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glissade

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Everything posted by glissade

  1. I think being honest about affordability is vital. I know it's tempting to think about pursuing all sorts of things to make it financially possible ... remortgaging, downsizing etc .... But the reality is that you would be putting an awful amount of pressure on your child to fulfill their dream. How could they tell you if they change their mind a few years down the line when they know how much you have sacrificed for them .....? PS (I know you haven't mentioned doing this - but it's a risk worth thinking about in advance for anyone in your situation)
  2. A few years ago now, but we also found email replies to be rather .... lacking! I think the emails do get read though - it's just the replies that don't seem to happen.
  3. I was so sad watching this. And absolutely astounded at her ability to pick herself up and keep going to the end - she's only 15! That takes something - bravery? Fear? I don't know what kept her going, but it was something unusual. At 15, I'm sure most would have skated off the rink or frozen.
  4. I do believe that, for many, a non-dancing career combined with amateur dance activities is perhaps more satisfying and fulfilling than dancing professionally would have been for them.
  5. I read "do f" as a typo for "don't" .... which would then make sense? (Tho I may be wrong!)
  6. Hi - Prob not the best place to observe this but frustrated cos my response on the Year 7 wanting to leave thread fails to save and post to the forum .... is there a glitch/bug or something going on with the function?
  7. @Whiteduvet In my own experience, gut feelings I've had in similar circumstances about my children have usually turned out to be reliable - I think parents are possibly able to tune into non-verbal cues when things just don't seem to add up, so it isn't such a surprise when everything seems to take a u-turn. I'd also just add that 11 years old is really 11 years still-very-young ....
  8. Thanks - that's really helpful. Simple examples are a lot easier to picture than abstract possibilities!
  9. Yh, I know - that's why I was asking Ballet4Boyz if they'd mind sharing info about their specific example of how it works for them 🙂
  10. Just for info ... does he pay the weekly cost for accommodation in the holidays too (so paying 52 weeks per year), or just in term time?
  11. Yes! I love this. Is there a danger that this will be lost, do you think? (If future generations of dancers - and audiences - are more concerned with leg height than line?)
  12. I wonder if perhaps programmes like "Dance Moms" have changed the background though .... although I agree that factors still work against parents risking making complaints at vocational school level, there's possibly more of a defensive knee-jerk reaction to parents making complaints now ... a "them and us" attitude to holding parents at bay ...?
  13. Slipping through my fingers -
  14. This is so true. Well said. Reality often turns out to be different from imagination .... it's so much harder than can be imagined to find yourself in the position of having to actually make that choice. Kind of like the bystander effect in psychology - everyone says, yes! Of course I'd intervene! But the reality is .... that the reality of the situation erodes those imagined choices of action, and very few act in reality as they would in their imagination. It's just human nature - I'm not judging anyone here. Just saying perhaps that it's something to look out for if you're in that position of having to make a choice.
  15. More details re musicians in this article .... sounds like an absolute minefield ... https://www.nme.com/news/music/government-accused-of-spin-and-meaningless-posturing-for-latest-brexit-touring-claims-3012001
  16. Sadly, it doesn't sound as if this latest announcement about musicians is much of a step forwards, if any at all on the current position .... https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/05/uk-musicians-to-be-able-to-tour-visa-free-in-19-eu-countries-brexit
  17. No, I don't regret it at all. But having said that, I have always followed my daughter's choices, which has meant giving up a few high-profile places in programmes when she wasn't enjoying them any more, changing focus when that was what she wanted and allowing her to change her mind ... never expecting her to follow my own ideas. She has learned so much over the years and ballet/dance is an integral part of the person she has become, even although she no longer wishes to pursue dance vocationally.
  18. Yes, this - absolutely this. It's sadly incredibly difficult to find workshops etc without a vocational focus for teenagers dancing at Advanced level. And this vocational focus also seems to stimulate an element of competition among the participants, no matter how friendly they are .... and conversations that inevitably lead to questions such as "Where are you auditioning?" etc etc. For my own daughter, who isn't on a professional pathway, this whole atmosphere has put her off joining workshops and summer courses at a level that she would undoubtedly have enjoyed if there had been more of a focus on enrichment rather than vocation!
  19. Sorry to hear about the rejections ... can only say that it's very, very common. One thing that may help is to know that it often isn't the case that anything is actually "wrong" or "not good enough" .... just that there's lots of competition and the students that were selected may have scored only a miniscule point in one area over your own daughter ... but because of the numbers applying, that miniscule difference on the day is all that it takes. I understand however that that can be little comfort when there's no feedback and you can't be sure. Perhaps asking for an independent assessment might help ....? Emma Northmore comes to mind here .... someone with lots of experience of the things different schools are looking for. It would, of course, be a second opinion and not necessarily an accurate reflection of what the schools actually noted themselves, but if you could share your audition videos with someone in this way, it would at least be based on the exact same performances that the school saw. Just a thought .... and good luck for the future. Something will work out .... and it isn't as if there's any rush at the moment, given the lack of actual performing opportunities right now .... (a topic for a different thread, I imagine!).
  20. When "feet" are mentioned, I always think of Dilly Greasley!
  21. Speaking from my own observations, I think it's important to remember that the children whose experiences are overly managed by a parent when they are young often go on to frustrate that parent when they hit puberty and discover their own voice. Sadly, some internalise that frustration and turn their voice against themselves in terms of developing depression and other mental health problems. The happiest young children (in terms of this current discussion) are always those who are supported in following and exploring their interests, whether those interests conflict with a parent's own ambitions for them or not. Edited to add: which is why I think it's great that you are questioning the environment you find yourself in
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