Lower school full time experiences

[Dreamy11]

Hi can I ask about the dance course at tring to those that have experience of it , do children have to do drama, singing too? how is it split in terms of dance eg classical / contemporary etc? I think having looked at Hammond that may not focus enough on ballet, thanks

[sarahw]

Hi balletqueen,

 

Pictures will be able to clarify how much ballet is done at Hammond but it is certainly daily- she posted a timetable recently- I think their ballet content is much increased in recent years.

 

As it is so difficult to get into thesr schools it is worth considering applying to all 4 and then make a decision if you are in the position of holding more than one offer....

[Busymum]

Tring have 2 hours of ballet most mornings in yr 7. The days they don't have 2 hours they have an hour and a half. They have one drama and one choir lesson, modern, tap and conditioning. The focus is mainly on ballet. Miss Rachel said it ends up being 10 hours of ballet a week.

[Harwel]

On the dance course at Tring (this is year 10 and 11). They have a ballet lesson every day which is not sylabus in any way. Then throughout the week they have: 2 jazz, one modern sylabus class, 2 contemporary, 1 pas de deux, solos and rep class (not sure if 1 or 2 classes), 1 Pilates, 1 weights/strengthening (I guess girls do a dedicated point work class), 1 checcetti sylabus class. On Saturday they have sylabus tap (not compulsory) and sylabus RAD - the RAD is compulsory if you are on an MDS. There is no singing and drama on the timetable. My ds does a private singing lesson which is built into the day on a weekly basis, he also does music theory as an additional lesson which is slotted into lunch time. The girls and boys are taught separately for all vocational lessons at this age except for P de D of course. Hope that helps!

[Dreamy11]

Thank you, so it seems maybe years 7 and 8 do drama and singing, I'm guessing that's one lesson a week and not per day? Lol? What happens to those children that really can't sing?! Do your dds enjoy their time there and especially the ballet in the lower years and how would they rate its difficulty perhaps compared to what they did at their own dance school when the focus is more on exams eg rad / itda /batd etc?

Edited May 7, 2015 by balletqueen

[Harwel]

Just to add: Tring young dancers show is on at the schools theatre on 17, 18 June at 7.30. This is all the dancers from year 7 to year 11. If you want to see what they are like for yourselves in this environment it may be a good way. You can obtain tickets from the Tring Park website - go to 'what's on' and scroll down. There are not many tickets left, but last time I checked there were more ticket available for the 17 June.

[Harwel]

Those children that really can't sing only have to sing in a group in the first 3 years and like anything, they get better and grow in confidence.

 

My ds went at year 10 and to be honest there is no comparison between the level of ballet he does at Tring and that which he did twice a week at home. The teacher he had at home is wonderful, a very gifted teacher and he loved her classes, but he is now in a class of highly competitive children, all striving for the same goal and all with a great deal of ability. You just can not compare the 2. They learn all kinds of things in ballet lessons that are way above and outside the sylabus classes. He loves dancing at Tring. It is hard, can be frustrating, emotionally challenging and certainly not for the faint hearted but I know he wouldn't change it for anything - I know because I ask him often and let him know that if it all gets too much, he only has to tell me and I pull him out without hesitation. His emotional well being is my paramount concern and nothing is more important to me than that.

[Busymum]

My DD hasn't started yet. She is starting in September. She isn't a ballet dancer and doesn't want to be but is happy at the amount of ballet that she will be getting as she understands the necessity of it. She just could not have that amount of hours at home. The one drama and one choir lesson a week is on the timetable for yrs 7 - 9 (not necessarily together though!) Obviously the singing is part of a group so shouldn't make anybody feel too stressed.

My DD will be having a private singing lesson a week too to keep that side up.

She can't wait to get there! I am under the impression that all her classes for the first year will be non syllabus but once she gets to yr8 she can start vocational RAD classes on a Saturday. Not sure when the modern and tap exams start. She is a very lucky girl.

[Regattah]

Hi balletqueen. My DD has been to both Tring and Hammond. They do just as much ballet at Hammond in lower school.

[angel]

I have one at WL and one at Hammond. I am very impressed with the ballet at Hammond. Fiona Brockway (ex Royal) has been a fantastic addition to their faculty.

Also I like the fact that they become much more versatile dancers at Hammond and am far happier with the communication from school and the nurturing environment DD is learning in.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

What year will your dd be looking at entering ballet balletqueen as the timetable changes at Hammond as children progress through the school. I have coped of last years yr 7 & this year's yr 8 timetable but I have seen timetables for all years & could obtain a copy if I wished.

