JanJas

Hello Derin's Mom, we were very tempted (with a hefty "scholarship" offered too) but in the end we worked out that when you totalled all the hidden costs we would have to supplement, at the very minimum, £15,000, more likely £20,000 and counting to make it all possible (if our daughter wanted to fly home for Christmas etc), with no guarantee of a job in the end - just (very valid) experience to put on the CV! To be fair all the communications with the company were friendly and positive and if we were in a better position financially we would have taken up the offer. In our naivety we thought that on completion of a Trinity level 6 diploma the next step would be genuine employment. We didn't factor in (at the start of this long journey all those years ago) having to finance yet another year!

Thank you so much BarbaraH, your information is much appreciated! I did wonder about all the possible negative aspects mentioned in that Facebook post! You have to be so careful, especially when something sounds so good at first! What a minefield all this is, especially when there are so few opportunities for graduates. Thank you Jan too, I'll have a search for those posts.

My 19 year old daughter has just been offered a "trainee II" position as a corps de ballet member of the Ballet de Catalunya company. We have very little information to base any decisions on! Is there anyone out there who's had a similar experience with the company who can help us in any way? Any leads or links would be most welcome and appreciated! We've been told she has to make a decision in a week's time!

Thank you so much to Alison, Viviangrace, Justkeepsmiling and Mummy twinkle toes - I really appreciate your replies - it's a great forum to get information!

I've just re-read what I wrote and I realise that I've asked far too many questions!! But if anyone can give me just a general idea of the school, or point me in the direction of a parent or pupil who could answer any of the above that would be great! I don't know why but it seems quite difficult to get a true feel of the school?

Wondering if anyone could answer a few questions about The English National Ballet School? My dd, who is currently in year 11 at a vocational ballet school, has recently been given an offer for the 3 year course at ENBS. We were delighted at the offer and we're now in the lucky position of deciding between a few 6th form options. These are a few of the questions we have about ENBS....we have read through their website from top to bottom but were still in the dark about a few things... We'll phone the school and ask them too in due course, but it would be wonderful to hear from anyone with first hand experience of the school. What kind of hostel arrangements are there for first year students? Do the students feel safe walking to the school and walking about in the area near the school? Is there a canteen at the school? Do/can students opt to take A levels somehow/somewhere else because the school itself doesn't offer them? Is there any information about the postponed move to London Island where the ENB company is? Is the school still going to move there, and if so when? Are there just 2 studios in the school building? Do students find this restricting in any way? How would current students describe their time there - friendliness, quality of care, quality of teaching, pros and cons etc. etc We also have a few questions about the DaDA - does it just cover the tuition? - is there any funding available for living costs? Any answers to the above would be most welcome! Thank you!

Brand new Bullet Pointe leotard, pinch front in colour Plum, size XS (tag still on) £45 to include postage in uk , or nearest offer. Recent present from relative who lives in America - bought from the American bullet pointe website https://www.bulletpointe.com/collections/leotards/products/pinch-front-leotard-plum For sizing chart click on the above link My daughter is 5'6" and 43.8kg (96lbs) and the XS came up far too small unfortunately

just sold thank you balletcoforum!

just sent - hope they got to you?

Hi Twoballerinas0004 - have just messaged you with photos - hopefully I've done it correctly!

I have 3 new leotards for sale. My daughter excitedly received them this Christmas as presents, took the labels off 2 of them to try on in the house and to her disappointment realised that they were too small. We couldn't return them as they had been posted by well-meaning relatives from abroad. So Danca cap sleeved lace leotard midnight blue (more like a deep blackberry purple) label (still attached) size 12-14 2A So Danca cap sleeved lace leotard back label size 12-14 2A Claudia Dean (Australia) Juliet leotard midnight black child XL (same size as leotards above) They do seem like quite figure hugging, petite leotards. My daughter is a very slight 13 year old and she literally squeezed into them, so I reckon the 12-14 size is a bit misleading. I would like to sell them together if possible - brand new they would cost £70 before P&P - so asking £45 for the 3 (P&P included). I can send photos if required.

lots of good advice/info here - thank you so much - getting DD to read all the suggestions herself really helps too - she takes more notice of advice this way!

thanks Hoglett...I did wonder if it was the bacteria in sweat that caused it....she does seem to sweat in her hair, rather than on her face.... Kate_N...interesting...I'll have a search for the Palmer's product - never thought of Nivea either!! It might have to be something like this if the VO5 pink gel doesn't clear up the spots - need to sort the problem before it become a big issue, or the spots spred to her face etc. xx

Thank you all so much, really helpful - DD has just read your responses - VO5 pink bottle it is then! Yes - hoping that some of the OCD stuff calms down when she sees her friends coping in different ways! It's little things you don't really think about till it's all a reality - better go and teach her how to cut her nails now! LOL! xx

Ballet bun advice needed please! My daughter has a problem with little red spots that appear on and within her hair line at the temples. (They lessen considerably after about a week of no ballet bun - which is very rare these days!) I'm sure this is because of pulling the hair back tightly, possibly scraping with the comb and then applying gel on top...and then possibly not washing it all off properly afterwards!! However she is about to start vocational school and obviously will have to have her hair up in a bun each day - she is not one to casually put her hair up - it has to be "perfect", as I'm sure many of you will understand! The school she's about to attend does not allow hair spray so gel seems to be the only option. Any advice would be really appreciated - her hair is straight and strong with lots of wispy bits round the front - has anyone found a gel that does the trick, but doesn't aggravate the problem? Or any techniques? Particular brushes/combs? Or just re-assurance that she's not the only one who is OCD with her hair! I have of course explained all the above to DD but she always wants to look her best so telling her not to use gel/product at all sends her into a massive panic!