Questions about Lower School auditions

[Picturesinthefirelight]

1 hour ago, Meglorien said:

I was told this weekend that there was some sort of closure, and that they focus more on contemporary than in classical ballet. I'll read through the thread to see what people say about the various school before asking more questions 😉

 

There is absolutely no closure 

 

What did happen was back in 2011 a local day prep school called Merton House closed suddenly without notice and Hammond took on those children and opened a fee paying prep school which ran for several years. Over time numbers dwindled and so the prep has been closed as there wasn’t the demand. They did try to have it as a feeder school but I just don’t think there was the demand for children to specialise and board before year 7 and of course no MDS until year 7.  The prep school has always been very small. 

 

In lower school there there is a big emphasis on classical ballet but the children also study tap & modern.  I think they start contemporary around year 9/10, just 1 or 2 lessons a week compared to daily ballet class. Following the retirement of the principal the new principal undertook a consultation &  A new Director of Performance has just been appointed (the post went to an existing member of staff & there has been some other re-structuring with several promotions etc. 

Edited August 3, 2019 by Picturesinthefirelight

[BeaverElliot]

Can this annoucement link be moved by a mod to the (proper) thread critiquing (and slightly bemoaning) how some schools are seeking international students perhaps possibly to the detriment of local children’s chances, where institutions are receiving state or public funding. 

 

Ballet at its upper most top level is transnational.  Now with more youth competitions, the children’s ranks are also becoming increasingly transnational and global too, compared to, say, a generation or two previously? Also thanks to Youtube and other digital communications impacts.

 

www.royalballetschool.org.uk/train/dancer-training/intensive-courses/japan-intensive/

Edited August 3, 2019 by BeaverElliot

[margarite]

5 hours ago, Meglorien said:

I was told this weekend that there was some sort of closure, and that they focus more on contemporary than in classical ballet. I'll read through the thread to see what people say about the various school before asking more questions 😉

My DD is in Year 7 and there's at least one ballet class everyday, sometimes two. She is more of a classical dancer and is very ballet-orientated, but enjoys the modern and tap lessons too (there's approx two hours of tap and four hours of modern weekly) The standard is very high, I would say around 75% of  her year were JA previously and the other 25% associates elsewhere like Elmhurst, YDA etc. Hope that helps.

Edited August 3, 2019 by margarite

[Sally-Anne]

Just a quick question about RBS lower school/mid associate auditions - do all children get a preliminary or is there some pre selection?

[Dancing unicorn]

Yes ALL children get a first audition! 😁

[Motomum]

Is it worth applying for a Y8 place, given that WL don’t assess children out in Y7?

[Picturesinthefirelight]

It’s always worth applying as there are are sometimes children at all of the schools who decide that for whatever reason it’s not for them. 

[Sally-Anne]

Hello, I might be being a bit slow but I can’t see it on the website, is there a closing date for the Tring applications for Year 7 September 2020?

[BellaF]

I think it might be when the audition slots fill up rather than a closing date but may be wrong.

[Sally-Anne]

2 hours ago, BellaF said:

I think it might be when the audition slots fill up rather than a closing date but may be wrong.

Oh I see - do you know when the auditions are held? Thanks x

Edited November 19, 2019 by Sally-Anne

[BellaF]

5 minutes ago, Sally-Anne said:

Oh I see - do you know when the auditions are held? Thanks x

 

Hoping this link works x

 

https://www.tringpark.com/applying/audition-dates

 

[Sally-Anne]

29 minutes ago, BellaF said:

 

Hoping this link works x

 

https://www.tringpark.com/applying/audition-dates

 

Thanks x

[AdageKitty]

I've just noticed that they've added an extra date for Junior Dance on the 28th February while most of the ones are in January.  Are there any advantages/disadvantages of doing a later audition? 

[Pinksocks]

Can somebody explain to me why there is no mention of ballet West Edinburgh on this forum ?  I was just looking at their website and intrigued to know anyone’s experience of the school. 

[Sally-Anne]

On 20/11/2019 at 10:17, AdageKitty said:

I've just noticed that they've added an extra date for Junior Dance on the 28th February while most of the ones are in January.  Are there any advantages/disadvantages of doing a later audition? 

I don’t know of advantages or disadvantages, but this is the one my daughter has been offered

[Picturesinthefirelight]

52 minutes ago, Pinksocks said:

Can somebody explain to me why there is no mention of ballet West Edinburgh on this forum ?  I was just looking at their website and intrigued to know anyone’s experience of the school. 

 

Discussion of this school is not allowed on the forum as per this post. 

 

[Milzmam]

Hi everyone, has anyone heard of any local authorities that have funded lower school places? If so which ones? Thanks

[Sally-Anne]

4 hours ago, Milzmam said:

Hi everyone, has anyone heard of any local authorities that have funded lower school places? If so which ones? Thanks

Not sure what you mean by this? But Marylebone school for Girls has dance places available by audition, there may be other schools that offer dance options as well. This is a regular state funded school with a dance program though, not a full time dance training. 

[Peanut68]

Local authorities used to be the bodies that funded arts education but I think once MDS & DaDa funding from Central government was established this largely ended....though each authority may be different so worth looking into for any candidate. Also they can usually provide you with a list specific to your region of charitable bodies which might help arts (though in my experience the funding generally - not always - is for more university age or for small amounts more like a grant towards kit etc....but as they say, every little can help!) Also look for very local to you organisations; we’ve benefited from small (c. £300 annually) from a local Arts Society who make awards to children & adults in very small geographic area to help further studies/but kit/attend courses etc. 

