Lifeafterballet

I believe that vocational schools get bored with their full time and associate students and are always on the look out for a shiny new replacement. In my experience, something gets lost in the journey of ballet training. The light in the pupils eyes fade. I’ve watched it over an 8 year period. Worn down, plagued with injury and fear. Then at US auditions, along comes a confident non vocational dancer with a “fire in their belly” and in they go. Im not a huge fan of lower schools. I wish we had been advised of the options before letting our daughter go to ballet school at 11. We would have waited and revisited training full time at 16. My son’s highest RAD exam was Intermediate before US. They aren’t a necessity, just a guide as previously mentioned.

With the amount of summer intensive scholarships given out at YAGP finals by Robert Parker, there will be more international students joining the full time program I think. This isn’t a bad thing. Cash payers keep the school afloat so they can offer MDS and DaDa places to U.K. dancers. No school, no training. Their contribution is a necessity.

My son was an associate with Elmhurst for 2 years. Didn’t get an US place at 16. Changed to Advanced Associates with RBS for a year (but did SAs instead at Covent Garden as more classes and a male teacher and class) and then got an US place at Elmhurst. I can’t comment on the past 3 years intake, but pre that in our experience there were very little who were offered a place having been associates. Loads for year 7 though.

But let’s not forget the appeal of a project. Raw, natural talent with no exams, UCAS and social media following.

Streetcar was my son’s first ballet performance with Estonian National 4 years ago. I watched him recently dance the role of Alan, Blanche’s husband and fell in love with the tragic and haunting story. Our favourite ballet, second to their production of Anna Karenina.

Excellent advice. As parents we do tend to get swept up in the excitement and opportunity. But being realistic about what is achievable and in our children’s best interest long term is essential. Even if that means saying no. In our experience, lower schools aren’t necessary.

Funny that this morning I was looking at my Facebook memories from today 6 years ago when my daughter did the YAGP NY finals and danced at the Lincoln Centre ☺️

Sorry, I thought you were talking about companies ☺️

My son’s EU country was very welcoming and the process very straightforward. I don’t believe any of the other international dancers have had any problems obtaining a residency permit. All they needed was a contract and an address. His was for 5 years, pre Brexit, and those who joined after get a year. But they all renew successfully. Maybe it just some particular countries.

Sarasota Ballet pay their Studio Company dancers $1,000 per month. 2019-2020. Just about survivable on if you are in a shared apartment and budget well. But of course there’s the cost of the flight, deposit and health insurance to consider. The company paid for the visa petition too. I recall that it wasn’t a student one as the Studio Company and main company international dancers were all on the same petition.

And the visa they apply for only lasts from August to May, and then you have to leave the country. Also, for the Studio Company, they don’t pay for the week’s break over Christmas or the 3 month summer break between seasons. ££££ Whereas, my sons EU company pay all year round and the residency permit was very easy to obtain ☺️

They do on average taken about 5 RBS Grads into the Corps per year. There is one scholarship for an Elmhurst student for a year, funded privately. This happens every year, apart from in 2020 when Carlos Acosta came to the school to audition the graduates and then told them that they had decided not to have one that year. That year group had already graduated but were enticed back for the audition in the Autumn term. Then he used them for free in the Nutcracker. My daughter and another young lady got paid for the final performances as they had officially left the school and were dancing with the main company. Thats the only pay-check she ever had from ballet after 8 years of training 🤣 Rarely do Elmhurst pupils get corps contracts without doing the apprenticeship first. I can think of 2 men and one young lady within the past 12 years. My daughter and son were used as main company dancers on multiple occasions for free, sorry for the experience, but Elmhurst pupils are rarely hired direct unlike RBS. Things might change now they have BRB 2 but with the funding cuts this and next year I can’t see it happening sadly.

Very sad 😔 But I’m not surprised at all.

I’ve just watched Madu. What an exceptional young man. Kind, gentle, genuine, humble and brave. A beautiful family. Such love, support and faith. I’m totally in awe of his Mum. There wasn’t an ounce of entitlement or jealousy. Just trust and belief. Applause to Robert Parker and Jessica Ward for giving this young man a chance to pursue his dream. From mine and my children’s experience of Elmhurst, this showed the best side and made me remember the good times. And a big hand 👏 to the NHS for their care.

This happened to my daughter in the March of her graduate year with a European ballet company. Just before the first lockdown. Then they telephoned her out of the blue in the October to ask if she was still available, only to later say that they were unable to offer her a contract again due to going into another lockdown. It’s like being dangled on a piece of string and the hope keeps you in the game for longer than you should be. It’s soul destroying. Employment laws don’t seem to apply to the ballet world at all.

Hello. I don’t have any experience of the summer workshop to share but I go to Tallinn very regularly to see my son who lives there. It is a beautiful city. Very safe with lots to do and excellent public transport. The Opera House is stunning. I have seen many performances, watched company class in the studio and had a tour. Most Estonians speak English so communication isn’t usually a problem. Summer is a lovely time of year and there is a fabulous beach at Pirita, a scooters ride away from the Old Town.

The burning question is though, are the trainees parents paying for the privilege of their children dancing with the company ? I had two children graduate back to back and wouldn’t have been able to afford for even one to dance with a company that charged them 😢

OMG 😦 Over €15,000 How can this be classed as a company position for a graduate. Its so sad that some companies take advantage of graduates 😢

My Ds started ballet aged 12 and was non vocational when he auditioned for Elmhurst US. At 16 he made finals but got a no. He was very raw and petite. He went to his local high school to do A levels and did a year as an RBS SA. He reapplied at 17 and was successful. An extra year can make a lot of difference. There is no rush for boys I feel. He trained for 3 years and has been professional for 5 now. I’m sat at Gatwick currently waiting for a flight to go and watch him dance 🤣 Just stay calm, what will be will be. Luck plays a huge part in auditions and success. And the reality isn’t all we dream it will be.

My son has danced in both the US and Europe and has never had to have a medical for a visa 😅 Is this a new thing ?

I’m pleased your daughter had a good experience. Did she get to see the actual studios and theatre ? My daughter’s audition was held there and not at a hired venue. It was also January, so there were no outside cafes, or people really 🤣 Perhaps the place livens up at different times of the year. The very best of luck to your daughter with her auditions ☺️

Hi Derin’s Mom, If you google Houston Ballet Academy Fees and go to the Professional program you will see the tuition costs for Professional 1 and 2 and HB2. $8,200 per year for HB2. Then scroll down and you can see all the additional costs like accommodation etc. You are right that it is part of the academy. They dance in the same studios as the other levels. I believe the students get the opportunity to dance with the company as students in U.K. ballet schools do but i bet like RB, BRB and ENB they don’t pay them. They do mention a stipend payment. My son’s US junior company gave him a stipend payment which worked out at $1,000 per month. He couldn’t live financially independent with this. And this was pre pandemic. But there were no tuition fees to pay like there is at HB2. If your child has completed ballet training and graduated then this will be another 2 years of training and money on top with no guarantee of employment. Having experienced my son dancing in the US with the very short seasons, visas, insurance and not being paid all year round I personally wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole. Its so hard. Especially when our children have completed their training and just want to continue to dance. Wishing you the very best of luck with your choices x

Just Ballet have one for hire. My daughter wore it for YAGP, it was very lovely.

Fascinating reading on mirrors in the ballet studio. Thank you ☺️ But why do all UK ballet schools have them on every wall ?

It doesn’t have to be your GP. One of our Consultant colleagues did my children’s medical for vocational school 😄