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Hi - does anyone know of any cheap safe accommodation in central london? it doesn't need to be fancy just safe for a 17/18 year old for the occasional night when attending classes etc in Covent Garden.

Hey fellow dance parents! I'm sure many of us share the same situation – finding ourselves in central London with some free time on our hands while our dancer children are busy with classes, workshops, and intensives. Usually, it's about 2 hours, but sometimes it turns into a whole day. I'm curious, what do you all do during these moments? On sunny days, there's no shortage of lovely walks and charming coffee shops to explore. After hitting up the main free museums and such, I sometimes run out of ideas. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated

I’m in London for a week this month and I wanted to try out the various open/drop-in ballet classes available. I usual go to pineapple so I’m interested in taking class elsewhere. I would prefer an intermediate level class. Any suggestions please and any pointe classes also

Hi, does anyone have experience of Chester House for LSC students? Just doing a bit of research before final decisions on where for DD? She’s decided not to do further auditions and look at her offers. What a busy time for all! Thx 👍🏻

Hello All, we are soon moving to London and I'd like to know what are the top schools for classical ballet there. We are auditioning in a few days at Royal Ballet, but I'd like to have a Plan B and C. When I look online, it can get confusing, as some highly rated schools also have yoga, ballet for seniors (nothing against seniors, almost one myself, but you know what I mean), etc... Any tips from local ballet experts would be very appreciated. My daughter is eleven.

Hello! First time poster. Not exactly sure how this forum works. Please bear with me. 🙂 I am a dance student from Northern Ireland and I recently applied to Roehampton, Arts Bournemouth, Trinity Laban and London contemporary dance school. I’ve had offers from all of my choices, which has been incredible! During my audition at Laban I didn’t get much of a feel for the school. Could anyone touch on what the differences are between Laban and LCDS? Are they as good as each-other etc. I have a few weeks to make a decision and right now I am finding it difficult to find information which clearly outlines what makes each conservatoire different. I am a relatively new starter to the dance world. (Began dancing at 18, now 23) and am not really sure how to navigate narrowing down my choices. Thank you ever so much to whoever takes the time to read this!

Hello! I'm very out of date on London's drop-in class scene. Does anyone know of classes vaguely near King's Cross? I went to Central School in the previous location (various teachers but mainly Renato), Urdang and Pineapple (mainly that lovely and sharp lady with short red hair, goodness it's been ages, I'm not sure she's there any more) back in the day. Looking for something drop-in, North of the river, and with a focus on technique/conditioning right now. Oh, and definitely not live-streamed! What's good these days? I've never done Place classes, any thoughts on those? Happy New Year!

Hi everyone, I'm going to London in about 3 weeks and staying for 4 nights from April 4th to April 8th. The whole trip was planned around watching the new Cinderella production with Marianela and Vadim on the 5th of April (😍), but aside from that afternoon/evening, I'm still pretty much free for the rest of the trip. I've been to London twice before (as a child and as a teenager), so not a complete newbie, but by far not an expert either. I figured that since many of the Forum members live or have lived in Greater London and know the city very well, maybe this would be a place to find the kind of niche travel tips that you can't easily research. I'll try and list all of my interests down below: first a quick intro to who I am: 22 years old, MA student in social sciences, not into nightlife at all, but apart from that very open to all kinds of activities and sights I'm very interested in (art) history, so I've always liked "typical" sightseeing and never found it boring - which of the famous historical sights in London do you find particulary rewarding to visit? I also like guided tours if they are not too long (1-2 hours is fine!) anything related to ballet (exhibitions, museums, shops, maybe even cafes or restaurants where dancers are among the regulars) would of course be very appreciated! I'm a Harry Potter fan, but have already been to the Studio Tour and Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross as a teenager, is there anything new to see recently? I love the work of Jane Austen, so have briefly thought of a day trip to Bath - not sure if it's worth the hassle though because it would take a whole day out of basically only 2-3 days that I have in London I'm a bibliophile! Have already been to the British Library and the Sherlock Holmes museum last time I visited, but I haven't explored any of the sights around Shakespeare or Charles Dickens for example... anything regardings literature would be worthwhile to know! I don't know anything about the West End, have never been to a musical in my life... maybe it's time to change that? I wouldn't know where to start though... on Instagram, I always see roads with really pretty, picturesque houses in Kensington or Notting Hill for example, but bloggers never tag the exact location, so while I would really like to explore these parts of the city, I'm unsure where to start I've already got a long list of food places I want to check out, so don't really need any more tips for that. I think there was a store called Dance Books or something like that and it closed down due to the pandemic? That would have pr

Hi, I’m hoping that someone knows of a good podiatrist in London, and maybe one that has treated dancers? I’m planning to get the partial nail avulsion surgery done this summer so any advice would be greatly appreciated also! Really want to start a new season pain free finally:)