 

My general observation is that in yr 7 & 8 there is 1 day where the children 'only' have an hour of ballet, the focus on this day is academics. On all other days they have between 90 mins -2.5 hrs.

 

From yr 9 onwards I believe drama is dropped & in yrs 10-11 during gcse years there is less dance during the academic day but more between 4-6 pm. Ballet classes increase & other forms decrease.

[2dancersmum]

I think it is perhaps a little short sighted to dismiss a school as not having enough of a classical focus without having been to the schools yourself and seeing first hand what is on offer - especially since all 4 schools are difficult to get into and even more difficult to get funding for - especially entering after year 7.  Hammond at least offers its own bursaries to those it likes but does not have an MDS for.  Personally I would be waiting to see if I had the choice before making any decisions.  Different schools also suit different children for their atmosphere, surroundings, pastoral care and accommodation. 

 

Hammond has an open evening next week on 12th May (and one on a Saturday in October normally).  Their end of year show is 9-11 July - a Dance Double Bill.  I believe one act is lower school and one act is the students on the Professional Dance course.  Tickets are on sale via the website.

[dramascientist]

When DD auditioned at Hammond and we were taken on a tour of the school we saw one ballet class, I would say about year 8 age and they were all beautiful! My DD attended the national ballet school here and had about 1.5 - 2.5 hours of ballet a day and reached a hight enough standard to receive offers from all the schools she auditioned at. I think its quality not quantity thats important!

[All4dancers]

My dd is in y10 at Hammond and I can assure you there is very definitely a classical focus.

[Dreamy11]

Yes we will definitely see all schools, it's good to hear Hammond has such a good focus on ballet too, I think the initial concern with Hammond was perhaps due to looking at what happens at the audition and seeing it said a vocal solo audition too! Thanks everyone, all your advice is so helpful and I'm sure to many others too!

[Quest]

What year will your dd be looking at entering ballet balletqueen as the timetable changes at Hammond as children progress through the school. I have coped of last years yr 7 & this year's yr 8 timetable but I have seen timetables for all years & could obtain a copy if I wished.

 

My general observation is that in yr 7 & 8 there is 1 day where the children 'only' have an hour of ballet, the focus on this day is academics. On all other days they have between 90 mins -2.5 hrs.

 

From yr 9 onwards I believe drama is dropped & in yrs 10-11 during gcse years there is less dance during the academic day but more between 4-6 pm. Ballet classes increase & other forms decrease.

[Quest]

Picturesinthefirelight, I would be very interested in the Year 9 timetable for Hammond if you would be willing to share this?

[2dancersmum]

balletqueen - I agree it does look a bit off putting having a vocal solo at the audition but note that it does say it is for their records and the singing does not affect the overall outcome of the audition. We were told that they believed dancers were often so focused on ballet that they did not realise they had any other talents so it was in part to see if they had any other talents but also so they could see the attitude of the child - the readiness to give it a go. My DD only auditioned for sixth form but I believe the principle is the same for lower school applicants.

[Unzabun]

My DD is in year 7 at Hammond and she loved the fact that she was able to show more of who she was at the Hammond audition with the solo vocal and the solo dance performance, she enjoyed all the auditions but felt that the ones that are classes only, the adjudicators didn't really get to know the auditionees that much, it was more looking at body shape and technique so the Hammond audition felt a bit more like a two way street! Lots of the dancers with her at Hammond are not singers and it doesn't seem to affect any of the decisions about places or funding! 

[Mae989]

Ballet queen- my daughter auditioned for Hammond this year and was dreading the singing solo. We were told she didn't need to do a solo but could just be part of a group so didn't even prepare anything! She cannot sing a note!!! On the day they asked her to sing happy birthday, she had them in fits of laughter and they awarded her the MDS. So singing is definitely NOT a pre-requisite

[meadowblythe]

from personal experience one of the (many) advantages of Hammond is that although there is classical for those who want it, not every student in the school is a classical ballet dancer! 

 

Living and working with a mix of students relieves a lot of the pressure of being in an environment where you are with the same people 24x7, and essentially always competing for every opportunity against those very small group of people.  It also opens your eyes to other opportunities in other disciplines, which can't be a bad thing (having said that, one of my son's proudest achievements was avoiding street dance for 2 years, to do more ballet!)  It also builds respect for those studying and specialising in other art forms be it musical theatre, classical music or singing.

 

My son was in no way musical, but recalling the accapella year 8 group singing at the Christmas service still sends shivers down my spine.  My daughter is a musician, at a vocational music school, and I would still rate that as one of the most moving experiences of my musical life.