About Us
Starlighter Academy Ltd provides Performing Art classes to children of all ages, with three standard age groups we are providing the opportunity for children of all backgrounds to access the wonderful creative world of drama, dance, singing, story telling and play.
Our aim is to create and maintain a fun, safe and entertaining environment where all students can express themselves freely without being pre-judged, taking them offline and putting them on stage.
We encourage social engagement in small and large groups to ensure that it is character building so that all students can effectively participate and enjoy their 'Starlighter' experience. Our classes are all designed to spark creativity with skills that will last a lifetime! After all we are making friends for life!
Reasons for Starlighter Academy
As a little girl I attended a dance school from the age of six to sixteen, here is where I gained three essential life skills which I believe gave me the confidence to go on and become whatever I wanted to be. ‘Discipline’, ‘Commitment’ and ‘Respect’ three vital skills that are sadly missing in some of the youths I have worked with.
It wasn’t just about performing but about being part of something, learning how to trust one another, compromising and listening to others if you could actually dance and perform aswell that was a bonus!
This platform encouraged me to apply for further Performing Arts training which is where I gained my place at the Oxford school of drama and the rest is history!
Our Security
All of the Starlighter Team have full DBS certification and follow the 'Starlighter Code of Conduct', so rest assured, all students are in great hands.
Our Philosophy
To create and maintain a fun, safe and entertaining environment, for young people to create memories, express themselves, feel confident and make friends for life!
Lydia Cornelly
Starting at the age of 6, I was part of a local dance school called Patricia Stoj School of Theatre Dance, this allowed me to develop essential life skills such as communication, people skills, personality and how to have fun appropriately, achieving success, dealing with failure whilst making friends for life. All of which was founded in a fun, safe and phoneless environment. This experience drove my desire to study at The Oxford school of Drama where I developed my performance skills, which lead me to further study at The Rep College gaining my professional Equity status allowing me to work professionally in the Performing Arts industry, this involved theatre, pantomime, TV adverts and short films. I also worked in Theatre In Education (TIE) delivering performances and workshops in schools nationwide and it was here that I developed my passion for teaching young people. I decided to open a local Theatre school called 'Starlights', in 2003 this ran successfully for 9 years. I often reminisce these days with ex-students remembering the fun and good times that we had.
During this time I was approached by a local teaching professional who believed that due to my personality, alongside my vision and values, that I would be extremely effective with vulnerable young people, I was asked to deliver drama workshops which held strong messages to impact on dangerous behaviours to young criminals. The workshops were hugely effective and I was asked to train as a Teacher to enable me to work as a full time Teacher to continue my work making a positive impact on young people who needed to engage better with life, I worked at Newhall prison for 2 years before joining HMP WOI Wetherby for young males as the Performing Arts Teacher. Since then I've never turned back and have devoted my working life to helping young people develop positively. I currently work as a Nuture Teacher and Performing Arts Tutor at Ethos Academy which is a Pupil Referral Unit. Recently I have had a baby of my own and due to my experiences I naturally worry about the world that we live in today, this has resulted in me wanting to instill the same values and opportunities in my own children, I want to provide the same safe place where children come offline and on stage, communicating with people face to face through the fun and relaxed atmosphere that is the 'Starlighter' Experience.