Dragonlady

I still have a room to let from September this year. Please do not reply on this forum page but PM me if you are interested in more information. Room is a a single but has lots of cupboard space and is close to town and bus routes.

Thank you everyone for your good wishes. The shop is now open on Brook Street Chester. With respect to the Landlady questions. The Hammond have changed the way their Landlords/Ladies have to work and now have to 'live in' with their lodgers amongst other things until the child reaches the age of 18. (I was quite rare in the fact that I did anyway). My name is on the list and I am happy to answer private correspondence about facilities/rent etc. Good luck to all those who sucessfully auditioned at Hammond 6th form....I am happy to answer what questions I can about everything as DD is in 6.1 Trudi

Yes, that would be me! Not been on the forum much as had some major life changes to deal with, decided to make lemonade with them!!! Trudis Tutus & Dancewear will have its grand opening this Saturday 5th April....very excited about it all. Trudi p.s. will still be making the bespoke tutus for festivals etc.

I seem to have left my notification active on this post so got the message Yes, I will be offering accommodation for this September onwards. I am now oficially on the school's list as had my visit last week. The same sort of deal applies this year really, DD is at Hammond 6th form and I have a single room to let in the house. It is a 3 bed house with small garden close to buses and trains and is only a short walk in Chester itself. The room has a cabin bed and has lots of drawer space, a tall bookshelf and a large cupboard for storage of bedding, clothes etc. All food is included (including packed lunch stuff) as well as limited evening snacks and biscuits. We have unlimited broadband and access to a printer if needed. I can offer a lift to the school most days but as I have a dancewear shop in Chester I cannot collect....buses are reliable and cheap though. I have two cats so people need to know that for allergy purposes. I would prefer to let to a dancer as I cook meals based on their requirements and their hours (and therefore travel home on the bus) will coincide with DD's and so they can travel together. We are a friendly family (just me and DD and the cats) and understand the problems separation from families can bring as DD was a boarder here for 4 years. Let me know if you want other info. Trudi

I am not sure if this helps but my DD was in the same situation. The schools do occasionally have bursary's they can award and DD was given one of them. They are completely at the schools discresion but if they want you badly enough and you are open with the school regarding your finances, then occasionally they can help. DD is aware how lucky she is and is overjoyed to be still dancing in the 6th form after waiting in vain for a place off the waiting list at Central due to the DADA upsets. Edited for apalling typo!

As a mum of a Dd who has just gone through the mill for 6th form auditions, I wanted to warn that it does not get any easier. All auditionees are chosen to audition via photo and for those who fill the physicall criteria there are still a lot of extremely talented dancers all fighting for a place. The places are fewer and the available funded places becoming rarer. Listen to dance teachers advice and be prepared to accept that a career in classical dance is only for the lucky few... my dd dances because she loves it but at 16 is a much wiser person. Good luck to those waiting but there are always other doors if this one is closed. T

My DD is currently in year 11 at Hammond and yesterday they all had an organised trip to the houses of parliament and a chat with an MP as part of a trip to London. Needless to say the subject of DADA's was brought up (as they are all affected one way or another) and the reply from the MP (although a bit woolly) reported second hand from DD, he indicated that this was part of a bigger budget cut for all forms of the arts and that, although the DADA's would be looked at as part of the review for next year, he didn't hold out much hope for an increase in budget. Exactly what this means for next years students is very unclear but he did acknowledge that there had been problems with this years DADAs and that they would look at the entire system again...not much help for this years students though Trudi

Having a big clearout prior to moving and have just found this lovely leotard/skirt at the back of DD's wardrobe. Purchased from America as a 'congratulations' present for getting into vocational dance school it cost a fortune origionally! She only wore it a couple of times as she was not allowed to wear it for dance class and then had a growth spurt It is a lined pale turquoise merle leotard with front lining. It has spaghetti straps and a low straight back (it sits under the shoulder blades straight accross). The attached same colour short mesh skirt come to crotch area only so is very short. The size is 12 (I think that is age USA) and is approx a size 2 leotard uk size. DD is very tiny and it fitted her perfectly at age 12/13 so you may need to have a slim dd aged 10 upwards to get the most out of this. Yours for £20.00 plus postage of £2.50 as she only wore it a couple of times. PM me for more info and a picture of her in it (so you can see what it looks like)...I tried to attach a link to the degas USA website but it failed.... Trudi

The school accommodation people are aware of what I am offerng and are ok with it. As I will not get the house until late July it was too late to be included on the list. I have an enhanced CRB check and the school know me as Dd has been there for four years. I am offering a 'live as family' deal where all meals are included. A bit like having a Foreign Student kind of thing.. Trudi

Ha Ha! I know.... I am really not the old fashioned 'Blackpool' landlady of yesteryear!!!!! Trudi

Thank you. The school has sent out a list recently but I was too late to get on it... T

Hi all, Please PM me if you are looking for landlady accommodation in Chester starting this Sept. DD and I are moving up there.....long story............. and I may be able to help. Trudi

The ballet teachers do not like the Gaynor Mindens or the pre-broken in pointe shoe brands as they prefer the dancer to strenghten their feet in regular pointe shoes first... this goes for years 7 - 11. The only exception is if the dancer has really strong feet and the teacher will then allow the above but generally they advise against them. It is better to ask first rather than spending a lot of money on them DD is in Grishko shoes in year 11 (she was reccomended them by a teacher at ENB) and has not had a negative comment. We never got our pointe shoes from the theatre dance shop but hopefully the leotard prices will become more reasonable if we have to go elsewhere!! T

My DD is already at Hammond and will be going into the 6th form this September. If you want to pm me then I will be happy to pass on contact details to her or answer questions if parents have any. Trudi

Upper school 6.1 applicants: Please do not shoot the messenger....but....why are they not allowing the upper school finals candidates to re-audition? It may be they had an off-day or just need looking at again. This is especially true for the upper school as I know of some really beautiful dancers from vocational schools who made the finals and were not accepted but who were then snapped up by ENB and Central, who would probably give a lot to be accepted into Elmhurst! Do they know (again for the upper school) that there are other more desirable dancers out there who have not already auditioned? Personal opinion only...but this seems very odd T