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Good morning everyone, In April we are going to YBS in Harrogate/Leeds. As Freed pointe shoes are almost impossible to find in Belgium, I was thinking about trying to buy some in the UK. On the Freed website I found some shops close to Leeds and Harrogate that sell Freed, but so far no pointes. Does somebody know of a store close to Leeds that sells Freed pointe shoes? Thanks in advance for your help! Barbara

Can anyone recommend junior associates in Yorkshire other than RBS? Looking at our options for next year. My daughter is 9 almost 10 in year 5 at school. She auditioned for RBS this year and will be again next year, but I would like to look at other options too.

National Youth Ballet is pleased to offer engaging and exciting three hour Summer workshops with our leading teachers and facilitators in Leeds. The workshops will focus on building performance skills and nurturing creativity. These energising and exciting workshops will enhance dancers’ skills, whilst also nurturing their confidence and preparing them for forthcoming experiences. The workshops will include: A specifically designed ballet class, which will focus not only on developing technique but also on nurturing young dancers’ individual performance skills to help them to showcase their abilities quickly in new environments. A creative class with an NYB choreographer which will challenge and empower young dancers to explore their own creative voices and give them an opportunity to perform their own work in a studio setting. A Moving Minds session will support and nurture dancers’ mindset, preparing them for all that lies ahead. The opportunity to receive tailored feedback from NYB Creative Director Jo Meredith and/or Associate Artistic Director Amelia O’Hara. Whether you are preparing for your vocational dance school auditions, or looking for an opportunity to explore your own individual performance qualities, this workshop will allow you the space to become the best artist that you can be. More information and booking at https://nationalyouthballet.org/take-part/summer-workshop/

My 9 year old has been put forward by her dance teacher, for the junior associate programme at RBS and even though I know chances of getting in are slim, I am very proud, as she’s is only 1 of 2 in the whole dance school, that the teacher has put forward. She is very excited and it’s made me think that I’d like to apply for other things as well. Can I get some recommendations for other good associate programs in the south/ West Yorkshire area please? We have looked at Northern ballet, but cannot do Friday nights, as this is one of her ballet class evenings.

Last month Duchy Ballet celebrated its 20th anniversary with a splendid performance of The Nutcracker with Sara Maria Barton of Ballet West as the "Sugar Rum Cherry". Next year, Chelmsford Ballet Company will celebrate its 70th anniversary. It will be a splendid affair if the 69th year performance of The Snow Queen is anything to go by. I started to think that if two medium size communities in the South of England can produce such excellence then perhaps we in the North should have a go too. I canvassed the idea with friends on Facebook and found lots of support and encouragement from dancers of all ages and abilities from all parts of the North. We discussed how to get started. We decided that one possible way forward might be to hold a free 90-minute class at a place easily accessible by road or public transport from the M62 corridor and see who turns up. Huddersfield is an obvious location as it is on the Trans-Pennine main line with direct rail links to Barnsley, Bradford, Rothrham and Sheffield and it is close to the M62 and M1 motorways. To attract good dancers the teacher would have to be well known on both sides of the Pennines. I am glad to say that Jane Tucker of Northern Ballet, an excellent teacher who also teaches the intensive repertoire workshops for KNT in Manchester, has kindly agreed to give that first class. That class will tale place at Huddersfield Leisure Centre which is a short walk from the rail and bus stations on 26 May 2018 between 15:00 and 16:30. Admission to the class is free but space is limited so attendees have to register in advance. They can do so through Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/powerhouse-ballet-tickets-45023701102, After the class a vote will be taken on a show of hands as to whether we want to form a ballet company in the North. If we decide to do so, 4 or 5 volunteers will be chosen for a steering committee to decide the legal format of the company, draw up a business plan, seek funding and eventually appoint an artistic director and ballet master or mistress. If all goes well, we should be ready to stage our first production early in the New Year. We hope to give opportunities to dancers of all ages and abilities from talented students at the leading ballet schools to kids who are learning the basics and everyone in between. As we plan to hold a short business meeting immediately after the class and have not yet made any chaperoning arrangements, those attending that first class will have to be 18 or over but one of the first prorities of the steering committee will be to arrange a class or audition for students below that age. We are looking not just for dancers but also for artists, costume and set designers, carpenters, musicians, stage crew, photographers, technicians, front of house managers and administrators. In short, just about everyone with a skill, talent pr experience that can help us stage a show.The provisional name of the project is "Powerhouse Ballet". We have chosen that name partly because there is already a Northern Ballet and a Northern Ballet School and partly because we hope to attract dancers from he whole M62 corridor and points North and South. We may well change that name to something more elegant if and when we get started. For those who want more information, we have a website at http://www.powerhouseballet.co.uk/, a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/powerhouseballet/ and a twitter account at https://twitter.com/powerhousedball. I have already written to the RAD Regional Manager for the North and the dance agencies for the Northwest and Yorkshire. Over the next few weeks I shall write to every dance school in the region that I can find from the Hammond and Northern Ballet School downwards. Should anyone have any questions he or she is welcome to contact me through BalletcoForum or the Powerhouse Ballet message form.

