dramascientist

I also sent the link to my niece who is interested in attending though she is over 20!

I am with the you Annaliesy, DD was exhausted from a roller coaster of a year, she is hoping to go to do a couple of classes at pineapple in the next week or two but that is more to do with the fact that she is missing class rather than pushing herself. It's going to be abusy year and the rest she has had I believe will be invaluable to her. Rest both physical and mental is important too IMHO

I also read the reviews about summer schools with interest and I cannot believe how many people whose children are at vocational school, can afford summer schools too, sometimes more than one? DD was lucky enough to go to a national ballet school abroad which was free until 16 but left because they offered no academic qualification post 16 and frankly I did not like their old fashioned views on what was healthy eating for a dancer, but that's another story. However now she is at Ballet West all our funds are used up on keeping her in pointe shoes, leotards and food, paying the top up for student finance and rent etc. She has to be dedicated to stay in shape by herself during the summer months, there isn't spare cash for her to do workshops etc. However, let's put it into perspective, these are first world problems, dancers in the UK have many opportunities which do not exist elsewhere and life is all about being in the right place at the right time, sometimes amazing people don't get opportunities (not just in the arts) just because they just don't happen to be there when the opportunity arises. Let's count our blessings, yes let's strive to make sure our children have the life they want but sometimes it's just not possible for them to have everything, let's face it we never had!

Yes for the same school Pictures! The joys of international teaching! Having to wear many hats!

And not just for dance, I have been known to be sewing costumes for the school musical at the same time as my IB chemistry kids are doing a practical. I loved the fact that after a couple of years at the school the students didn't even bat an eye at the fact that I was doing it, #dramascientist!

I have no words???? Not only for my DD's future but also DS, I cannot understand how people can ever think its a good idea? Maybe when the pound is worthless on the Costa del Sol people might regret their decision? Sorry to be controversialWondering what the World is coming to? DRSC

But last year we put her term time address and it all went through fine because we live abroad.

Has anybody in the UK started their application for student finance yet for the third year for Ballet West? We just started and it is saying that because DD "lives in Scotland" she cannot get student finance from the UK? Aaaaaaah WHAT? Help! DRSC

Cutting a leotard will not work unless you can stitch with a stretch stich on a sewing machine. What often happens is that the edges stretch causing it to ripple and stretch even more, it will also fray at the edges. Instead I would just cut the shoulder seam of oneshoulder and unpick (if you can), half way downthe same side seam (make sure you stich the end up to where you have unpicked to make sure it doesnt come undone any more) then fold that side into the other side. Then you avoid actually cutting the material. Its best to then put the leotard on and fold the "extra bit" inside with it on a body. Then as you say use a sparkly crop top underneath. Or start from scratch with bought fabric ( this is probably what I would do but I am quite an experienced sewer (with needle and threadnot with getting rid of waste:) ). Just a suggestion good luck with it, DRSC

Have you spoken to the Scottish student loan people? As your dd is part of the european union she is entitled to student loans from Scotland. I enquired about this because my DD (who is finishing her second year at Ballet West) was entitled to this funding because she had been living abroad since she was 4. They said she was entitled to claim and would be treated like a Scottish student ie. would not be required to pay back the funding. Unfortunately it does not cover all the fees so we took the English funding in the end but you should definitely contact the Scottish people, they were very helpful. Good luck DRSC

I teach a pre primary/primary standard ballet class, the little girls are flagging after 30 minutes, 3 hours....ridiculous!

I agree with Pothesia a beautiful school. DD auditioned in 2014 for a 6th form place and was offered a place but without a scholarship and bursary it was out of our price range.Elaine Holland was still there then and was lovely, the facilities are amazing and a real feel of excellence about the place. There is Btech dance now with 2 A'levels. If you can afford it I would definitely go for it! Good luck, DRSC

My DD went to vocational school abroad and has consequently no GCSEs. This has not held her back academically, she is very bright and was accepted to all the schools in the UK she applied to for post 16 without them. I believe sometimes there can be too much emphasis on qualifications like GCSEs. Most countries around the world do not have any academic qualifications at 16, in fact if you speak with somebody in Finland ( supposedly one of the best educational systems in the world) the kids do not go to formal school until they are 6, there is no homework in Finland AT ALL and the students are certainly not suffering academically. As an experienced teacher the most important time in a students life is between 16 - 21, it is during these years that students are able to think independently and apply their knowledge best. The most important thing before this is to install a love of learning and to give students the skills they will need for higher level thinking and application of knowledge in these older years. If your DD is bright then she will do well whether she has 10 GCSEs or not. If she loves ballet and dance and since she has an MDS, she must be talented, then taking her away may mean she starts to hate school and learning and this does much more damage than a softer approach to academics. Of course if it is a matter of finances this is a different matter, as a teacher I know how that feels! Think very carefully before you make any decision and I would definitely speak with your DD before you make any decision, I do not envy you for that! Good luck with everything DRSC

We dance NOT because it is easy but because it is hard!

Oh for a group of students like that! A school musical director's dream!

Think carefully Pointytoes about schools abroad. My DD went to the National Ballet School abroad but only because we were living in the country and we were approached by a ballet teacher who taught at another school when we first moved here. DD had to learn another language and the first year was very tough and she was a day pupil so was not living in another country from us. DD did well but the academic program was very old fashioned and she suffered in the last couple of years because she is tall and the school still had very old fashioned ideas about height, body shape etc. I cannot fault the training but if you do make the decision to go abroad then be ready for a different culture as well as a difference in teaching styles. Just go in with your eyes open and think carefully about what you want to know about the school and make sure you visit before you make the commitment. Good luck DRSC

As far as I know Ballet4boyz this is the case, the place is not dependent on receiving funding. My DD was offered a place for 6th form and this was the case then, I am pretty sure it is the same for the lower school.

Thanks Bailarin, good to know! DRSC

Amos73 I have heard excellent things about YDA, even kids getting inti WL after a year there. Plus you will be able to have Yor DD with you for another year, I would say things have worked out well for you and your DD, some things are meant to be and work out for the best even if it doesnt seem like it at the time!

Where abouts are you Tillymint?

Oh Taxi how awful that nobody would help! If I would have been there I would definitely jumped in and given him a hand, why would you not I ask myself?

Though my sister was always very impressed that DH could do a really good pony tail or plaites over the head!

Picture DD at funding audition with DH. Nobody talking to DH (being the only man) lots of mothers brag brag brag, one turns ro DH "and has your daughter managed to get any offers, she's qiute tall isn't she?" DH oblivious "err yes erm I think offers from Tring Park, The Hamoond ,is it? and err the one in Scotland...not sure of the name but its on the West coast" ....."silence" much shuffling of bottoms on seats!

Oh bless her TBG! I hope things work out for her, they have a habit of doing so for the best!

When I lived and worked in Bulgaria I was a member of a Bulgarian Folk dance group, I trained several times a week for 3 hours at a time. At the end of term we took a group of kids from our international school to Varna for a field trip and one night we went to a tourist restaurant where there was a display of dancing. One of the young men in the group picked me to go up on stage to "try and do the dance", you should have seen the faces of the group when I not only knew the steps but was able to keep up with the steps of a very fast dance! #don't always presume that someone who is speaking English is a tourist!