sarahw Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Hi! What happens at other schools at this time of year? Hammond seems to abandon dance for the last 2 weeks of term in favour of Carol service preparation !! Just not ideal preparation for auditions for Y11s!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixiewoo Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 My children are not at vocational school, and normal lessons will carry on .... except for those in assorted school bands and choirs ... who will spend all their time at school rehearsing and catching up on work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancingWellies Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Elmhurst seem to continue, DD has an RAD exam this afternoon. I think next week is off timetable but they do finish on Tuesday. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katniss Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 My DD is at WL..last full ballet class is today but then busy with rehearsals and performances for The Nutcracker.. yr 10 & 11 are busy with the big choreography competition which is on Tuesday. The school finishes on Wednesday although most are very busy with The Nutcracker from then on .. ( my dd gets one week rest for Xmas .) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted December 8, 2017 Author Share Posted December 8, 2017 Thanks Guys it's interesting to hear what happens elsewhere. A reflection of Hammond having a diverse offering I suppose......... It's worrying for January auditions (esp classical) when you add up these last 2 weeks and the Xmas hols Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Elmhurst always used to wind down in the last few weeks although there was always the daily ballet class even if not a full time table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted December 8, 2017 Author Share Posted December 8, 2017 Dd says they have lost 8 hours of dance for carols this week...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farawaydancer Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Elmhurst have lost a little dance time to practise for the carol service next week but have still had most classes, and they have RAD exams yesterday, today and tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeafterballet Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Elmhurst continue classes right through to the end of term as they have a Christmas sharing of work afternoon / evening for parents. Every student takes part and demonstrates a selection of their class work on the stage from year 7 through to 6:3. I personally love this as you get to see the progression through the school and you get a glass of wine 🍷😊 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 (edited) We love the carol service. It's the highlight of the year. Hammond don't finish until Friday. Tomorrow morning is an inter year internal choreography competition. Edited December 8, 2017 by Picturesinthefirelight 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Enjoy it while you can, if you can. Dc do not stay this age for very long, and as the non vocational schools finish around now for Christmas, no-one is at a particular disadvantage when it comes to auditions. This time next year they might be feeling nostalgic when they are doing their end of term ballet assessments, writing essays and not coming home for another 2 weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeafterballet Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 8 hours ago, sarahw said: Hi! What happens at other schools at this time of year? Hammond seems to abandon dance for the last 2 weeks of term in favour of Carol service preparation !! Just not ideal preparation for auditions for Y11s!!! My Dd was in year 11 this time last year, injured, off dance, crutches and awaiting an MRI. She was off for 5 weeks yet still bounced back to complete her January auditions. I feel that sometimes a break is the best preparation for an extremely stressful year 😬 The very best of luck to your Dd x 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billyelliott Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 DS yr 11 Elm is very much still hard at work with Dance and academics - too busy to chat - had to get on with homework, but not so busy he couldn’t find time for a trip to Aldi and 2 snowball fights tonight! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billyelliott Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Oh yes and I forgot - Advaced 1 RAD exam is tommorow ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farawaydancer Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 1 hour ago, Billyelliott said: DS yr 11 Elm is very much still hard at work with Dance and academics - too busy to chat - had to get on with homework, but not so busy he couldn’t find time for a trip to Aldi and 2 snowball fights tonight! Yes, the snow has been an added distraction today apparently! It’s good for them to be ‘off timetable’ for a little while, I think. The rest of the term is so relentless that a break from the routine of it all does them the world of good. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moneypenny Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 This term always seemed to be the longest, busiest and most gruelling and the one where all the bugs and colds were circulating. Year 11 was particularly busy. At Elmhurst, there was a Christmas lunch, Christmas Fair and Carol Service, all of which were lovely and fun and normal and a definite festive feel about the place. In any case, I would have no issue with a bit of winding down at the end of term, especially this one, as these young people work very hard. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flora Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 Sarahw- I remember worrying about this last year and feeling Yr 11 DD did not need endless days off considering early Jan auditions. There really isn't a lot of provision over Christmas so DD did Danceworks in London, stretched, did pilates and swam every day she wasn't dancing. This year we have the opposite problem. She is doing a Nutcracker and it is a gruelling 12 hour day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletbean Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 On 08/12/2017 at 20:16, mnemo said: Enjoy it while you can, if you can. Dc do not stay this age for very long, and as the non vocational schools finish around now for Christmas, no-one is at a particular disadvantage when it comes to auditions. This time next year they might be feeling nostalgic when they are doing their end of term ballet assessments, writing essays and not coming home for another 2 weeks. I agree, DD's Dance school broke-up for the hols last weekend. Her RAD Grade 7 was today, so she hasn't had any lessons all week! Academic school broke-up yesterday, holidays now taken up with Panto performances and revising for Mock GCSE's starting the 4th January. As long as they use the hols to maintain their strengthening and stretching exercises. I do think that after the holidays that all those auditioning early in the new year are on an equal footing (en pointe obviously) in their preparation. Good Luck to all those that are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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