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richieN

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About richieN

  • Birthday 20/07/1969

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    Cheshire

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    rich.northwood

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  1. She was doing a fantastic job as ENBS, and will be sorely missed! Wherever she goes, I'm sure she'll be successful. I wouldn't like to speculate where she's going.... But I hope that the other prominent person "stepping down" stays well away from ENBS.
  2. I'm not sure about the level of audition for seniors as my DD got an automatic upgrade from Mids to Seniors. But saying that, there are places occasionally. Some get into vocational schools. Others drop out or are assessed out. Its at this time that children start to prioritise GCSE's over ballet, too. But the large majority of seniors are mids moving up, and it is competitive. From my impression, RBS tends to be less about making you a more impressive dancer and more about removing faults from technique. If your DD could do with this, RBS would be good. But they are nothing special and you're likely to get similar training elsewhere if you're with other associate classes. Make sure you factor in extra travel and inconvenience and the fact you are doing other associates. Remember an associate programme is there to support a dancer's training. Not take it over.
  3. You strike to the heart of the matter - institutional deference to ex-ballet stars and those with letters after their name.
  4. Royal score on "quality of classical ballet aesthetic lines". It'll be buried in that criteria.
  5. richieN

    RCS 2023

    Last year, we had prelim on 21st January. Finals were over 2 days - 22nd & 23rd March. DD was offered a place by email on 31st of March. Good luck.
  6. Yes - generally the best coaches get the best results. Its clear up and down the country, and in every sport. As for creativity - ballet is the least subjective of the expressive arts - because there is correct movement, classical lines, timing and turnout. All of which can be measured and achieved. And as for Harvard and Oxford etc - they still select on merit, and even they don't kick their students out through the years - that particular honour is reserved for RBS students.
  7. If it was the best school in the world, it should get the best results. The very fact that they throw out so many children at year nine tells me there is something fundamentally wrong with their training.
  8. It's been evident for quite a few years now that foreign investment has played a key part in buying stakes in UK schools and universities - not all by regimes I would feel comfortable allowing. (But that's a separate discussion.) While I generally applaud overseas investment in education, there does need to be some challenge as to whether this will be good for the development of UK talent. Manicured grounds and sand-blasted walls don't make for a good school - its their ability to differentiate and develop talent. RBS have the pick of all of the UK students from year 7 onwards, and also on a part-time basis before that with their Junior Associate programme. They have all the same time as schools abroad. From what I currently see, year 9 will be the point where RBS will start to throw out almost all of the British students for lucrative overseas students. So there are two hypothesis that we can glean from this: 1 - They don't want UK students because its not lucrative, but they have to take them to give lip service to the UK education establishment 2 - Overseas students are better schooled abroad than RBS and get in on merit Neither hypothesis paints RBS in a good light where UK talent is concerned.
  9. Rejection from one school does not mean rejection from others. Last year most of the RBS White Lodge children were rejected from Covent Garden (upper school), despite having up to five years in the lower school. They generally found places elsewhere (Tring, ENBS, Central and overseas etc.). As one door closes, others open. And sometimes (actually, most times), the first choice really isn't the best. So put it behind, keep an open mind and stay focused on finding the right school. Good luck !!
  10. ENBS - highest technical standard, and performance Elmhurst - Facility (flexibility) especially important along with advanced technique and expression Royal Scottish Conservatoire - Solid technique and secure point work. RBS - save your money
  11. So sorry to hear that. It's tough, and can strike at any time and any age for very disparate reasons. One of the things pastoral support proposed with my DD (in upper school) was to make a small box and fill with stuff that made her happy. DD started doing it with them, but did not finish it as she was feeling a lot better for just going through the process of talking about it and someone actually taking the time to listen and help. Worth noting that it is something that gets better with time, but doesn't necessarily go away completely. Residential schools must support with this, but some just pay lip service to it. If they don't actively support with evidential strategies, take your child out. It's not worth the money and the trouble at that age, and full-time students are actually on a very similar technical level to part-timers by year 11, because they also have to concentrate on GCSE's. Very happy to correspond by DM's.
  12. All of the other preliminary auditions DD did for upper schools were more ballet intensive than the Rambert audition - even the Elmhurst preliminary video.
  13. I'm sure it is, but their ballet requirements for preliminary auditions are little more than elementary.
  14. My DD very much wants a career in ballet. When she was going through the auditions for upper schools, Rambert had a preliminary audition that included ballet and contemporary videos. I was quite surprised at how simple the ballet elements (simple barre exercises) of the audition were in comparison to the contemporary. In the end, she decided not to go through with it - because she wanted to prioritise other auditions. But I suspect that from a ballet perspective, Rambert will work with what they have. If they like you, they like you.
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