glowlight

No I wouldn't say it's a mistake. If you are happy with the associate programmes she is in, and wouldn't want to change or add another one then that makes perfect sense. The CAT is a completely different type of programme, and you won't know unless she tries. She obviously has something if she is already doing two associate programmes, so encourage her to approach the audition with confidence and to enjoy the audition. I used to tell my dd...if it's the right thing for you it will happen. If it doesn't happen it wasn't the right thing for you right now.

I don't have experience of the CAT - but good luck to your DD and also to others who are auditioning. Is your dd auditioning for associates as well as CAT? I know when my dd did Northern Ballet associates there was quite a range abilities, and they tended to place them in the right class for their ability rather than just being based on age. That was some time ago now though so things may have changed.

It sounds as if you are taking a very considered approach to this @Maryy. It is good that you are discussing this with your family first as you really need their support in this career choice, both emotionally and financially Most ballet dancers who train in the UK start full time training when they are 16 or younger, but there always exceptions to the rule. However those exceptions will usually have had exceptional training close to home (I think that is probably the case with Hannah Martin). There are 2 UK vocational ballet schools which to my knowledge often take 18 year olds into their first year. Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance Northern Ballet School My daughter went to Northern Ballet School some years ago and there were many 18 year olds (and older) who started with her. Most of them went on to have careers in dance, but to be honest I don't think many the stayed in classical ballet. I would definitely talk to your teacher about your ambitions. They may be able to suggest ways to enhance your training, maybe adding extra classes at a different studio in addition to the classes that they are able to offer.

I'm intrigued by the title of @Dance*is*life's demi-character dance. Sounds quite exciting!

I'm also really feeling for ordinary Russian people whose lives will be turned upside down by this as well.

My thoughts are with you @cotes du rhone ! I'm lucky that my family aren't directly affected and it is heartbreaking to see. I can't imagine what it must be like for you with sons who are so close to it.

I may be out of touch, but I too was going to suggest Centre Pointe. They certainly produced excellent dancers when my dd was training. In terms of Associates - Northern Ballet in Leeds is about an hour's train ride from Manchester. This would probably give her something similar to what she currently has at Central. They also have a more intensive CAT scheme (Centre for Advanced Training) - but for that you would have to be in Leeds several times a week which is a lot of travelling. There is a CAT scheme based at The Lowry in Manchester which is more contemporary focused.

Dance4 CAT (Centre for Advanced Training) is in Nottingham - might be worth a look https://www.nationaldancecats.co.uk/cat-locations/dance4-centre-for-advanced-training/

I don't think Medlock have rules which prohibit mixed flats for Under 18s, or they didn't when my dd was there at least. My dd lived in a mixed flat with other NBS students when she started when she was 16 and it worked really well. However I accept this is very much a personal choice and if your dd would prefer to live an all girl flat that's completely understandable. For my dd, the bigger problems arose when one of the NBS students left and was replaced by a university student. Not that we were ever concerned for DD's safety but the uni student's schedule was SO different from the NBS students that it caused quite a lot of conflict.

It's a long time since my dd was at NBS, but I remember there being a vast difference in the budgets that students had. We paid DD's rent each term and gave DD a monthly allowance for food, essentials - with the agreement that if she wanted lots of extras she would have to get a part time job to cover them. She worked in The Dancehouse Theatre, and in the end was able to earn enough for the extras and to save some money for final year auditions (a whole other subject which you should encourage your DCs to consider and budget for). There were some who had bigger budgets from their parents - others who had no support from their parents at all for living expenses - they had to fully support themselves through part time jobs. As to when funding offers came out - I think back then the first offers landed around Easter, about the same time that other schools were sending out their results from final auditions. Others received offers later, presumably when the first tranche had had a chance to accept or decline their offers of funding.

I remember my parents gave us gifts when we had finished taking important exams (11 plus and O levels spring to mind) - not when the results came out. I think its is great to celebrate the effort (which you have control over) rather than the result (which you really don't)!

It is so heartbreaking. I know our DCs have a tough time with all the dynamics of dance training etc, but at least they are not doing it on TV, in front of millions of people, with the hopes and dreams of their nation on their shoulders. It makes me think that maybe there should be a lower age limit to compete at the Olympics. As the commentators kept saying last night...she's a child. Well why do we as a society allow children to be put in such a vulnerable position as this. I know they would still have to train right through their childhood, and compete at a very high level at a young age to reach Olympic standard by the time they are young adults, but I think an 18 to 20 year old would be much better equipped to deal with the very unique pressures that the Olympics brings than a 15 year old.

This is a really important point. It is easy to think when reading this forum that almost everyone who applies gets an associate place. That really isn't the case. Remember people shout about their successes, but fewer post when they don't have good news to share.

It's best not to try to second guess whether your child will be chosen for JAs. I would say if she wants to try, and you can afford it, give it a go. But try to encourage her to approach it as a fun day out, just doing it for the experience. Try not to get hopes up too high. There are lots of other good associate schemes to look at as well, and if JA's isn't right for your DD, something else might be.