Hello I am a mum to a young dancer (I0 yr) and I find it hard to navigate what’s on, when to apply, where it is etc I’m starting a feed to share information on intensives and workshops in and around London. Royal Ballet School Winter Intensive Information: Winter Intensive (one-day courses) London Monday 13 February 2022 Thursday 16 February 2023 Exploring stagecraft in Swan Lake Students aged 11-12 years old on 31 August 2023 Developing musicality and dynamics in classical ballet 9.30 – 10.00 – Registration 10.00 – 10.45 – Warm up, body awareness and conditioning 11.00 – 12.30 – Ballet class: how can we develop and apply musicality in ballet class? 13.30 – 15.00 – Focus class: further exploration linking musicality to dynamics, and how to bring this connection to our dancing 15.15 – 15.45 – Cool down, reflection on the day’s learning and presentation of certificates. Booking opens 21 November 2022 Booking closes 7 February 2023 Course fee: £120 These courses are non-selective. Places are limited and offered on a first-come-first-served basis. Book early to avoid disappointment. https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/train/dancer-training/intensive-courses/winter-intensive/#1657539745812-53582e41-0f3a

Hi All, I have private and/or semi/private coaching available over the Christmas and New Year period. (all through December and the first 2 weeks of January) Do get in touch if you would like some audition prep... solos coaching... technique boost... ballet TLC!! sarah@sarahtoner.co.uk or DM on Instagram @sarahtoner45 Love and best wishes, Sarah xx

