dramascientist

LinMM I thing year 5 age is the earliest you can apply for WL summer school but from what I understand its quite common for DCs not to get places until year 6. When DD applied we didn't hear until late May though we were not in the UK so those who are in the UK may have heard earlier.

I have to agree that parental support is often the making or breaking of a career. My father has always been a talented actor and performed with an amateur group when he was a teenager. After one performance he was approached by the director of a repertory company and asked if he was interested in working in the business as a professional since the director was very impressed by him, he invited him to come and meet the rest of the cast but was told him he had to get perental permission because he was only 16. He rushed home thrilled to ask his parents but his mother told him he couldn't go because people like them didn't do that sort of thing. He was devastated and never really forgave his mother. Who knows where he could have gone if she had said yes? In my opinion it is so important for success to have that support behind you but of course talent and being in the right place at the right time also are essential.

oooh thanks Michelle, I've had a quick look, super! Dramascientistx

I would definitely speak to the teacher to ask her opinion as to whether she could do an extra practice when she gets back from holiday. She may be even able to organise with the pianist, though you might have to pay for the pianist yourself but if it puts your DDs mind at ease I would say its worth it. The teacher should know if your DD would be ready for the exam especially if she practices when she is on holiday. If she has been studying the grade for 20 months she should be good and ready even for thse higher grades. Good luck hope it all works out, Dramascientist

Just to let everyone know that there has been glimmer of light over the last couple of days. I think I mentioned that DD had started singing lessons and after her lesson on Thursday she started to talk about songs and the way they make you feel. She seemed to be able to express how she was feeling whilst talking about music and she was suddenly animated for the first time in weeks. She was actually smiling when she went to bed. The next morning was not so good but she again perked up when I was watching "Glee" .... I know you don't need to say it sad? Who cares, I like it, and we had a fun discussion again. Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel. I am not expecting eveything to go straight back to normal but at least its an improvement. Thank you again everybody for your kind thoughts and advice it has really made a difference to the way I have been and I am sure this has had an effect on the mood in the house. Keeping my fingers crossed that things continue to improve!

Janet I have looked on the websote for the fitness films but can't find them, any advice on where to look? Thanks Dramascientist

I can reccomend Darcey Bussels "Pilates for life" my DD and I do it every morning during the summer vacation, it takes about an hour but it is excellent, it is not difficult to do but very effective. Good luck! Dramascientist

Janice are there any schools/collages near you who offer the international bacalaureate diploma programme as an alternative to A'levels? I teach in this programme and creativity is celebrated, your DD can gain credit from being part of dance classes and CAT programmes, it is also exceptionally well respected in UK universities, just a thought.

I agree with all that has been said here, at 16, especially if she has been ill, there is still lots of developement still to come. When I trained the age range was from 16-over 20 because for some they needed to work first to save the money to persue their dream (obviously some of these people were studying musical theatre where there is not so much emphasis on age). Most came from local dance schools not from vocational schools so just because you don't get in at 16 does not mean that its never going to happen. I had a few good friends who went after A'levels and were glad they did. If you are worried about being able to afford more classes has your DD considered buying some of the ballet DVDs that are out there. My daughter and I do Darcey Bussels pilates every morning in the summer holidays to maintain her strength and Darcey also wrote a book with a whole "floor barre" to work through which can be fun and strengthening. If she can maybe get some of her ballet friends to come and work with her or if you have the time, join in yourself too, Ilove the benefits of pilates and after the initial cost of the DVD you haveit forever. Try to encourage her to stick it out for just a bit longer and I'm sure things will improve but if she gives up now she might regret it. Best of luck, she obviously has potential and she might just need a little bit more time to build up her strength.

Thank you so much everyone I cannot tell you what a relief it is to hear that this can be "normal" teenager behaviour and it has helped to put it into perspective a bit. I have tried to be neutral over the last couple of days and just give DD some time to work through things, I can sometimes be a bit "perky" and try to jolly everyone along which I can imagine would be annoying if you are not feeling positive so I have attempted to tone it down a bit and give her some space. She did open up just briefly the other evening just before bed to say that she knew she was being awful. I told her that we all lack confidence in ourselves sometimes and it was okay. She said that she knows that she is so lucky to have what she has but she can't seem to pull herself out of (her words) "a black box" at the moment. Its almost like she is grieving, is that possible? Just to say we have spoken to the school about the teachers comments and they told us that it can be the way with these "old school" teachers and apparently some other parents have also complained so we are not the only ones who are unhappy about it. I have also been assured that she will have a different teacher next year, not that it helps us now. I did also speak to the teacher herself but she was all smiles and positve comments ???? She did say that DD might not completely understand what she is trying to say to her (the school is not in English) but I think she was just covering her back. Thanks again everybody I will keep you posted as to how things go!

