dancefanatic

My DD did the summer school last year which she thoroughly enjoyed. My younger DD and I went to watch the sharing at the end of the week and the standard of work was excellent. I have nothing but praise for Julie and her team. My DD is doing the competition this year and, so far, has enjoyed it. Just waiting on the finals now in May. But Julie has done wonders for her confidence and self-belief, which had taken quite a knock at her vocational school, since first meeting early last year.

My DD graduated last year and had a DADA for her upper school training, having had an MDS for lower school. The DADA was assessed once at entry point into the upper school and not again. I queried this having been used to annual reassessment with the MDS but was told that the DADA is only assessed the once for the full 3 year course. So no, once you have your award figure it remains the same until your DC finishes their course.

I couldn't agree more! My DD was one of the many UK nationals auditioned for London City, she got through to the final round and then was kept waiting for just over 2 weeks before they told her thanks but no thanks. And then to see the number of overseas dancers apparently walking into all of our national companies and yet our schools are producing high numbers of talented dancers who are UK nationals.... makes my blood boil at times to be honest. Yes, companies should want the best dancers they can find but sometimes to the detriment of equally talented UK dancers who can no longer obtain work overseas as easily as in years past.

My DD was one of the inaugural group there but left a few weeks ago as she has taken up a contract with a dance company. She enjoyed her time there, although there were some teething problems initially which I can't discuss on a public forum, but these have been addressed. I can say she didn't regret taking up her place and that she enjoyed her time with them very much. Good luck with the decision making!

Elmhurst summer school applications are now open and close on 11th February https://www.elmhurstballetschool.org/en/summer-school-1/#:~:text=The programme culminates with an,in our onsite Studio Theatre.&text=Please note%3A All prices include,allocated following the closing date.

I'm sorry but have to butt in here. Sadly, more and more companies in Europe are insisting that applicants possess EU passports and US rules around visas seem to vary company by company, even when in the same State, making it increasingly difficult for our lovely new graduates who only possess a British passport to even apply for jobs. And yet graduates from around the world are able to be granted jobs and/or apprenticeships with British dance companies. I know this goes off-topic but is increasingly a bug-bear of mine. I personally would like all dancers, no matter their nationality, ethnicity or gender, to have equal opportunities globally than have what appear to be unfair restrictions placed on our UK dancers, particularly at the beginning of their careers. So I personally disagree with the point raised here.

As a parent of a vocational DC myself who has recently left one of the institutions mentioned, I have been reading this topic with interest and immense sadness, particularly as I approached the school in question with a number of concerns last term shortly before my child graduated. The principal tried to address my concerns but I feel there is still a lot of things happening in the studio that is not shared/admitted to by the staff when questioned. However, my real reason for commenting now is that my DC has moved on to a grad pro programme where the teacher is a former student from the other institution and is definitely perpetuating the experience/appalling teaching manner in the studio. My DC is doing their best to rise above it but it is concerning, all the same.

since the first Covid lockdowns, Elmhurst have not offered any in person preliminary auditions - it's all been video application which I personally think disadvantages a large number of applicants who maybe don't have access to studios, private teachers or good recording media. Not sure what they will be planning this year but imagine the video application is here to stay

I'm also getting ready to take my younger DD up for the summer school today. She will be taking her mobile as per the original email we received and is expecting to have to hand it in at night etc. She's used to doing this at home anyway but wants the security of knowing she can contact us in the early evening without having to wait her turn on the school phone.

Once my DD reached Upper School, I had to pay for her singing lessons. I was charged the same price the teacher charged the school for Lower School lessons covered by the MDS of £16.75 per lesson, if that helps at all with your planning. I would guess there would be a slightly increase for the coming year though.

It's been a few years but when my eldest did the junior summer school, it was always taught by the school's staff. Senior summer school is mainly taught by members of BRB. My younger DD is going this summer and I expect they will be fully taught by school staff, with a couple of members of BRB coming in to do a Q&A session on one of the evenings.

All I can say is no wonder so many non-British dancers want to come to the UK to dance if the pay is that poor when starting out elsewhere

Last Festival I went to (April) the death character stuff has been brought into the 11&12 year old solos and 14&Under duets/trios. Wildly inappropriate for the age I felt and when our school were presenting age-appropriate items such as a day out at the lake etc, and then the death & politically motivated pieces scoring very highly. Yes, danced well, but seriously uncomfortable to sit through. Highlight (not!) for me was one girl being the 'fruit swinging from the poplar tree' at the end. Really not for me but the adjudicator on the day seemed to love it.

I remember learning a dance that involved being a little girl at the fair mimic'ing all the acts she saw so one was pretending to be the fat lady so had to blow your cheeks out and dance really large and heavy. Very non PC these days. Might have been for RAD Gr4? ** Edit to say this was early 1980's

The fact that you have a close relationship now will stand you in good stead. I boarded as a child but feel I never had a particularly close relationship with either of my parents then or now. however, my DD went to Elmhurst age 12 (graduates this summer) and we had a good relationship before she left that I would say got even closer, even with her so far away, to the point now she is able to (and does) tell me most things that are going on that I know I would never have spoken about with my own mother.