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JulieW

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  1. JulieW
    I also remember it because my son was meant to be there but ended up injured and we had to cancel everything! Horrible because it was his one opportunity to take part in an international competition and it was another lesson in what a tough world it is. His friends from Elmhurst did well though.
  2. JulieW

    Dog news

    JulieW replied to JulieW's topic in Not Dance

    Had a fantastic day at Crufts yesterday. Both my Welsh Springers were qualified and entered and we (me, hubby and daughter came home from uni to come with us) set off at 5am with me hoping that one of them might be lucky enough to get placed - the younger one has been more successful than his housemate at shows recently. Really happy when Jiffy was placed 5th in his class (only 7 in the class but all the ones who beat him were from well known breeders a all lovely dogs). Then a bit of a wait before Tartu went into his class and I nearly fell over when the judge came over to award him the first place! The steward said I got the prize for the biggest smile of the day. Absolutely thrilled and dh and dd were grinning from the "audience". So lovely to go in for the "challenge" at Crufts - always special but particularly there (that's where all the class winners go in to choose the Best Dog - and Reserve - who will compete against the Best Bitch for Best of Breed) Lots of people taking photos and congratulating us - and his breeder was there to see it too (she's not too well these days and we don't often see her at shows) - very special. I'll try to put a photo of him on later. I watched the group judging on the live feed while dh and dd were watching the rugby - if you get a chance to see it on YouTube have a look at the flatcoated retriever who came 2nd - what a stunning dog and, imho, should've won the group (I know I'm a bit biased but still...)
  3. JulieW
    I don't know any of you but I'm on on tenterhooks! Congratulations to those with a place and commiserations to those who have a "no". This is transporting me back 13 years - feels like yesterday. No emails for us then - just stalking the postman every day, hoping to see a fat envelope. Those with a "yes" - prepare for slight panic to set in soon, but when you go to the induction day you'll feel excited again! Thinking particularly of those of you having to tell your children it was a no. My DD was really upset, especially as her big brother was already there, but she picked herself up really quickly and now she's nearly a vet lol :-)
  4. JulieW
    Interesting discussion but may I please ask (with my moderator hat on) that we keep these pinned threads for particular questions and answers about auditions, and that you start new threads for other discussions. Many thanks
  5. JulieW
    And I didn't mention the money lol Brace yourselves everyone for the mad rollercoaster ride. Try not to think about what things mean, like the "call backs" - all that matters is that your child does his/her best and enjoys the experience. Everything else is out of your/their control. If you do get a yes, prepare yourself for initial euphoria then for mild panic to set in a few days later!
  6. JulieW
    Only takes a few days to get final results, but yes, it feels like a lifetime
  7. JulieW
    Many years ago auditions were over the weekend and children were told if they'd got in or not at the end I believe. How awful that would be if you were unsuccessful. Thankfully I'm sure that won't happen! Hairbelles - would we do it all again...? With the stress of auditions, waiting for results, appraisals, being assessed out, change of school, injuries, more auditions and waiting, company auditions, child working abroad, operation, finally giving up ballet...? Oh yes, in a heartbeat x
  8. JulieW
    So exciting reading all this - takes me back 13 years like it was yesterday with my ds!! Commiserations to the no's - remember to although we've had lots of recalls on the forum this year (which is lovely), more children will have got a no than a yes. And as everyone says it might just be "not yet" or it might be the start of a different journey like with my younger 2. Those with recalls, be warned, the day at WL is lovely but your children will want it even more once they've got that close and been there for the day! Good luck and have fun
  9. JulieW
    No specific advice from me either but wanted to welcome you to the mad world! My eldest was a London JA- he's now 23! - can't believe it was that long ago. Ended up going to RBS and Elmhurst, danced professionally for 3 years and stepped off the dance rollercoaster just over a year ago. So my only advice really is to enjoy each bit as it happens, try not to have expectations just enjoyable experiences. You can't do anything about certain aspects of auditioning (most aspects actually) so just encourage him to do his best and what will be will be. Good luck
  10. JulieW
    Appraisal results time was awful - there's no denying it. Even before my son has his place withdrawn (or was "assessed out" as it's known) it was horrible every year hearing about those who who got bad news and I'll be completely honest and say that was hard not to feel that someone else had been given their place (away from the heat of the moment you know that's not true and it's a huge achievement for someone to be offered a place in any year). Remember they're not just losing their RBS place - there having to leave their school, really close friends, adults they've been close to, and effectively their home! We're nearly 9 years down the line now and I still feel the emotion of receiving that awful letter. But I also remember the wonderful feeling of getting the place in the beginning and his place at Elmhurst afterwards - and the day he got his first professional dance contract (that made it all worthwhile). Good luck everyone - it's a exciting time for you all.
  11. JulieW
    And a welcome from me too Sarah. I have fond memories of BRB from my son being at Elmhurst although those memories feel more distant all the time now he's nearly 24 :-)
  12. JulieW