Thank you for your replies and pms. It brought tears to my eyes to read your kind words. I was pleased that tonight my DD actually sat downstairs, not actually talking but its the most time she has spent with me over the last few weeks. My husband was out and a couple of times she seemed like she wanted to say something but instead she just asked for a drink or something. I guess I will just have to wait until she is ready. I will definitely take your advice Beljul and write her a letter! Tulte And Drdance have sent you pms. Thank you everyone its nice to know I am not alone.

Hi everyone, I guess I'm looking for a little advice about my DD. After having to turn down a place at Tring because of lack of funding (we live abroad and don't qualify for MDS) my daughter has suddenly become really withdrawn and depressed. She was okay for a couple of weeks after the news and started private singing lessons and joined a drama group to have more strings to her bow ready to apply for 6th form dance next year but now seems to have lost her sparkle completely. She has been studying at the national ballet school where we live since she was eleven and previously has loved every minute but we applied to Tring because her teacher suddenly began to tell her she was fat and would never make it as a ballet dancer. Also she began to worry that she would not have anything to fall back on if she didn't make it (the school is completely focussed on dance after 5th form with no academic studies at all). She is very bright academically and very sensible too so we listened to her worries and that's why we contacted Tring. They were wonderful and of course she was thrilled to be offered a place and even thogh she can't go next year, I hoped that having got in she would see that the head of dance at Tring thought she was tallented enough to offer her a place so she would hopefully not necessarily only listen to her teacher here. Now however she is so quiet and hardly talks at all, sitting in her room by herself and even need to be persuaded to go out with her best friend. My husband says she is just being a teenager but it is so out of character I don't know what to do. She has a place at Tring's summer school but she has even stopped talking about this now. Has anybody seen this type of thing with their DDs or has any suggestions? HELP!

My DD has a place this year but that's all I know still awaiting more details. I asked if she had a place because we don't live in the UK so needed to book flights. I don't think it's residential because the MT and Rock school summer schools are happening at the same time so I presume there isn't enough room for any more. I'm not sure when we will hear more.

Don't Laines do a childrens musical theatre course in the evening/weekend? They certainly did when I was there. I know their agency also acted for the kids too and they got jobs acting in films, TV and other professional shows too.

Wow this was nasty comment Ecarte and I have to agree with ELee that it sounds like a comment overheard from an adult. I think its sad that sometimes the green eyed monster is not restricted to the children, I've heard a few nasty comments from mothers in my time as well, especially at festivals and competitions. Why can't we all be pleased for each and every child that manages to be a success in what, lets face it, is an industry that is often dismissed as unimportant to those who have no knowledge about the drive and determination needed to succeed!

Katymac yes I think this is often the case now. In fact I was in the first year at Laines when they started doing this. Everybody did MT as part of the curriculum the first year then after assessment and discussion with the teachers chose to either continue with MT or drop it and do the purely dance course. However my niece who is at a small college in Liverpool had to audition at the end of the first year to get onto the MT course so it is not necessarily so. I guess its bet to ask if you are unsure.

I trained at Laines too many years ago to mention but the quality of their contempory training was excellent then. Don't know if the teachers have changed or not. However, it was just part of the curriculum so everybody benefited not just those interested in going down the "contemporary route". I know it is thought of more as a MT college and that was certainly the big focus back then.

We lived in Thailand for a couple of years and my DD attended a wonderful RAD school there owned by an ex RBS pupil. She was always complaining about mothers who wanted their daughters to go en pointe as soon as possible because a couple of the schools in Bangkok put them en pointe as soon as they were year 4. Luckily she was very strong and refused to compromise her beliefs and if a mother complained too much she would suggest her attending the other schools. I'm happy to say the majority stayed but in these very competitive cultures this sort of thing seems to be run of the mill! I dread to think of the state of these childrens feet by the time they are 20!

Ooh the aquasplash sounds good too, we are both keen swimmers and its years since I went to Oxford, I'd forgotten about the Ashmolean (can't spell it) museum. I think DD would kill me if we went to the Harry Potter experience without her, maybe we could do that on the Friday depending on when we fly back home, do you have to book a long time in advance? We also could ice skate too but we do spend a lot of time during the winter ice skating here at home. I don't think I'll be able to shop much non-DS would get bored in err 5-10 minutes.....typical boy!

Oh okay afab maybe we will do the museum too. Small is always good with an 8 yr old sportsman!

Some good ideas thanks everybody, though I think we will go for the live animals rather than the stuffed ones!

Could I ask when she needs it by?

Thanks to everybody for your advice, just had an email from Tring to say my daughter has got a place at the summer school. She is going with mixed emotions though because she is worried that being there will bring back the disappointment of not being able to take up her offered place. I'm hoping it will give her even more drive to get a place for 6th form dance and an elusive DaDA, lets hope so. I'm just sad its not a residential since she had such fun at WL summer school a few years ago. Not sure what my son and I will do whilst she is there every day does anybody know the area and any places of interest?

Thanks for the information Taxi. I will try as you suggested.

Hi Interested parent thanks for the PM I will do as you suggest!