A morality tale or flight of fancy? From Thursday 13 - Sunday 16 April 2023 London Children's Ballet presents the much loved story of Snow White. With a cast of 50 talented young dancers aged 9 - 16 this classic children's story is brought to life after months of rehearsals. There are many versions, known in different countries, of Snow White which was first formally authored by the Brothers Grimm in a collection of fairy stories published in Germany in 1812. Originally the seven characters were not so charming, forcing Snow White to wash, cook and clean for them. It was the Walt Disney film of 1937 that created the characters audiences have grown to love. All versions of Snow White relish the villain, the Evil Queen and her direct opposite, the vulnerable innocent Snow White who is banished to the forest as punishment for her own vanity perhaps? For the sake of drama and feeling the Evil Queen has her come-uppance whilst Snow White finds ultimate love in this 80-minute story ballet. Gala Performance will take place at 5.30 pm on Saturday 15 April https://londonchildrensballet.formstack.com/forms/2023galaperformance Further performances run from: Thursday 13 April at 7 pm Friday 14 April at 1 pm and 7 pm Saturday 15 April at 1.30 pm Sunday 16 April at 12.30 pm and 4.30 pm https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/london-childrens-ballet-snow-white/ Ticket prices from £18 - £55 Artistic Director Ruth Brill has gathered a team of creative talents including the choreographer Gavin McCaig who trained at the Dance School of Scotland and English National Ballet School before joining Northern Ballet. In 2019 he created a short film for Northern Ballet’s Digital Platform, Silenced, which went on to win Best Dance Short at the New Renaissance Film Festival in London. In 2021, his first children’s ballet Pinocchio premiered for Northern Ballet in Leeds before a national tour. More recently, he choreographed a new narrative work for Images 2022 Assembly Line which toured to several venues including Lilian Baylis at Sadler’s Wells. Composer Richard Norris trained as a classical pianist at the Royal College of Music and joined Tring Park School for The Performing Arts in 2002. He spent two years in Japan where he became Director of Music at the A.I.S. Ballet School in Osaka, before returning to Tring in 2007, where he has worked ever since. Previous commissions with London Children’s Ballet include the first Snow White (2009) choreographed by Olivia Pickford, the 2016 revival with new choreography by Jenna Lee and the 2017 production of Little Lord Fauntleroy. Richard and Jenna continued their collaboration with “Puss In Boots” (2018) for Northern Ballet Theatre, which was televised on CBeebies. Since 2010, Richard has played five times for the RAD Genée (now Fonteyn) International Ballet Competition. The costume designer Sarah Godwin graduated in Costume Design from Wimbledon College of art in 2008. Since designing the costumes for the 2009 production of Snow White she has worked as a textile artist for film and TV. London Children's Ballet is a performance company that inspires the pursuit of excellence and changes lives through dance. A leader in creating original narrative work and introducing new audiences to ballet, the LCB creates a new West End ballet each year performed by talented dancers aged 9-16. Outreach work takes ballet into schools, care homes and special needs centres in and around London. Founded by Lucille Briance in 1994 LCB is a charity that aims to inspire children from all backgrounds through dance, planting the seed of a long lasting passion that will enrich their lives. With her retirement after 25 years at the helm ex-English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet dancer and choreographer Ruth Brill became LCB's Artistic Director. Each year, a favourite children’s story is developed with an original scenario full of humour, drama and excitement to engage a family audience. LCB then commissions an emerging composer to write a ‘full-evening’ narrative score and a choreographer to set the ballet, also working with up-and-coming costume and set designers. LCB then stages this stunning new ballet performed over a week-long run to sell-out audiences in the West End’s Peacock Theatre. The LCB Company is made up of highly talented young dancers aged 9-14 (boys 9-16). Up to 50 children join the company, through annual competitive auditions of over 600 applicants, held each October/November. The following 4-month rehearsal and performance experience is free of charge, which not only makes LCB unique but also means there is no barrier to talent – LCB dancers come from every economic, social and ethnic background, united by their passion for ballet. LCB does not only select children who are technically gifted; audition judges look for children who have that special appeal that makes a dancer beautiful to watch regardless of whether or not they have a perfect ballet body. LCB dancers rehearse on Sunday afternoons from January to April, with an intensive period of daily rehearsals over February half term and the Easter holidays. In total, they receive over 100 hours of free, specialist ballet tuition and performance experience. London Children’s Ballet fundraises year-round to ensure that it is able to offer its unique opportunity to young dancers regardless of their circumstances. Demand for places has remained so high that a second branch of the company, LCB Tour was created in 2004 to increase the number of children able to participate and to broaden the outreach the organisation is able to achieve. Four times a year 48 additional LCB touring company dancers perform in residential homes, hospices, day centres and Special Educational Needs schools with a 30-minute tailored performance, taking ballet out into the community and ensuring an enriching experience for all involved. LCB also runs thriving programmes in the community throughout the year, touching the lives of over 3,000 disadvantaged children and elderly people with workshops and inspirational performances. LCB alumni dancers include Anna Rose O'Sullivan Principal with the Royal Ballet, James Streeter First Soloist with English National Ballet and Charlotte Edmonds, now a choreographer. LCB’s working associates include choreographers Cathy Marston, Ruth Brill and Irek Mukhamedov and composers Artem Vasiliev and Ben Foskett. 'God bless the London Children's Ballet for making the dreams of our children come true' Marina Panganiban, mother of LCB dancer 'This is the only time our pupils would be able to meet ‘real ballet dancers’ and get to touch and feel such beautiful costumes…There were a number of children who seemed to engage with the emotion of the performance, particularly when ‘dramatic, scary’ music came on. A few were dancing in their seats!' Mandeville School 'Bravo to everyone who made Anne of Green Gables (2022) come to life. Simply lovely work: talented dancers, lucid choreography, atmospheric music and lighting, gorgeous sets and costumes. Continue like this and the LCB spirit will be influencing people for countless generations to come'. Georgina Butler, dance writer and teacher 'It was LCB that gave me the inspiration to pursue classical dance as a career.' Anna Rose O'Sullivan, Principal, Royal Ballet Changing Lives Through Dance: Key Facts & Figures 20 choreographers and 11 composers have set their first full-length ballet for LCB 1,395 young dancers have received over 100 hours of free tuition and performed on stage with LCB 790 young dancers have performed as part of an LCB Touring Company 11,427 children from over 250 ballet schools have auditioned for LCB 35,905 disadvantaged children and isolated elderly people have seen an LCB production through our Ballet for £1 programme; for most this is their first experience of ballet 25% of all tickets to LCB performances are available to schools and charities for £1 432 outreach venues have hosted a performance by a LCB touring company, bringing the joy of dance and music to hospices, special needs schools, hospitals, day centres and residential nursing homes LCB has created 16 original narrative ballet productions with new music and choreography 8,314 inner-city primary school children have participated in a free LCB ballet workshops For further information please contact Anna Hickman Lewin at pr@hickmanandassociates.co.uk

Hi everyone. I was wondering if anyone can recommend a London based photographer for an audition shoot. Thank you!

"Night Tube strikes — until Sunday 4 December The planned strike action on Friday and Saturday nights on the Central, Jubilee and Victoria lines between 20:30 and 04:29 the following morning, has been extended until Sunday 4 December and will now also impact the Northern line. While Night Tube services are still running regularly, if you are using these lines on a Friday or Saturday between 19:00 and 06:00 the next morning, you should check before you travel. For the latest information on how services are expected to run, please visit our website. Tube Central, Jubilee, Northern and Victoria lines On Fridays and Saturday nights we expect: A regular service on the Central line(at least two trains per hour through central London) A regular service on the Jubilee line (at least three trains per hour). A regular service on the Northern line (four trains per hour expected through central London) A good service on the Victoria line If you are using the Central, Jubilee, Northern or Victoria lines on a Friday or Saturday between 19:00 and 06:00 the next morning, you should check before you travel. https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/tube-strike?cid=tube-strike It's been bad enough trying to avoid Fridays and Saturdays when booking for the ROH, where I do at least have alternative options, but this is going to make it really difficult for Sadler's Wells, too