    I would send a note/covering letter attached to the application about her medical "issue". And no need to keep it simple - just explain it in medical terms. Good luck - doing RBS JAs is lovely if you get the opportunity (I had 2!!)
  13. JulieW
    Just heard about a couple of young dancers from our old dance school who have got places as associates. They're very happy!
  14. JulieW
    Although I don't post so much now that I don't have any dancing children, I'm a a moderator and love reading everyone's posts. I was also a member of the original forum - from around 2001 I think, when my son started taking ballet seriously and I was looking for advice about White Lodge. I found about 2 posts from other parents with similar experience, now there's hundreds (well, nearly) of you.
  15. JulieW
    Thank you all for sharing your experiences. It's hard to step off this dance rollercoaster when it's been such a big part of your lives. My daughter realised at 11 that following a vocational route wasn't for her but she carried on dancing and it helped give her confidence and fortitude that carried her into another career as a vet. My eldest son gave up dance this time last year after 3+ years as a professional ballet dancer - I don't mind admitting it was devastating news for me because I love watching him dance so much and his dancing has been a huge part of all our lives, not just his. But what fabulous confidence it gave him as well as a wonderful physique!! And he's putting it to good use as a personal fitness trainer now (and may I add, earning far more than he did as a dancer and without all the injuries). The added bonus being to we get to see him a lot over Christmas this year after about 12 years of various Nutcrackers and Cinderellas :-D I'm watching his girlfriend dance/perform tomorrow night instead! Edited to sort out terrible predictive text issues!
  16. JulieW
    The gingerbreads were certainly there!!! You don't get to see much of them but they start off in the dolls house and they're on stage while the fortress is coming out and the fight starts. I've seen many an RB Nutcracker and I enjoyed the one last night more than I have for a while. Frankie was lovely (I saw her when she first did it and commented back then that she was the best Clara I'd seen) for the same reasons others like her, and loved Lauren and Frederico. I too was annoyed by the camera work early on - too much close up stuff, but I didn't feel that in the second act. That's my Christmas started now.
  17. JulieW
    I still love the Baileys Nutcracker one from 2013!
  18. JulieW
    I presume we're talking about girls' pink ballet socks rather than the boys' white ones (we used long cotton white ones rather than the nylon ones for the boys).... My daughter's pink ones went in a white wash with liquid for whites. They maybe went a touch paler over time but no sign of greying socks for us!
  19. JulieW
    My daughter loved wearing soft blocks and wore them for class as much as possible when she went into the vocational grades. I suppose it's the feeling like they're in pointe shoes like the pros without the pain.
  20. JulieW
    Perhaps if we (the UK) entered 89 dancers we'd stand a chance of getting someone through.... Just a thought
  21. JulieW
    We didn't use foundation on my daughter until she was much older. So we used a good amount of blusher, brown eye shadow (later black and white), black liquid eyeliner (I did start out with a pencil), mascara, red lipstick, and we soon learnt that a bit of brown pencil on the eyebrows was a good idea as she also had very fair brows. Avoid anything glittery/shiny and you won't go far wrong. Some festival venues don't have very strong lights and, especially at a young age, heavy stage makeup can look OTT
  22. JulieW
    Putting a slightly different perspective here with our own story. Sorry old members who've heard this before - look away now! Eldest son was a JA after being on the waiting list, went to WL, was assessed out of year 9, went to Elmhurst, danced professionally abroad and briefly in the UK for 3 years. Daughter was a JA - her main love was ballet, didn't get into WL mainly due to potential physique rather than ability imho, but had always said if she couldn't be a dancer she wanted to be a vet. Became apparent that her talents lay more on the academic side but she carried on dancing seriously all through school (but completely dropped the idea of being a professional dancer by about year 8). She's now a 4th year vet student and has never regretted dropping the dancing dream. If she'd had the natural talent/physique etc to have been a really good ballet dancer she would've loved it, but she didn't love ballet/dance enough to be one those people happy to just dance regardless of what level who wants to dance anywhere, so she moved on to other things. I'm by no means saying to give up yet or anything, just showing that even when they're really good and really love it, there are sometimes better/different things ahead. Just take it a day at a time and enjoy the journey whichever route it ends up taking you.
  23. JulieW
    Not before time IMHO. We tried talking about this when ds was there....
  24. JulieW
    So happy to read today that Elmhurst have changed their name back to Elmhurst Ballet School.
  25. JulieW
    My younger two are now back at uni (for the last week or two) and the house is feeling a bit empty again - if tidy. Visit from eldest son and his girlfriend this weekend has been lovely and helped my empty nest feeling ease off a bit. My poor daughter went back straight into 4th year exams so was a bit stressed. They had a morning off after the last one and then straight back to full-on lectures. Anyone with an aspiring vet at home, do get in touch with me and I can tell you what it's really like for them. Youngest son is in his final year - doesn't time fly. Hasn't really thrown himself into uni life like his sister (he's a bit more of a solitary character) but he has joined the archery society so I hope he'll enjoy that as a bit of a distraction from the final year stresses. Looking forward to Christmas now!
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