I have heard in large city areas of sizeable  awards (probably not anywhere near full funding but might be a game changer!) from organisations like Rotary/Lions & Masons (though it can be a long drawn out process with no guarantees & often needs to be almost a year in advance if starting (which is daft as you don’t know you need funding until after finals etc....) 

But if you don’t ask you don’t get!

good luck to all still needing that vital funding xx

 

[Milzmam]

1 minute ago, Sally-Anne said:

Not sure what you mean by this? But Marylebone school for Girls has dance places available by audition, there may be other schools that offer dance options as well. This is a regular state funded school with a dance program though, not a full time dance training. 

Hi @Sally-Anne I mean any local authorities that have either paid or contributed towards fees for lower school entry. My dd has been offered place with no MDS or bursary and our local authority have said if I can find details of any Las that have funded people they will see what they might be able to do for her 

 

[rowan]

 I know of someone who was funded by their council - Hammersmith and Fulham, I think - for a lower school place. It was for Arts Ed, Chiswick, so not one of the main schools and no government funding, I think. This was quite a few years ago. There was only one piece of funding available - and it wasn’t just for dance - maybe it was for any type of specialist education - so there was stiff competition and stringent eligibility criteria. I don’t know if funding was available for just that school or if such a scheme still exists. Nor do I know if it was fully funded or topped up with other bursaries etc. 

[Milzmam]

50 minutes ago, rowan said:

 I know of someone who was funded by their council - Hammersmith and Fulham, I think - for a lower school place. It was for Arts Ed, Chiswick, so not one of the main schools and no government funding, I think. This was quite a few years ago. There was only one piece of funding available - and it wasn’t just for dance - maybe it was for any type of specialist education - so there was stiff competition and stringent eligibility criteria. I don’t know if funding was available for just that school or if such a scheme still exists. Nor do I know if it was fully funded or topped up with other bursaries etc. 

Thanks x

[Sally-Anne]

5 hours ago, Milzmam said:

Hi @Sally-Anne I mean any local authorities that have either paid or contributed towards fees for lower school entry. My dd has been offered place with no MDS or bursary and our local authority have said if I can find details of any Las that have funded people they will see what they might be able to do for her 

 

Interesting - we had the same situation and I just assumed that meant we wouldn’t be able to take the place. Will be interested to hear how you get on with this 

[rowan]

Thinking back, it might be that it was some sort of special school bursary but only available to someone in that borough, but I don’t think it was. I think it was a council thing. Pupil definitely did not apply to any of the main dance schools. 

[Peanut68]

Again I may not be right on this but think places like Jersey/Isle of Man might not elegance for MDS so it’s possible local authorities may assist funding as I’m sure I’ve heard of people from those regions attending schools with help...they are still part of overall UK so might give a precedent for you to present? 

[bangorballetboy]

Just to be clear, the Channel Islands (including Jersey) and the Isle of Man are not part of the UK. Residents there do not (generally speaking) pay tax to the UK and so do not receive benefits from the UK exchequer.

[Peanut68]

Thanks Bangor - Wasn’t too sure.....knew about the tax hencevno benefits etc....still UK passports now/post Brexit? 

And so how do these Island residents get funded for vocational training out if interest? 

[Balletgirl101]

So I’m in y11 at a non vocational school currently. I am really keen on auditioning for tring and Hammond post 16 after GCSEs. Has anyone had any experiences joining post 16? Can anyone also tell me how good I have to become to be considered for funding because otherwise I could never afford fees , thanks :)

[Bex does ballet]

Plenty of people join vocational school for upper school ( post 16 ) so it is most definitely possible ( and for some maybe even preferable but that’s a whole other thread!). With regard to “how good you need to become” I wonder what experience you have had outside of your local dance school? Summer schools, masterclasses etc can be helpful along the way to give an idea of the kind of standard to expect but I would always encourage a young person to have a go if it’s something you think you might enjoy. You just never know if you don’t try and at worst, you’ll have had a lovely class in a great studio with a live pianist and a good teacher!

Do your homework on the schools you decide to apply to but go with an open mind, you may end up preferring a school that started off further down your list! best of luck 

[Jan McNulty]

Hello Balletgirl101 and welcome to the Forum!

[LexBallet]

DD lucky enough to have two weeks at the RBS summer Intensive this year. One of the questions is whether you want them to be ‘observed’ for full-time education. It then goes on to say this doesn’t replace an audition class but gives no further info (and I got the same answer when I asked directly). Could anyone shed any light on how this works (we hadn’t previously applied via video as financial situation was different). Thank you

[Mrs Tea]

On 15/05/2021 at 11:07, LexBallet said:

DD lucky enough to have two weeks at the RBS summer Intensive this year. One of the questions is whether you want them to be ‘observed’ for full-time education. It then goes on to say this doesn’t replace an audition class but gives no further info (and I got the same answer when I asked directly). Could anyone shed any light on how this works (we hadn’t previously applied via video as financial situation was different). Thank you

From what I know, the artistic team will observe your child. I have known some children offered a school place

 from this.

[MissEmily]

Can anyone tell me what the application fees are for Year 7 entry to:

 

RBS

Elmhurst

Tring

Moorland

YDA

 

Do you have to pay to apply to all of them?

 

Thank you!