Does she like eggs? As someone who has snacked through the last 40 years, I have discovered that if I eat eggs for breakfast I don't feel the need to snack midmorning. Obviously your dd will be burning much more energy than I do, but it might be something to consider. I usually have two eggs, scrambled, with half a tomato chopped in - cooked with a little butter. Having said all that...my dd pretty much lived of instant noodles when she was at NBS.

Just because someone does more lessons doesn't mean they will make faster progress. They might, but they might not. Reasons why they might not make faster progress? Well they might not get as much out of each lesson because they are too tired, or their mind is too busy flitting from one thing to another. Or they might be more susceptible to injury because they never rest. As to how you know if you are getting good local training, that it is a tricky one. I would look at whether the school has alumni who have gone on to vocational training and whether they have students in good associate schemes as a start point. But there will be schools which offer excellent training which don't tick those boxes, especially if they are relatively new. If your dd doesn't want to dance on stage, I wonder what sort of work in dance she has in mind. Maybe she fancies being a dance teacher, or working in arts management. Of maybe she can see herself as a commercial dancer working on TV ads or pop videos. As you said earlier, there's no reason why she has to decide any of this now - you just don't want to close any doors.

I couldn't agree more @Lildancer96, and I certainly wasn't trying to suggest that it is wrong to take unpaid work. I am so pleased that it has worked out for your dd and that it has led to a proper contract. It is good to hear of this type of arrangement leading to something more concrete. I also recognise that it is even harder now to get paid work than it was when my dd graduated.

A contract isn't really a contract if there is no pay involved is it? I understand why companies do this, and I understand why dancers chose to take part. Unfortunately it means that only those whose parents can support them have the option. However it can undoubtedly be the right choice for some people. My dd was adamant when she graduated that she wanted to support herself, and refused to consider unpaid work. Maybe if she had she could have prolonged the ballet dream, but she made the choice to work as a dancer where she could be paid to dance, and has no regrets about her choice to work on ships.

If your dd wants a career in dance, now is a good time to start working towards that, but you are right she doesn't need to decide exactly what yet. Whilst there are plenty of 11 year olds who dance every day of the week, I don't believe it to be essential. At that age my dd was doing 1 evening associate class and dancing a couple of other evenings a week. This did increase in the subsequent years, but she only ever did one associate scheme at a time, and we always tried to keep at least one evening and one weekend day free of dance. It was only when she was in Year 11 and preparing to audition for 6th form entry to Vocational dance schools that our whole weekends became absorbed. She went on to vocational school at 16 and then worked as a dancer on cruise ships for 5 years. I suggest you speak to your dd's dance teacher, explain that dd would like a career in dance and ask their advice on how best to tailor her training within your budget. I would definitely consider applying for good ballet associates schemes as they provide a different type of training to your local dance school, and give your child the chance to train with other dancers with similar aspirations. You may even find that there is financial support available for some schemes. Above all, try not to compare what your dd is doing with what her friend is doing. For so many reasons what is right for one person will not be right for another. I think if my dd had been dancing every evening at 11 she would have burned out and given up, but it is right for some people.

@Yrosered - congratulations to your DD for making this brave decision. It is so wonderful that despite giving up vocational training she still wants to dance for her own pleasure. i hope she finds the right studio to meet her needs. And good luck to her with the driving. My dd didn't learn to drive until she was late 20s (well you don't really need to when you spend your life on ships do you), but when she set her mind to it she cracked on with it and passed her test first time.

@MissEmily - it could of course simply be down to the vagaries of the Royal Mail.

@justme2 - I thinks sometimes an experience like this can be the final straw, the one which tips a decision that has been floating in someone's mind for a while into something more concrete. On its own the adjudicator's comments might not have seemed so bad. It sounds as if it is the history and possible motivation behind it which your grand daughter found hard to swallow. I really hope that her spirit isn't truly broken by this. It sounds as if it isn't as she is enjoying her sport. On the contrary - I think this has given her the confidence to say...'I don't want any more of that!' Well done her! In terms of RAD exams she had almost gone as far as she could, and unless she was set on being a professional dancer or ballet teacher maybe it makes sense for her to focus her energy on something which gives her more pleasure now.

@DVDfan - I hope you've got through your writers block and are back on track with your novel. Have you tried https://writershq.co.uk/ for support? Their forum has a section for writers seeking Beta readers. The feedback I have had through this has always been gentle and constructive. Because your reviewer is another writer they understand how precious your work is and how fragile your confidence in it might be.

Congratulations @Angela Essex. How exciting. Have you asked your teacher if there is anyone they would recommend?

I would take a look at Northern Ballet School in Manchester. It can be the best of both worlds for someone who wants a strong ballet focus, but with other genres to keep a broad range of dance styles in their repertoire. I don't know if it is still true, but back then it was a single audition and you were told after about a week whether you were offered a place. A decision on funding came through later in the year, but there was no second audition for funding. There are many others on the forum with more recent experience of NBS.