Hi We were in London earlier this week (to see Dancers at a Gathering/The Cellist) and as my 16yo DD has missed a week of dance thanks to a virus and was full of GCSE revision blues so I suggested she book into Pineapple or Danceworks for a class. She did ballet with Louise Bennett at Danceworks who she knew from NYB and came out glowing. She loves her training but it can be really pressurised. This was a mixed class of hobby and professional dancers and she really liked the option of taking a class for fun. Does anyone know of any studios like Danceworks/Pineapple in the north (preferably Yorkshire) where dancers can do drop in classes every now and then? It would be nice for her to have the option whenever she wanted to take a class for fun but crucially knowing the teaching was good as well? Thanks!

Hi, I’m based near Hull, East Yorkshire. I’m struggling to find the closest place who will fit GAYNOR Mindens for me. Can anyone point me in the right direction please?

Hi, my daughter has been advised to have a specialist dance Physio consult about her legs. She is hypo-extended and I think the rationale is to see her actual capabilities. We live Sheffield area but happy to commute up 1-2 hours. Thanks in advance 😃

Hi everyone . My annual summer school will run from Monday 21 st - Sat 26 th August . University Academy Keighley . Price : £250 day students £350 residential ( with a host ballet family ) Faculty to include company members from Estonian National ballet Ballet master from Hammond Ex professional ENB Class sizes not above 12 - 16 students Mainly classical . Also commercial / tap ( optional ) Core subjects Ballet Rep Pas de deux Contemporary . 2 performances in the theatre on the Saturday . No photos required. But priority will be given to those who attended last year , and £100 deposit is required . My NEW email address which is currently not linked to this forum account is sarapackham5@gmail.com Therefore you can only pm me by a separate email . I'm sure there must be a way of changing my email Mods ! Help ! Please only message me if you are genuinely interested . If your child doesn't want to do a home stay , then rule me out !! Thanks Tutu girl

Hi, I wanted to share some exciting news with you about a new dance centre opening in Bradford city centre. The Bradford Dance Centre will open its doors to the public in August 2015 and will be the only dedicated space for dance within the city centre. The centre will have three professional dance studios and will offer a range of classes and courses for children, young people and adults, In September, we are offering a one-year, part-time, foundation course in professional contemporary dance, for adults (aged 18+). Students study for 17.5 hours per week over two evenings and all day Saturday, which means the course can easily be combined with work or additional study. This is an intensive, progressive, practical training programme offering 11 practical classes per week (including 6 contemporary technique classes and 2 ballet technique classes). Students can undertake nationally recognised qualifications from a level 1 certificate, up to a level 4 diploma (which is the equivalent of the first year of an undergraduate degree). As far as we know, this is the only part time professional programme for adults available in the UK, outside London. There are no formal entry requirements and no audition! Applicants will be selected based on their desire and motivation to undertake the course, demonstrated on their application form. Students will be allocated to groups according to their level of ability, so we accept students with a range of experience and abilities, although it is not recommended for complete beginners. If you are serious about your dance training, but feel you might not meet the traditional criteria of a vocational school, this course will be perfect for you. Please see website on signature below for further details and an application form. Bradford Dance Centre is a not-for-profit social enterprise and a UK registered training provider. Many thanks, Bradford Dance Centre