dramascientist

London studio centre is post 18 or at least that is what I gathered from reading their website, somebody correct me if I'm wrong! Dramascientist

Ooo I definitely think you should go LinMM. I will never forget the thrill of taking my DD to summer school and having the chance to visit what for me was an impossible dream. DH kept laughing at me because I was more excited than DD!

Thanks for the heads up dtadmin!

Oh I do hope you are right taxi4ballet! DD has only been back at school a couple of weeks and she has been working on getting back to peak fitness etc. before we took photos and this is a very short time to organize flight s to the UK etc... I know they only started to take applications from September so it is a bit scary that this first date is only three weeks away and surely they will need more than one date for the year. I am definitely going to call them tomorrow!

Thanks C4D I know it does seem very strange. I will fire off an email today or maybe phone them tomorrow, what do people think?

Hi everybody we have just looked at the Tring park website and are now in a panic because there are only 4 audition dates listed. Is this all there is? When DD autioned last year for fith form dance we went in February. Anybody know? Thanks Dramascientist

Wasnt there a post on this forum earlier this year asking for adults who had given up ballet because of their size? Maybe that was something to do with this......or am I going mad?

That is great news mumofadancer, it is amazing what one summer can do to the maturity and strength of these teenagers, I am soglad everything worked out and good luck to your DD when she finally goes in for the exam!

This kind of thing makes me want to weep. I used to teach in a small prep school in Surrey and ofered a "dance and drama class" to the younger boys because they were too young for full contact rugby every day. There were a couple of really talented boys and encouraged their parents to take them to a proper ballet school. When the PE teacher heard about it he gave them such a hard time they both stopped. I was spitting blood! I only lasted one year at the school, I couldn't bear to work with such prejudice! DH is a hardened rugby player but is quite happy for my son to dance if that is what he wants.

Oh dear Stardancer I am sorry to hear that things did not go well. However iI am a great believer that things happen for a reason so maybe you are destined to find the perfect fit this time. Good luck with the search unfortunately I cannot be any help for that since I am not in the UK but you could try contacting the RAD and ISTD because they will have a list of registered teachers. Hope things go better from now on! Dramascientist

Couldn't agree with you more Billyelliot!

Yes Dance is life it was an achievement even when he was pre RBS. We were all so proud of him when he got into White Lodge we knew he was destined for great things!

I agree with you Dance is life! I loved the comps because it gave you the chance to perform. We had a great experience making friends with students from other schools, we all grew up together. I still relish the time when I beat David Yow in one section, there was no animosity between us we were all there for the sheer joy of getting up on stage and dancing. It was never at the expence of exams, they were the first and foremost but oh what fun we had!

en dedans.....in comes John!

I would avoid this as I think it should not be the responsibility of unqualified girls to be teaching others, especially if your DD is wanting to persue a career in ballet. My DD attended a school many years ago where the teacher was starting to feel her age. She began to get older girls to take the classes more and more and in the end my DD was so bored and fed up she didnt want to go, so in the end I moved her to another school. I understand that your DD is interested in teaching eventually but it should not be her responsibility to teach especially if you are paying for the class. I would definitely look somewhere else

Alison I am sure you are right for somebody who has never done this sort of thing but as a dancer you have a feel for your body that a non dancer might not have. Darcey's DVD is very well explained and because of the nature of pilates it does not put your body under strain it is more about becoming aware of different muscle groups and how they are working. I would certainly be nervous about doing yoga by myself so I think its an individual choice.

I would definitely reccomend pilates. I wasnt even aware of it when I was a dancer but after doing it regularly with DD I wish I had known about it. It does give you an understanding of how things are connected, if only I had known years ago to use my stomach muscles to lift my legs! I also find it relaxing and therapeutic so if you do go with Darcey Bussels DVD I would reccomend you joining in with your DD for support like I did originally and you will get the benefit too. Now I do it for myself not just to support my DD, its also a great time to share something together which is good as they go through the teenage years..

My DD did Tring Park dance SS this year. A mixture of ballet, pointe, repetoire, jazz, contempary, tap, character and musical theatre. A mixture of ages and abilities which I thought was lovely that even those who are not necessarily going down the vocational route had the chance of going since it is first come first serve for places. My DD had great time and it gave her a chance to do some other forms of dance rather than just classical. She wished it had been five days instead of the four and I think it would have been nice if it had been residential too but I don't think this spoiled it in any way. She made some great friends and it boosted her confidence after a difficult year at school. There was a lovely friendly atmosphere with an emphasis on fun even though the students were worked hard, it was a great change for DD whose school is very serious. I would definitely reccomend it!

I agree! I am not much of a "teckie" so this is the only forum I am a member of but it has really helped me to put things in perspective during a difficult year for my DD. I especially appreciate the fact that members are willing to take the time to PM each other when things are delicate. I dont post a huge amount but I read often and sharing others successes makes me smile. Well done balletco!

If the Tring summer school is anything to go by then the Christmas course should be lovely. The atmosphere at the SS was so nice with children of all abilities dancing together, my DD had a great time and made some lovely friends even though she knew nobody when she turned up on the first day. I would definitely reccomend it.

Richard Reynard was at Tring ss this year and DD had him for jazz and musical theatre. She really liked him and I have to say he gave a really fun class at the end which parents could watch. He really inspired DD who was way out of her comfort zone only having done classical ballet for the last 4 years. I also saw him in some of the other classes with the little ones and they all seemed to be having such fun!

Wow Katymac you are so organised already! We are delaying the discussion/search of collages until after Tring park summer school next week. DD is not sure whether to apply for MT or dance at this stage since she was all about the ballet when she was young but now is becoming more interested in the drama/singing side of MT. We are lucky in the fact that we are not in the UK and exams at 16 here are just in maths English and the mother tongue of the country where we live so there is not too much pressure in terms of academics like in the UK. I know that we will only apply to those places that do A'levels or other HE courses though since DD wants to be able to go to uni if she doesnt make it as a dancer so we will limit our applications in this way but I know what you mean, I'm dreading the whole process especially since it also involves flights for us too. Thank goodness there is quite a big gap between DD and her brother! Good luck anyway and maybe we will meet at some auditions next year! Dramascientist

As a teacher nothing makes me madder than those who cant be bothered to write a proper report! I pride myself on knowing my students well enough to be able to give a parent a real insight into how there child is in school and what there strengths and weaknesses are. I dont sugar coat but tell it how it is though I will always give suggestions of how to improve if that is what is needed. thank goodness we dont have to write long hand anymore but I hate cut and paste, how can you say the same about any two children since no two are the same. I am lucky enough to teach in a small school but even when I taught in the UK it was the same. I have giggled at some of your posts but still cant quite believe there are mistakes like this, wow! Sorry rant over!

yes hand wash detergent and drip dry upside down so the skirt is not drooping downwards as it drirps oh and do not wring it out. It will take some time to dry but when it is iron on a very cool iron and use spray starch to try and stiffen the net. Good luck!

I would suggest hand washing only and no fabric softner!