Hello Parents and Dancers. Just a reminder that I have ballet coaching running all summer this year! Classes are based in Highbury, North London; but can also be taken on zoom for anyone who can't get to London. For information and fees please email me sarah@sarahtoner.co.uk or send me a direct message on Instagram sarahtoner45 I focus on confidence building; audition preparation; technique-technique-technique!! Artistry... Basically the whole banana... with humour and kindness! Self promotion makes me nauseous 😂 But I hope this helps for you to get to know me a little. I am a former dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet, London City Ballet, The National Ballet of Portugal and a whole gamut of freelance work in between! I love, love, love teaching and have over 35 years of teaching experience, 9 years teaching at Rambert School, and I have coached very many dancers; professional and students. I don't post my students or their successes (apart from my daughter because she's family and she has always allowed me to use her for advertising my classes!) it's the dancers hard work that gets them to where they deserve to be. I just deliver a good recipe to help them get there! However if it helps to know, my students are scattered throughout nearly every UK vocational school plus Companies all over the world 😉 I hope this helps but please feel free to message me, preferably by email or by DM on Instagram, with any questions! Love Sarah xx

I have a private lesson with Claudia Dean when she visits London in August which I am hoping to sell on as I am no longer able to attend. Please DM if interested for further details.

Hi, anyone know of any routes to try source accommodation for a 15 year old DD to enable attendance at ENBS Spring course - & possibly other things over next year too. Ideally to stay with another attendee so travelling to course with another/others. I cannot be there due to work commitments. As course is non residential I am trying all routes to make it possible.... have exhausted friends & family so am now asking the lovely Forum Family to see if anyone out there has the solution as am sure this is a common issue? Mobe thought I had was contributing to the AirBnB or similar cost of another dancing family booking accommodation or a commuting distance attendee whose family may have a spare room they would be happy to rent in bed & board basis? Hope it’s ok to explore this here... Thank you

Hello, my 15 year old dd is looking for extra classes to supplement her regular ones. She would like ballet and contemporary in particular. Can anyone recommend something that might suit her? I don't think she is strong enough for very competitive programmes. We have looked at Tring Park Associates that might work but ideally I would like Central London so she can get there herself!

My daughter is year 8, and is not at a vocational school. She attends classes at two different ballet schools, and also an associate programme attached to one of the schools. I don’t think she is making the progress she could be or should be, and between the two schools there seems to be a lack of performance opportunity and a slight lack of ‘seriousness’ about the training, that I have seen in other places. So I guess I’m looking for recommendations of schools or classes for this age group in London area (we are east so possibly Essex as well), that will nurture her ambition to dance a bit more? Realising I need to make a change for her as what we are doing now is not really working, and she would love to dance seriously

I'm going to stay at QAH this coming year, and I wonder if any of you have any experiences with it? Thank you

Does anyone have any suggestions for associate programmes that happen on a Sunday in or around London? Its for my 13 year old dd, she’s looking for extra ballet but also contemporary and maybe jazz to supplement her regular classes. Preferably something that isn’t too competitive to get in to! Thank you.

We’re heading to London for DD’s first pair of pointe shoes. A very exciting rite of passage as I must admit I am a bit jealous as I never had the opportunity to go en pointe when I did ballet way back when. Am I right in thinking Dancia, Bloch and Freed are the places we should go to? Would it be better to go to Dancia first as an over view as such and then if they suggest Bloch or Freed shoes, to go to the specific brand shops? Are there any other dance shops worth trying in central London? Any other first pair shopping tips? Should we get elastic and ribbon or see what the fitters suggest? Does one generally get ouch pouches for first shoes or try starting off with lambs wool or something else?

Would anyone be able to recommend a daytime class in London on Monday? I’m there next week and hoping to drop in somewhere as my classes have a full week off! Roughly around low intermediate level, similar to David Kierce’s improvers plus class that he does at central? I’m getting better at picking up combinations but not incredibly fast at it quite yet so someone who doesn’t do anything insanely complicated! I spotted possibly either a beginner or intermediate class at London Russian ballet school, or an afternoon class I think it was with Adam at Danceworks if anyone has any first hand experience with these? Thanks!

As I will be heading over to the UK from America, I am curious to research about any places in greater London that... 1) run male technique classes for amateur adults 2) offer pas de deux training sessions 3) have good selections of dance wear for adult males (not online)

Can anyone suggest a good tap class in Central/South London please? Ds wants to keep up his tap while studying Contemporary Dance (1 year Graduate Diploma) at Trinity Laban. He’s roughly Adv1/Adv2 standard and has Friday afternoons or anytime Saturdays/Sundays. A syllabus class would be ideal as he wants to teach eventually but any recommendations welcome. Thanks for the help.