Jessica Huie speaks to the two sisters behind Platinum Performing Arts

Eighteen years ago Nina Lewis-Hart – mother of Erina and Kyra, better known as ‘The Lewis Sisters’ – opted to open Platinum Performing Arts to heal the community she was born and raised in, shining a spotlight on the creativity and raw potential alive in Edmonton’s young people.

As a child, dance and performing had been Nina’s escape. She struggled in school and was unable to read or write well at a time when dyslexia was rarely recognised. Nina remembers being asked to stand up and spell her name in front of her class, and being told she would amount to nothing when she failed. That moment inspired her to open a performing arts school for young people like her—creative individuals who are often misunderstood.

Nina’s mission was to unlock opportunities for young people who are sometimes forgotten or not given the right platforms to succeed. Platinum Performing Arts has given her the honour of watching many young people blossom into young adults within the industry, travelling the world and lighting up the West End stage in major theatrical productions.

Today the school is a full-on family affair. Kyra and Erina, themselves Tik Tok stars who’ve accrued an audience of over one million, are vice principals of Platinum Academy and Performing Arts School, while mum Nina, as principal, runs the show.

Despite challenges such as council funding cuts and the pandemic, Nina has maintained the Millfield arts complex for nearly two decades. Since opening, the school has provided 20,000 young people with a safe space for self-expression. Platinum offers weekly classes, workshops, and extended diplomas, making social engagement, confidence building and performance skills accessible to the Edmonton community.

This summer, Platinum was visited by Simon Cowell’s team, scouting talent for his upcoming boy band project. The visit was somewhat of a reunion, as The Lewis Sisters first met Cowell when they auditioned for The X Factor: The Band in 2019.

Kyra says: “It’s been brilliant to reconnect with Simon and share our day job running Platinum. He was excited to meet some of our young people and said he’s been missing that raw talent that comes from performers who don’t regularly get the opportunity to audition and perform on major stages.

“It was also a buzz to have the Syco [Cowell’s company] team visit us; they were blown away by the talent of our students.”

Cowell is known for his longstanding commitment to making music and the arts accessible to all children. Alongside his fiancée, Lauren Silverman, he is an ambassador for the London Music Fund, which helps young musicians from low-income families.

To date, over 20,000 young people aged three to 24 have passed through the doors of Platinum. The talent and standard of excellence has resulted in an impressive track record of theatre, film, and TV opportunities for students.

Erina says: “The performance is like the icing on the cake, but it’s who you become every single day, that you show up and be creative.

“Discipline is such a transferable life skill. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Platinum and for every one of our students.”

When there’s so much separation in society, Platinum is doing such an important job of bringing together children from diverse backgrounds in a space for connection and acceptance of one another, irrespective of perceived differences. Nina and family are a wonderful example of just how capable we are of being the change. Here’s to another 18 years of Platinum spotlighting the indisputable fact that Enfield’s got talent!

For more information on Platinum Performing Arts:
Visit platinumperformingarts.co.uk

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