At Noodle Performance Arts, we’re like one big family from our teachers and franchise owners to our students and the parents that make the whole thing possible.
Our new ‘Meet the…’ series of blog posts will introduce you to just some of the people involved in Noodle and what they love most about it.
Nine-year-old Sophie Ball first started going to our classes in Beighton, Sheffield, in September 2012 when she was just three years old. She started out attending our balletand performing arts 3-5 classes and has been going to Noodle ever since.
She now learns dance, drama and singing at NPA Academy, our in-depth performing arts classes aimed at children aged five and over. Plus she has continued with her ballet and is now in Jess’s 9+ group.
Sophie says: “I can’t actually remember a time before I did Noodle. I think it has made me feel more confident talking in front of other people.
“The teachers at Noodle are really nice, they know what they’re talking about and they’re fun as well. Jess is a really good ballet teacher. I love doing pirouettes – they took me so long to learn and I felt really proud when I could do them.”
She says her favourite thing about Noodle is taking part in the annual show as well as smaller performances throughout the year.
Sophie says: “I love doing the shows and the run-up to the shows. I like performing in front of an audience.
“I am really looking forward to Seussical the musical – auditioning is awesome and I enjoy learning new songs, dances and scenes.”
Over the last six years, Sophie has taken part in lots of Noodle productions, including being part of a group of singers from our Sheffield classes who performed at Disneyland Paris over the summer. But the show she remembers most fondly is The Wizard of Oz, where she played the part of the lion when she was five.
She says: “I have really clear memories of my costume and being the lion even though I was so young. Performing can be a bit nerve-wracking but it’s so exciting.
“I’m always telling my friends they should come along to Noodle and see what it’s like. Two of my younger sisters also go to classes now and they love it too.”