Barbizon Modeling and Acting School
Barbizon Modeling and Acting School is an international modeling and acting school headquartered in Tampa, Florida that provides instructional courses in modeling, acting and personal development including self-confidence development, proper posture, photo movement, voice diction, etiquette, job interviewing, makeup application, and runway. History. The first Barbizon School of Modeling and Acting was opened in 1939 on Fifth Avenue in New York City, New York, by Helen Fraser, a fashion model and teacher with her husband, Dr. Fraser, a dentist. The Barbizon name was developed from the Fraser's vacations to France where they became  interested in the town of Barbizon, a village outside of Paris known for the 19th-century Barbizon school of painters. She wrote a book "Assignment in Modeling: A Guide to a Career in Fashion and Photographic Modeling". In 1950, Helen met Ronald Reagan, who would later become President of the United States, and awarded him with the Best-Dressed Man in America award she established. In 1951, Helen acted as a celebrity judge for the Miss Brooklyn Pageant, alongside actress Denise Darcel and comedian Steve Allen. Locations. Barbizon Modeling and Acting Centers are located in more than 200 markets across  the United States. International locations include Bangkok, Toronto, Santo Domingo and Japan. Curriculum. The Barbizon curriculum prepares students for modeling and acting careers with courses focused in self-confidence, poise, style and industry education and techniques. Modeling. Barbizon modeling curriculum follows the techniques used by professional models. Classes center around voice projection, self-confidence, print and runway modeling. The curriculum varies dependent upon the class category. Barbizon offers classes for female modeling, male modeling, pre-teen (kids) modeling, full-figure modeling, and advanced professional modeling. Acting. Barbizon’s acting curriculum focuses on film and television acting through classes that educate  students in areas of comedy, monologues, drama, how to go on an audition and script reading. Stage presence and personality are also incorporated heavily into the curriculum. College scholarship. In 1992, Barbizon began a college scholarship program, paying up to $100,000 of tuition for the scholarship recipients to any college or university in the United States.