dream of becoming an actor, but only a few know how to get there. The idea can be quite overwhelming and often, teens will give up on their dream altogether, believing they couldn’t possibly have what it takes.
But whether a teen succeeds in developing an acting career or not, is secondary to the benefits that acting provides.

1. Clarity of speech and enunciation: These are critical in acting and build a base for improved communication skills. 
2. Confidence: When developed in the supportive environment of acting classes, conquering a fear by stepping out onto a stage or in front of a camera helps to build confidence at exponential rates. Something that many teens could benefit from.
3. Consideration and responsibility: Acting is rarely an activity that is done in isolation. So being on time, respectful and polite to fellow actors is a necessary skill.
4. Empathy is learnt through the process of taking on a character. A teen learns to appreciate a view from another perspective.
5. Emotional connection is required when acting, so learning how to connect with emotions that may not feel comfortable is something that will also assist a teen navigate their life.
6. Friendships can be developed in a peer group that share a common interest. This is critical to the wellbeing of a teen as grouping at school, simply by age, does not always provide grounds for the best friendships. 
7. Improvisation, is useful for many life scenarios and nothing teaches that better then when a prop fails in the middle of a scene.
8. Learning and memorising lines increases the ability to focus and is a helpful skill for teens who are at school. 
9. Practice makes perfect is very well understood in the performance world and helps to promote this discipline across all areas of life, especially useful while a teen is still in formal education.
10. Reading is developed as a result of the need to read and understand scripts.
11. Resilience is the ability to keep going in the face of a knockback and nothing teaches this better then when the audience has not responded as expected.
12. Self development is enhanced through the chance to play different roles and take on different alter egos. It provides an opportunity for a teen to gain a better understanding of the person they wish to be.
13. Team work, who says you need to play a sport to learn how to work together to ‘score a win’

So where does a teen get started?

Teen Acting Classes are perfect for providing this platform. Teenagers are introduced to acting in a fun yet professional atmosphere and learn fundamental acting skills. They could also be given career advice and are able to meet like-minded people.
There’s no need to be nervous. Everyone joined the class for the same reason: to learn how to act.
A lot of people are afraid to perform in front of an audience and shy away from even the smallest crowd. Acting classes for teens allow students with low self-esteem to come forward and boost their confidence one step at a time.
Only few get it right on the first try. This applies especially for the career of an actor. Practice makes perfect. Performances will be reviewed and tutors can give detailed feedback on how to improve. Participants will work on their perseverance and will to do what it takes.
So when you find the right acting class for your teen, there will be no stopping them!

Screenwise offers acting classes for young adults in the form of Screenteen Holiday & Term Classes, check them out!