The genre of musical theatre, which populates West End, Broadway and many other theatres in major cities, is hugely important to the training of an aspiring performer. Without the three skills of acting, singing and dancing, it seems there is less chance of success for that performer - considering the performing arts industry in the twenty-first century - and it is therefore vital. Performers who excel in all three areas are known as triple threats, and often have a competitive advantage against their counterparts.
Not all dance schools and studios offer musical theatre as an area to learn about and participate in, however those that do tend to find their musical theatre strands and classes are hugely popular. New elements have also made the genre more popular to new students, with the increase in films-turned-musicals, and stars turning their hand to breaking into song within the narrative. And of course not every dance student aspires to adorn the stage and belt out their best show tune; others take part in musical theatre classes for the pure enjoyment of it, as well as for boosting confidence both personally and artistically.
Creating a musical theatre class can be extremely simple, as simple as choosing an age-appropriate story or musical, then teaching lyrics and dance routines, incorporating various dance styles and possibly lines to learn too. If the class is more advanced than this basic approach, more complex vocals, choreography, and scenes can be added. As classes become more popular there is also the possibility of adding class levels, summer schools, musical theatre intensives and also private lessons. At a further extension, older students who aspire to go on to further vocational training could also benefit from audition preparation and monologue work.
As a result, musical theatre provides many performance students with a strong performance foundation, with confidence and new skills too. Some may continue to dance, but not professionally, and those who do are more likely to have a better chance to succeed in the arts with a well-rounded background.