Jan McNulty Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 BRB has announced its latest round of taster classes, which will be held during the company's Autumn tour to Salford, Birmingham, Sunderland, Sadler's Wells and Plymouth. Details here: https://www.brb.org.uk/up-close/dance-education/ballet-training 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 How lovely that they're coming to London. :-) Shame it's not a repertoire workshop like the others, but a lovely opportunity in any case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 And unlike last year vocational students can take part too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angel Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 I emailed them last year expressing my feeling that they should be encouraging the ballet dancers of the future...and most..not all..are at vocational school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeafterballet Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Vocational students are not allowed to apply for the Cinderella Dreams audition ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moomin Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 They also need to inspire the future audiences and recreational dancers of the future for the art form to continue. A lot of opportunities are rather monopolised by vocational/ associates students and most other dancers wouldn't stand a chance against them in an audition. I've personally seen students from RBS, Elmhurst & Tring performing with companies, I think it's a nice idea to provide something for the non vocational students and a good idea to get a wider appreciation for ballet. Not saying that they couldn't provide something for serious students too. Tbh the rehersals for the Cinderella one are on a weekday evening which would presumably exclude most vocational students and unfortunately also just about everyone not from Birmingham! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angel Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 (edited) I agree that vocational students wouldn't be able to take part in the Cinderella one (apart from Elmhurst students but I would imagine they wouldn't be allowed anyway) There are some lovely non vocational dancers in the Birmingham area who I would imagine are very happy and excited about the prospect. I doubt that many of those who attend the audition would say they weren't serious As for the one off days; these days have always been poorly attended (mostly because BRB didn't advertise them). Edited July 25, 2016 by angel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moomin Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 I didn't say they weren't serious 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angel Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 When you said 'Not saying that they couldn't provide something for serious students too' I thought that's what you meant. I do understand the frustration of those who don't have opportunities to perform or train with professionals. My dd has been vocational for three years but has also not had opportunity to performer train with a professional company. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moomin Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 I hope nobody took offence because I absolutely agree that recreational dancers can take their dancing very seriously. However, I would use the term 'serious dancer' to mean someone in or aspiring to make their career in dance. I understand these events to be an attempt at an outreach programme whch is great as for every dancer made, you need to make an awful lot more people who want to watch! The performance is a lovely opportunity for local children but tbh Birmingham already has many opportunities with a vocational school, multiple associate schemes, other performance opportunities nearby, it's own ballet company etc perhaps if they took some of their workshops to areas without this they may be better attended! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angel Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 I was just thinking of some of the young dancers I know who would love to go to vocational school but, often for financial reasons or choice not to leave home or academic schools yet, have stayed at home but continued training hard. Or those who were training vocationally but were assessed out. You make a good point about outreach and encouraging new audience members. I'm all for that. I never would have been to the ballet if my dd's didn't dance. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted July 26, 2016 Author Share Posted July 26, 2016 I hope nobody took offence because I absolutely agree that recreational dancers can take their dancing very seriously. However, I would use the term 'serious dancer' to mean someone in or aspiring to make their career in dance. I understand these events to be an attempt at an outreach programme whch is great as for every dancer made, you need to make an awful lot more people who want to watch! The performance is a lovely opportunity for local children but tbh Birmingham already has many opportunities with a vocational school, multiple associate schemes, other performance opportunities nearby, it's own ballet company etc perhaps if they took some of their workshops to areas without this they may be better attended! BRB does a lot of outreach work with schools in the areas to which they tour. Over many years of visiting Sunderland I have been made aware of school groups attending a performance who have had workshops with BRB. As far as I am aware that is also the case in Plymouth and Salford. I believe all our major touring companies (and possibly the smaller companies) have outreach activities in the areas to which they tour. How could BRB resource a Cinderella Dreams initiative outside their own home city? The company has finite resources and, of course, has to produce performances as advertised for ticket-buying ballet-watchers. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mummy twinkle toes Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 The Swan Lake workshop in Cardiff was well attended. A mixture of dancers there. The youngest were 8 years old. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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