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gazelle

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  1. My DD is in her second year as an associate at Chantry and has loved every minute. I would echo what Honeybee said, but would also add that, of all the various associate schemes that my DD has been involved with, Chantry have been the most organised, the best at communication and also the most interested in her as an individual. She was very tempted by the 3 year course (and was offered a place) but has decided to go down the university route instead. It does look like a great course though, with lots of variety of dance styles and performance opportunities and seems like very good value for money.
  2. My DD has been an associate at Chantry for a year now and absolutely loves it. Rae and Paul are very organised and professional but also very friendly and approachable and there is a lovely atmosphere in the school . They have high expectations of their students but are always positive and encouraging. My DD feels that she is challenged and learns something new in every session. As mentioned above, Rae and Paul do have very good links with others in the industry and the students have been given some great opportunities, such as dancing at Move It 2016 (you can find a video of this on youtube) and performing in front of Deborah Bull, Robert Parker and Dominic North at the studio naming ceremony. They have also been taught by and danced with members of the Chantry Dance Company and watched Rae and Paul dance (e.g. at the Summer School) which my DD finds inspiring. We attended an open day for the full time course in October, which gave the dancers a taste of what being in vocational training might be like as well as a chance to find out more about the course and ask questions. I believe there is another one in November for anyone interested.
  3. One of the two Ballet West students into the Classical Ballet final used to go to both the same academic and local dance school as my DD. We're very excited!!
  4. Hi Kinola67. I have sent you a PM
  5. I was just wondering if anyone had heard anything yet? My DD went to the audition by herself and wasn't sure whether to expect results by post or email but did say that they were hoping to get them out within two weeks, which would have been last week. Just a bit worried in case we've missed something.
  6. Some years ago, my DD (then going into Year 6) was offered a place from the SWL for both RBS Summer School and for JAs, so it can happen! Congratulations to your DD on her SWL place - it is a huge achievement in itself. I
  7. How exciting Swanprincess!! My DD and I hope you have a fantastic time and would love to hear about it.
  8. Thank you Lilac. It is funny how DC can vary. While my elder DD perhaps has always had more determination than natural ability, my younger DD seems to have some ability (in Musical Theatre/Drama rather than dance), but very little drive and I find it frustrating at times!!
  9. Swanprincess - thank you for your lovely words. I think that everyone who has followed your story on here will be full of admiration for you and for your determination to continue doing something you clearly love so much.
  10. Just wanted to share this, in the hope that it may give encouragement to someone out there. My DD has been an associate at Northern Ballet for the past two years. Associates do not need to re-audition each year, but undergo an interim assessment in February. A report is then sent out only to those whom the teachers have concerns about, outlining the areas which need improvement if the student is to keep their place the following year. Having not received an interim report last year, my DD was upset when she received one in early March this year, as her experience from the previous year was that many of those (that she knew of) who had received such a report, did not keep their associates place for the following year. The report was very negative, commenting on lack of core strength, poor posture and lack of turn out - all crucial it seemed to me to an aspiring ballet dancer! Although hard to read, both my DD and I and also her local ballet teacher acknowledged that all the points were fair. Now, it has to be said that I am a bit of a glass half empty person and, having received the report, I immediately assumed that she would not maintain her place at Northern next year. I half-heartedly looked into other associate options, but questioned how willing I was to keep travelling around the country, giving up precious weekends and paying for courses and workshops if my DD had so many fundamental issues with her dancing. I decided that my DD should not take up her offered place at the Northern Ballet Summer School as, if any sort of future in ballet was unlikely, it would be better to spend the money on a school exchange trip. My DD, took a very different approach. Having been initially upset when she read the report, the very same evening she had stuck the report up on her bedroom wall as 'seeing it every day will make me work harder' (not something my DH and I thought possible, as she has always taken her dancing incredibly seriously and worked extremely hard). Although quite reserved, she plucked up the courage to speak to her Associate's teacher after class, who gave her some exercises to work on. Even though she has had a very busy term at school and has precious little free time, she has done these every morning and evening with no prompting from anyone (in fact I wasn't even aware that she was doing them until I walked in to her room to find her on the floor with her legs in the air!). While I looked into possible dance degrees at university to try to interest her in, she continued to hold on doggedly to the idea of auditioning for vocational schools next year. Yesterday we received her final report with the fantastic news that she has been offered another year's training at Northern Ballet Academy. There are still many concerns and a long way to go, but she has improved in every area. Best of all, the teacher has commented on her positive approach and her excellent determination and drive. We are under no illusions that it will be easy for my DD to be able to pursue a career in dance - apart from all the concerns mentioned above, she has never had nor will she ever have the ideal ballet physique - but we are very proud of her right now, not so much because of what she has achieved (keeping her place) but more because of how she went about achieving it. So for those of you out there who have had knockbacks, perhaps remembering that 'When the going gets tough, the tough get going!' or even 'If a door appears to be closing, keep knocking!' might help as it does appear to be the case that, sometimes, determination can be valued as well as ability. Sorry, this is a very long post already. but I would just like to add that we know of others who also got an interim report this year (although not as negative as hers!), but have also kept their places, so for anyone else who has got or gets such a report in the future, don't necessarily assume the worst as I did!
  11. Hi Balletqueen. All the rehearsals, except the technical and dress at the theatre, were held at the same school as the auditions last time that EYB came to Nottingham, so I would imagine it would be the same this time round.
  12. Sarahw - thought you might like to know there is an open day at Northern Ballet on Saturday 15th February. There are lots of activities going on during the day, including watching Associate classes. The details are on the website.
  13. Hello Sarahw, My DD is currently in the Senior group at Northern Ballet and loves every minute of it! She has classes in classical ballet and body conditioning, contemporary and pointe/variations each week and says that she thinks there are about 25 in her class. The facilities are excellent, with beautiful light and spacious studios. I don't feel qualified to comment on the quality of the teaching myself, but she feels that she has made good progress, particularly in terms of posture and always comes away from a session saying that she has learnt something new. My DD had only done a couple of contemporary workshops before she started at Northern and found it quite challenging at first, but really loves it now. One highlight for her is seeing members of the company either practising in another studio or walking around the building. Although they do not have to re-audition, the associates have two assessments a year, one in February where any areas for development are highlighted and another in May. For parents there is a nice café in the building itself and all the many attractions of Leeds just a few minutes walk away! If there's anything else you'd like to know, please feel free to PM me.
  14. Happymum - my daughter is a Northern Ballet Associate rather than a RBS associate. The report was included in the letter that offered her another year's place.
  15. That would be great, Lildancer, thank you! I've sent you a PM
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